Electical Contractor

Large corporations and general contractors have evaluated the safety programs and performance of subcontractors—including electrical contractors—for years. Now, the number of companies evaluating contractors seems to be growing.

With lighting and communications technology evolving rapidly, lighting manufacturers are under pressure to determine how to best reach out to and train busy electrical contractors (ECs) on new and existing products.

Did you ever wonder why some companies succeed and expand even in a down economy while others struggle to keep their doors open? It is a question worth considering because, once you analyze their reasons for success, you may find ideas you can use to increase your own business.

Service work provides a vital revenue stream for electrical contractors.

Financial decisions are based on facts and formulas, so it is common to think of them as rational and logical. The reality is that decisions, even financial ones, are based on emotions. Attitudes and beliefs developed throughout your life affect your financial decisions.

With the economy still reeling from the effects of recession, unemployment, and wavering business and consumer confidence, electrical contractors (ECs) are re-evaluating their businesses and taking on new and different roles and business models in an effort to remain competitive.

Gen. Colin Powell said, “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” Would this philosophy improve financial decision-making in an electrical contracting business? It worked in my family’s contracting business, though I didn’t realize it at the time.

In the beginning, there was the bulletin board system, an online meeting place (accessed over telephone lines using a modem) that enabled users to communicate with a central system where they could download files or games and post messages.

An estimator recently asked how to tighten up his estimates without getting too far out of his comfort zone. His zone was 20-plus years experience and knowledge that told him exactly what jobs require; this was not helping him compete in our insanely aggressive and below-cost bidding environment.