http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com Business Tips for the Residential Service Contractor Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:21:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/who-me-accountability-for-contractors-part-2-which-comes-first%e2%80%a6-responsibility-or-accountability/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/who-me-accountability-for-contractors-part-2-which-comes-first%e2%80%a6-responsibility-or-accountability/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:21:03 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1791 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/who-me-accountability-for-contractors-part-2-which-comes-first%e2%80%a6-responsibility-or-accountability/feed/ 0 ac·count·abil·i·ty : the quality or state of being accountable; especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions re·spon·si·bil·i·ty 1 : the quality or state of being responsible; as a : moral, legal, or mental accountability b : reliability, trustworthiness 2 : something for which one is responsible http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/direct-marketing-for-2-cents-a-contact/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/direct-marketing-for-2-cents-a-contact/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:00:01 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1787 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/direct-marketing-for-2-cents-a-contact/feed/ 0 That’s Right, 2 cents a contact! What is it? Email Marketing. The fastest, easiest, and most effective way to communicate with your customer base is also the least expensive. Creating a customized campaign is not as difficult as you may think. http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/price-quality-service-what-matters-most/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/price-quality-service-what-matters-most/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:32:32 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1780 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/price-quality-service-what-matters-most/feed/ 0 The meat market in Lewisville, Texas is a landmark. Not only does the meat market sell meat, it serves great lunches, including outstanding BBQ, homemade pies, etc. Every year, we hold a “Rib Off” at the Service Roundtable where we buy ribs from three different restaurants and conduct blind taste tests for the sauce and meat. The meat market wins every time it’s in the competition. http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/building-the-team-bonus-for-the-salespeople/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/building-the-team-bonus-for-the-salespeople/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:29:06 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1777 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/building-the-team-bonus-for-the-salespeople/feed/ 0 Salespeople are paid hourly according to skill level and licensing or skills training achievement. Aim for a consistent hourly rate for the position. Overtime applies according to state and federal wage and hour laws. Use a Bonus Plan to reward production over Goal. Performance at Goal is what is expected of those who hold the Position of Salesperson. http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/ideas-to-get-your-phone-to-ring/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/ideas-to-get-your-phone-to-ring/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:17:52 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1769 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/ideas-to-get-your-phone-to-ring/feed/ 0 I’ve spoken with a number of Nexstar® Network members who’ve asked for ideas to get the phone to ring. Together, we’ve come up with thoughts that we have gotten quite excited about, and I’d like to share some of them with you. http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/i-want-a-breakdown/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/i-want-a-breakdown/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:11:35 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1759 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/i-want-a-breakdown/feed/ 0 Sooner or later it happens to everyone in the business. A disgruntled customer notices the prices of parts and merchandise sold at the retail stores and complains about the big markups charged by the contractor. This is a bigger problem for time and material firms, whose prices are itemized for all to see at a glance. However, even we flat raters face it from time to time. http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/who-me-accountability-for-contractors-part-1-the-basic-needs/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/who-me-accountability-for-contractors-part-1-the-basic-needs/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:37:30 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1744 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/who-me-accountability-for-contractors-part-1-the-basic-needs/feed/ 0 Having read a great deal of books on businesses and what it means to operate a successful one, we’ve come to the conclusion that everyone has a great deal to say on the subject. Enough to fill aircraft carriers, in fact. So where does one start? That’s why when we work with a contractor to help improve his business, we try to summarize the best of what we’ve learned and what we’ve seen work in successful companies. And we have found that the best place to start is with the knowledge that every act, every day, requires accountability. http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/tracking-jobs/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/tracking-jobs/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:22:30 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1739 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/tracking-jobs/feed/ 0 Do you know if your prices are right? Do you know if you are properly bidding your Jobs? The bottom line is the bottom line. Hurray for you…if you are making all the money you want, if you are providing a real retirement investment program for yourself and your team members and if you could take a major hit to your business (disaster, disability, divorce?) and still be in positive cash flow. If so, you can stop right here. http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/simple-successful-marketing/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/simple-successful-marketing/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:58:40 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1734 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/simple-successful-marketing/feed/ 0 One of the great things about ShuBee is all of the simple, yet successful products they provide to the industry that help you stand out and succeed. Here are ten simple, successful marketing tactics you apply in your company. Don’t let the simplicity fool you. Simplest can be best. http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/the-cost-of-not-knowing-goes-on-and-on/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/the-cost-of-not-knowing-goes-on-and-on/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:39:51 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1727 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/01/the-cost-of-not-knowing-goes-on-and-on/feed/ 0 In my on “The Cost of Not Knowing Your Costs,” I challenged contractors to prove that they could make money and provide decent income and benefits for employees at the PHC service industry’s prevailing labor rates of $50-55 an hour. I got no takers, although Paul Swan sent me an interesting letter pointing out that many contractors who charge extra for travel time are billing for more labor hours than they actually put in.