I have railed against low bid contracting for many years as the root cause of shrinking contractor profit margins and increasing contractor failure. In principle, it is an insane way to do business (selling a product for the lowest price rather than the highest price...
Every bet has a winner and a loser. The bookie always wins a little, but the bettor often loses a lot. What’s the difference? The Recognition and Management of Risk. Risk Recognition Both the bookie and the bettor recognize that every bet has a winner and a loser....
If you say “contracting” to anyone they immediately think of “construction”. The “building” industry has become identified with the signing of a contract at the point of sale. “Builders” have become “contractors” in the eyes of the public. This misidentification has...
“Ya Puts Up Ya Money…Ya Takes Yer Cherce” Thomas C Schleifer, Ph.D. So says Charles Dickens’ racetrack tout in his native cockney accent. This colorful character in Dickens’ 19th century novel describes construction contracting more accurately and concisely than all...
Planning the Present Thomas C Schleifer, Ph.D. Managing working capital during this post pandemic disrupted economy has led to many questions from contractors. I have condensed all the questions on how to plan for the future economy into one synthetic question: Syn Q....
The Haves and Have-Nots Thomas C Schleifer, Ph.D. Unlike rampant inflation, supply chain collapse, or a sudden descent into recession; trends creep up without us noticing. We have already discussed the gradual shortage of skilled labor that is now haunting our...