How to Run a Construction Company

There are three separate entities that a construction company has to satisfy in order to remain in business for an extended period of time. Licensing by the state, county and city can be the first hurdle the construction company must conquer. There is a licensing test that must be taken and passed in order to get the license to operate. When this is acquired, the insurance (that most clients will demand that you have) can be obtained to cover the * job liability. Having the license will also allow * bidding on jobs and doing subcontracting work.

* Subcontracting work is the second entity that needs to be satisfied. A general contractor on a project will contract work to qualified businesses based on licensing, reputation and price. The better the general contractor, the better the jobs that can be found this way. Solid general contractors are better to work for as their checks should be delivered on time and will clear the bank. If you are new to the contracting business, make sure you ask around about any general contractor you are thinking of working for or with. Some big companies have lousy pay practices and can put a small contractor in a world of hurt very quickly.

The third entity to satisfy is the final customer. Some contractors will only work for the final customer as these are the payers for the job, and the terms can be ironed out, completed and the check will be paid. There is no middleman in the way, like there can be with a general contractor.

Solid construction companies with excellent reputations have people working for them that are very good at what they do, are great with the customer and finish the job as agreed or earlier. If they are well treated by the owner of the business, they will always go the extra mile for the boss. Respect and trust are a two way street. Good employees demand it and employers should make sure it is part of the operating plan of the business. If you lose your quality people, you will suffer on the job and could end up out of business. Some owners just cannot seem to get this idea through their thick head. But the proof is just watch the construction companies with good reputations and see how their people act on the job. They are * pros and do the work with skill and expertise. There is an obvious respect between the owner and his people. Pay is only part of the answer. On site treatment of the employee is also an important element of the job. Mutual respect and trust are a big part of why some companies always have a list of people who want to work for them.

If there is a problem, it should be settled in private. Public dressing down is very poor management by the owner. Nobody ought to be embarrassed on the job. On the other hand public recognition of a job well done will never be frowned on if the owner is sincere in the praise. Skilled, smart employees can make a company stand out and poor employees can quickly ruin a company with the people who hire. This one element of a construction company should be constantly handled in a professional manner and certainly not like a plantation owner. Hiring experience is never cheap and training new employees has its own cost. Successful companies have come to the conclusion that a mix of both gives the best result. In any hiring agreement, make sure there is a trial period stated. This lets both parties know that there is a probation period that must be completed.

If a job is up for bid, that sounds like it is right up your alley. You should make sure all the job details are clear and any questions you have are answered before committing your company. Let the bid sit for a few hours or days if you can and then look at it again with fresh eyes. If there are obvious contingencies, make sure they are noted as part of the bid. Do not assume that something is understood as common practice. This can get a construction company in financial difficulty very quickly. If there are time constraints, make sure that the contract states how the scheduling is to be handled and how it will be agreed upon. Scheduling problems may escalate in a construction job and throw all kinds of plans and money up in the air. If there is a dispute, the way it will be resolved should be included in the bid. Cover the possibility of rising material costs in the bid. Commodity prices might soar over night and could have a very serious effect on your cost for the job. Construction firms have been damaged when copper prices or fuel prices suddenly go crazy.

Make sure your phone calls are answered in a friendly and professional way. When a possible customer calls in to your business, how they are treated on the phone will make an impression. Poor phone technique can leave a bad impression. Let the staff and those who answer the phone know explicitly how you want the phone answered and then test it yourself to see if it is being put into effect. Quality staff work is another sign of a well-run business. Details are the nuts and bolts. These should be handled efficiently and with accuracy. Once a good staff is put in place, the business should seem to run on its own.

Constructions companies can be moneymakers and financial disasters. Running a construction company takes planning and careful attention to detail by all involved in bidding a job. Bad bids cost money that could kill the profit for a year or more. The money in any bid is in the details. The secret is to understand the terms of the bid and make sure that is exactly what you are quoting on. Special considerations should be noted and specifically agreed to before accepting a contract. If there are time constraints or time penalties for the job, make sure you know the details of who sets the constraints and what will happen if there are situations that cannot be foreseen. Scheduling delays are the biggest danger here and who sets the schedule must be spelled out. Your contract should set the time needed to do your job if the job site is ready.

NB: * job liability

You can find the meaning of all the words and word groups marked with the symbol * in the Reference Material section.

Exercises

I. Translate the text. Match the words and word groups from the first column with their translation from the second column:

опыт найма персонала; Генподрядчик; Нештатные ситуации, непредвиденные расходы; Хорошо управляемый бизнес; Отличная репутация; Испытательный срок; Препятствие; Посредник; Лицензирование; Страховой полис; Навык и профессиональный опыт; Профессионалы; Предложение о заключении контракта (на выполнение работ); Выполнение работ по субподрядам; Разработка графика работ; Назначать цену; Банкрот

to quote on subcontracting skill and expertise scheduling pros probation period out of business licensing insurance hurdle hiring experience general contractor excellent reputation bidding a well-run business middleman contingencies

II. Find the following items in the text:

· Modal verbs expressing probability

· Modal verbs expressing obligation

· Modal verbs expressing advice and disapproval

· Comparative structure “the …………the”

III. Make up 10 questions to the text.

IV. Represent the main idea of the text in:

2 preferably short sentences;

10 preferably short sentences

V. A company “produces products and provides services”. Make sentences for the companies. Look at the example:

Sony (A)produces(B)electronic equipment (C). Golden Telecom (A) provides (B)long-distance calls (C).
A	B	C
Sony Golden Telecom Toyota Vimpel Communications Severstal Russia Karstadt Quelle Microsoft United Aircraft Building Corporation Inteco Toshiba corporarion Sberbank of Russia	provides / produces	materials(steel) retailing banking services electronic equipment construction services automobiles aircraft telecommunications services long-distance calls software and services   Infrastructure, consumer products, and electronic devices and components   mobile telecommunications services

VI. Tell about the company you work for using the words and word groups from Unit 1. The representation should contain no less than 50 sentences.

Unit 2

Text A

Read and translate the following tips as how to write a short business biography:

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