Author name: Keith Glass

How did you establish your pricing? Generally it is a little less than what your last employer charged. Or, you called around town and a few would give prices on the phone for work site unseen. I’m really going to trust those prices – plumbing by phone – maybe there is a new industry there. […]

With any good company to be consistent, you need systems. Systems for everything: how you answer the phone, how you dispatch your techs, how you process your paperwork, how you do anything in your business. With systems everyone can learn and do them the same way. Those systems are what makes franchises, especially food service,

I just looked up and wondered, where did it go? The year just started yet the kids are back in school. Where did this year go? You said, “I’m going to improve my business this year. I’m going to start doing the things I need to do to make my businesses better and more profitable.”

Many residential plumbing business owners don’t realize that one of their best management tools is their Profit & Loss Statement. This document is also called the Income Statement. The owners don’t realize what a fine tool this is because their accountant set up the Chart of Accounts. The accountant’s sole purpose in life is to

Small contractors start out doing everything. They wear all the hats. Their title is “Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.” Since they just started this business they feel they cannot afford to pay a full time person to answer the phone. Plus, as the owner, they feel they can answer that phone just as good as

I have often said that plumbers end up being business owners for two reasons. The first one is they thought they could do it better than the boss they were working for. The second reason is they had already worked for every plumbing company in town, and needed to put food on the table. And

Plumbers have you considered making your employees 1099 sub-contractors? Some have toyed with that idea to save a lot of money. Just think; no payroll withholding, no FICA, no unemployment, no workers comp, and no benefits. That would yield a very nice savings. So, rather than deliver excellent service and raise your prices, you want

I know there are many people who think that a business coach is a waste of time and money. So, let’s think about something. PGA golfers are the best golfers in the world and make millions of dollars playing the game of golf. Each one of them have a coach. Professional Major League Baseball players

Great Customer Service To have a great plumbing business answer the phone professionally, schedule the appointment when the customer wants service, arrive promptly, provide an education to the customer, and clean up after the job is finished. This will give you a good start. Those owners that feel the need to answer the phone themselves

Mark Monday and Tuesday, November 6th and 7th, 2017 on your calendar now for The Professional Tradesman©. This two day class for rookie and seasoned technicians alike, will cover how to run a service call with tips on increasing your ticket average; communicating effectively with your clients, office staff, friends and family; the sequence of getting

Some of you have probably heard of a Statement of Cash Flows. Your accounting software will run this report for you based on all the information you have already input. It is a financial statement that shows how changes in your balance sheet accounts and income affect your operating cash. To put it simply, how

Would people say you are easily distracted, disorganized, self-centered, and generally inconsiderate? Many experts say that you fall into these categories if you are consistently tardy. There are several reasons why people are perpetually late. Some are like the absent-minded professor: They are in the distracted category, misplacing glasses and car keys getting lost, or