The latest episode of Unstoppable Talkhosted by Sam Schutte, features our very own Adam Cooper. The discussion centered around how Ascent Consulting works with construction companies to make them...

Acquiring work is arguably one of the most important functions in a construction business. Without a consistent source of revenue, there is no company. If the Estimating Department is not set up to...

During the COVID-19 crisis, work on active construction projects has generally been able to continue, albeit with some modified work procedures for personal safety. Other industries have experienced...

In our first article on Construction Downturn Strategies we looked at External factors and how you can position your service offerings to weather a downturn. Our second article discussed financial...

In our first article we reviewed market diversification. In this second installment of our series on Construction Downturn Strategies, we will explore how you, along with help from your CFO or...

Do you remember the story of the grasshopper and the ant? In this ancient fable, the grasshopper spends the summer dancing and playing while the ant works hard to store food for the inevitable...

It happens to every business owner eventually. You think you’ve found and hired a great candidate for a key role in your organization. You start out with high hopes that they'll settle in quickly and...

Owning your own construction company and outperforming your competition requires that you recruit and hire talented people. They must have technical skills for their roles and provide quality work,...

Attracting and retaining employees, managing costs, and mitigating risks are key concerns for every construction business owner as they grow and develop in their industry. Navigating the...

Employees are the lifeblood of every construction company. Without loyal employees, materials do not get purchased, contractors do not get hired, and buildings do not get built. We also keep hearing...

Whether you’re evaluating the performance of your current Project Managers, or looking to hire a “Star Performer” for your construction team, how do you do it?  What are the key skills, competencies,...

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has a new 20% deduction for non- C corporation businesses. It is earned at the company level and computed on the personal tax return. It applies to most construction...

Employees are the lifeblood of every construction company.  No matter the size of the company, each individual serves a purpose, and their performance either helps or hinders the organization – there...

Employees are the lifeblood of every construction company.  No matter the size of the company, each individual serves a purpose, and their performance either helps or hinders the organization –...

Employees are the lifeblood of every construction company.  No matter the size of the company, each individual serves a purpose, and their performance either helps or hinders the organization – there...

The goal of all compensation and incentive programs is to drive desired behaviors across the organization. In our previous article, we dove into the history of performance assessments and what the...

One of the more complex and complicated topics for business owners resides in motivating employees and ensuring your culture is driving the correct behaviors in the workplace. In a recent...

Since the economic crash and recovery over the past decade, Owner- and Lender-required Payment and Performance (P&P) bonding for construction projects has become more prevalent across the industry....

How big does a construction company have to grow before it needs a safety program? Is it determined by sales volume, number of employees or contract sizes? In truth, it is never too early to...

How important is it to put a plan and budget together for your annual marketing and business development activities? As the old adage goes “Fail to plan, and plan to fail”. Depending on the size of...

Construction companies face unique challenges when it comes to marketing their services. Not only are there a limited number of ‘buyers’ but most of them already have a stable of reliable contractors...

Thomas Watson Sr., president of IBM for over 40 years, first coined the phrase “Nothing happens until someone sells something”.  This is a basic tenet of business; without a sale, there is no...

Contractors face widespread bonding requirements today. Not long ago, only the federal government required construction bonds; today, about a third of privately owned projects do as well. With...

Construction work can be a tricky and dangerous business. Contractors perform a variety of trades and scopes that carry different levels of inherent risks. Failure to plan and financially protect...

Bizbuysell.com, the largest business-for-sale marketplace, recently released its Annual Insight Report which showed that 7,240 businesses sold in 2015. With an average sale price of $200,000, which...