The Owner Bottleneck Test: Can Your Business Run Without You?
A well-run trades and construction business should give you greater freedom and choice. Choice about where you spend your time. Choice about which work you take on. Choice about where you focus your energy. Even the choice to take a holiday where your phone gets a break as well. Here is a question worth considering: [...]
The Benefits of Paying Your Employees More
Let’s start with a disclaimer. As a business owner, the idea of paying your employees more might seem counter-intuitive, particularly at a time when the cost of running a business continues to rise. But there is a strong business case for paying good people well. Salary is rarely the number one reason a quality employee [...]
Why Great Trade & Construction Leaders Lead Themselves First
Leadership is a word that gets used a lot in business. But what does great leadership actually look like in a trades or construction business? At PROTRADE United, we see leadership through a simple lens: leadership is influence. And before you can effectively influence your team, your customers or the direction of your business, you [...]
How a 30-Minute Weekly Team Meeting Can Save Days of Chaos
A recent catch-up with a client prompted me to write this article. Over the past 12 months, we had worked together to establish a regular rhythm of meetings across their organisation. But somewhere along the way, that rhythm had slipped. The impact was noticeable. Communication started to break down. Frustration increased. Problems that should have [...]
Winning More Profitable Work in the New Era of Trades & Construction
The trades and construction industry is evolving rapidly. Customer expectations have changed, competition is increasing and technology is influencing the way people research and choose businesses. While quality workmanship remains essential, it's no longer enough on its own to consistently win profitable work. Today's Industry Leaders understand that success isn't built by competing on price [...]
The Hidden Financial Mistakes Costing Trades Businesses
Many trades and construction business owners are working harder than ever, yet still question why there isn't more profit left at the end of each month. A steady flow of work and a busy schedule don't automatically create a profitable business. The businesses that consistently achieve strong financial results are the ones that understand their [...]
How Industry Leaders Retain High-performing Team Players with These Five Questions
Finding and retaining high-performing team members has become one of the greatest opportunities for trades and construction businesses across Australia and New Zealand. While many business owners invest considerable time planning their next hire, far fewer invest the same energy into retaining the talented people already contributing to their business. The reality is, your next [...]
The Ideal Customer Framework for Sustainable Growth
One of the biggest challenges business owners face is knowing exactly who their ideal customer is. Many businesses take on every opportunity that comes their way. While this might seem like the best way to generate revenue it often leads to inconsistent cash flow difficult clients and teams that become stretched across work that isn't [...]
Why Your Margins Are Disappearing and How to Protect Them Now
Many business owners are feeling increasing pressure on profitability right now. Margins seem to be shrinking and cash flow feels tighter than it did just a few years ago. The truth is that your margins probably haven't disappeared overnight. They've been gradually eroding over time. The current economic environment has simply brought the issue into [...]
