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Finance & Succession Planning

Boost Technician Confidence to Sell More Service Agreements

Customer-service training must be continuous and thorough. If you just tell your technicians what you want, they will only think about what they are going to say and never say …

Originally published Published: 10.01.10 Author By Ruth King

Personal Finance: Understanding and Improving Your Credit Score

Your credit score can be the key to home ownership, an auto loan, consumer credit, and even employment. How much do you know about this three-digit number that holds so …

Originally published Published: 07.01.10 Author By Bruce Cornelius

6 Ways to Proactively Raise Cash

Making calls to past-due customers, former customers, and happy customers helps to keep the cash flowing.

Originally published Published: 06.01.10 Author By Ruth King

3 Easy Ways to Improve Your Bottom Line

Businesses can improve profitability in many ways. Some require making substantial investments, such as buying new equipment or expanding marketing efforts. But there are inexpensive ways as well. Here are …

Originally published Published: 05.01.10 Author By Ruth King

5 Ways to Boost Work Year-Round

Take a tip from farmers. Plant seeds in the spring t decrease your dependence on the weather and increase customer loyalty.

Originally published Published: 04.01.10 Author By Ruth King

Increase Profits Without Price Increases

One of the toughest things owners and managers have to do is to productively manage a labor force. But companies that manage their labor and their inventory effectively are among …

Originally published Published: 03.01.10 Author By Ruth King

Downturn Made Contractors Stronger

I observed five trends in 2009 that helped contractors not only survive in a bad economy-but thrive in a bad economy.

Originally published Published: 02.01.10 Author By Ruth King

How to Get Paid Fast

Why commercial contractors need to get 'tough' on payments.

Originally published Published: 02.01.10 Author By George Hedley

5 Ways to Generate Business

Everyone knows that 2009 was not a great year economically. Some contractors did well. Perhaps they were not as profitable as they were in 2008, but they still were profitable. …

Originally published Published: 01.01.10 Author By Ruth King

5 Must-Dos for Increasing Sales Through a Credit Programs

Your ability to use financing to close sales can be a key differentiator from your competitors because offering payment options makes it less likely your customers will take their business …

Originally published Published: 01.01.10 Author By Bruce Christensen

Make Big Plans for The New Year

If you want to improve your business, skip resolutions and change what you are doing.

Originally published Published: 12.01.09 Author By Ruth King

Consumer Financing Can Improve Cash Flow, Help to Close Sales

In many cases, a new heating and/or AC unit amy be an unplanned expense. A consumer credit program is a powerful sales tool that also helps customers.

Originally published Published: 11.01.09 Author By Bruce Christensen

Keep Employees Informed of Business Costs

Sharing this information will open their eyes to waste and the true value of benefits.

Originally published Published: 10.01.09 Author By Ruth King

Consider Taxes When Acquiring New Equipment

This article will summarize the business, tax, and other financial considerations associated with the lease-versus-purchase decision. Ultimately, only you can decide which approach is best for your business.

Originally published Published: 09.01.09 Author By Mike Coyne

5 Ways to Boost Fall and Winter Sales

Fall is the time to be proactive and make sure your customers understand that heating and air conditioning are necessities, not luxuries. Make sure they call you for the repairs …

Originally published Published: 09.01.09 Author By Ruth King

Preventing Employee Theft, Part 2

Most employees are honest. However, when faced with stressful situations, even honest people can do things that are wrong, most notably stealing

Originally published Published: 08.01.09 Author By Ruth King

Preventing Employee Theft, Part 1

If you don't have a system in place to prevent theft by employees, you won't be able to control it once it starts.

Originally published Published: 07.01.09 Author By Ruth King

Spot Trouble Quickly with Trend Data

Financial benchmarking, both short and long term, is critical to making good business decisions that will keep your company financially healthy. When you see the numbers trending in the wrong …

Originally published Published: 06.01.09 Author By Ruth King

Financial Benchmarking, Part 1

Financial benchmarking provides you the assurance that your business is going well, or the clues to when it isn’t so that you can take action.

Originally published Published: 05.01.09 Author By Ruth King

Finding Financing in an Economic Decline

To keep your small business flush with cash while the government attempts to create programs designed to ease lending and improve our economy’s conditions, entrepreneurs should be creative and resourceful …

Originally published Published: 04.01.09 Author By Chris Talis

Come Out From Under the Covers!

When the economy struggles, you don't have to. Keep making telephone calls, talking with clients and prospective customers, and keep a positive attitude. If you do this, the tough times …

Originally published Published: 03.01.09 Author By Ruth King

Collection S.O.S.

A third party debt recovery team can help you improve accounts receivables while also educating you on how to spend time chasing new business, not past due accounts.

Originally published Published: 03.01.09 Author By HVACR Business Staff

Rules for Retaining Tax Records

An explanation and some clarity on the IRS guidelines

Originally published Published: 03.01.09 Author By Mike Coyne

Cash vs. Accrual Accounting

If you account on a cash basis, you record a sale when you get the money in the door. You record an expense when you write the check for that …

Originally published Published: 02.01.09 Author By Ruth King

Tax Planning

Forecasting your annual tax benefits for 2009 may help you increase your business.

Originally published Published: 02.01.09 Author By Mike Coyne

To Discount or Not to Discount

Whether you should take a discount is totally dependent on the terms of the discount, your cost of borrowing, and plugging the numbers into the formula.

Originally published Published: 01.01.09 Author By Ruth King

Reporting Monthly Financial Results

By using a margin contribution accounting method, you can report net profits by division and properly allocate expenses.

Originally published Published: 12.01.08 Author By Ron Smith

Avoid Down Cycles

Smart money management protects your business in slower times.

Originally published Published: 12.01.08 Author By Ruth King

Thinking About Selling?

To get your business ready for sale, good due diligence asks questions in all areas of your business.

Originally published Published: 11.01.08 Author By Ruth King

Overtime Pay?

Whether an employee is labeled "salaried" or "hourly" does not answer whether the employee is entitled to overtime pay. The Fair Labor Standards Act has very specific rules regarding overtime …

Originally published Published: 11.01.08 Author By Mike Coyne

Check Fraud Checkup

Annual check fraud losses now exceed $20 billion. Businesses with checking accounts face a substantial shared risk. Frank Abagnale reviews your liability and offers procedures to follow to reduce your …

Originally published Published: 10.01.08 Author By Frank W. Abagnale

Flattening Out Seasonality

Service agreements, marketing and diversity will decrease dependence on the weather and flatten out the seasonality.

Originally published Published: 09.01.08 Author By Ruth King

Stop Running A Warehouse Supermarket

Limit access to the warehouse. You may need to hire a parts runner or a warehouse person. It’s the best way to save your hard-earned cash. Make the time to …

Originally published Published: 08.01.08 Author By Ruth King