Articles

By Jovanka Lakic – MarshMcLennan Agency In today’s work environment, remote and hybrid work arrangements have become increasingly prevalent. As a manager, leading a remote and hybrid team presents challenges and opportunities. Here are some valuable insights and practical advice [...]

By: Jobber Home Service Software Jobber, a leading provider of home service software, released The Annual Blue-Collar Report: Gen Z and the Trades Need Each Other. The report, based on survey responses from 1,000 students in the U.S. aged 18-20, provides insight into how Gen Z [...]

Residential construction up 4.2% Y-O-Y. Non-residential construction up 4.9% Y-O-Y. Housing completions grow 16.8% Year-Over-Year! Building Permits Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,416,000. This is 7.7% [...]

By: Truforte Business Group Beginning with the End in Mind As a business owner, you’ve likely poured time, effort, and resources into building your company. But whether you’re considering selling in the near future or just laying the groundwork, one [...]

By Cindy Barth – Contributing Writer , The Business Journals Women — especially women of color — still are not moving into the positions from which CEO recruitment takes place at a pace fast enough to reach gender equity within the next decade. [...]

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media Despite a growing emphasis on holistic workplace motivators, senior executives are showing a clear preference for financial rewards over job titles and remote work [...]

By Warren Shoulberg, IWF News  The one-half-point cut was larger than many predicted, triggering positive signs for the building and construction trade.  It took longer – far longer – than many of the experts predicted and just about everybody in the building [...]

By:  Kelsey Raymond and Kendra Okposo Best practices simply don't go far enough in today's climate. Based on our research into large-scale enterprises across industries, we recommend CEOs adopt these six new ways of thinking, doing, and excelling to remain [...]

by Dora Lanza – Plethora Business Congratulations! You have built a remarkable company that has a great impact in your industry. Your leadership and vision have been instrumental in driving success, but as your business continues to flourish, it’s essential [...]

RealPage reports significant absorption of apartment units across the nation, with the South leading the charge. By Christine Serlin Demand for multifamily housing continues to surge across the country, according to the latest multifamily report from RealPage Market Analytics. [...]

Population increases, job growth, and cooling inflation deliver good news for construction-related wholesalers, manufacturers and tradespeople serving the housing industry. By Kerry Stackpole – The Wholesaler Economic and real estate experts have forecasted a housing recovery in late 2024 through 2025, [...]

By Warren Shoullberg, IWF News An explosion at Tafisa’s Quebec plant, the largest particleboard factory in North America, knocked out some production the company says. It will be “several more weeks” before Tafisa’s giant particleboard manufacturing facility in Lac-Magantic, Quebec [...]

This is an in-depth guide on Gallup’s first element of employee engagement: This first element is a basic need for employees: “I know what is expected of me at work.” The above statement seems straightforward and one that most people [...]

Understanding fair value is critical for business owners looking to sell, ensuring that their asking price accurately reflects the company’s true worth. Fair value is different from market value and carrying value and offers a realistic comparison of your [...]

By Lori Moen, CEPA Business Coach | Catalyst Group ECR The legacy you leave behind when you’re no longer part of leadership isn’t just about your accomplishments and accolades. It has to do with how you approach any and all issues [...]

By The Acquira Team Loose lips sink ships. The same can be true when selling your business. If word gets out to your employees, customers, or vendors prematurely that you’re selling – it could have a dramatic impact, possibly jeopardizing how much [...]

Industry Trends - IWF, By Warren Shoulberg It may not be back to the good times during low interest rates but Telsey Advisory Group’s Housing Scorecard shows more positives than negatives. If you’re looking for good news about the housing [...]

by Alicia Esposito – Small Business Exchange The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a final rule that bans non-compete clauses nationwide for all workers, including senior executives. FTC Chair Lina M. Khan describes the move as a stride towards bolstering competition and freeing workers [...]

By:  Alexandra Both, Senior Creative Writer with RentCafe Build-to-rent homes are having their most successful year on record: A total of 27,500 houses for rent were completed last year — 75% more than in 2022. Phoenix, Dallas and Atlanta are the [...]

A Transparent Supply Chain Will Benefit Domestic Manufacturers and U.S. Cabinet Workers Reston, Virginia: 5 April 2024—Today, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association is announcing that the U.S. Department of Commerce has taken a positive step forward to stop unfairly [...]

By David Lawder, additional reporting by Daniel Burns and David Shepardson in New York; Editing by Stephen Coates and Josie Kao WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - The catastrophic bridge collapse that closed the Port of Baltimore to ship traffic on Tuesday is causing some logistics headaches, [...]

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was enacted back in 2021, but few businesses have considered whether they’ll be impacted. Now that the law is officially in effect (as of January 1, 2024), small business owners now need to ensure compliance. An estimated 32 [...]

This year, new supply is expected to surge 53% year over year Metrics Monitor Multifamily Supply Glut Heads Toward Steep Drop-off In 2023, nearly 440,000 new multifamily units were delivered, according to research by Newmark. This year, new supply [...]

By: Warren Shoulberg The construction industry still has a long way to go to get back to its boom days but new data suggests builders are getting more optimistic. Increasing consumer demand coupled with small drops in mortgage [...]

January 4, 2024 | Written By: Merilee Kern, MBA In the daunting yet exhilarating journey of entrepreneurship, founders traverse various roles that evolve with their venture. Today’s thriving U.S. economy, marked by accelerated growth, is providing a favorable environment for founders [...]

January 17, 2024 | IWF News |  Warren Shoulberg New data from the Producer Price Index suggests that costs are coming down on things like softwood lumber as part of an overall decline in material costs. The wild ride up in construction [...]

Businesses and individuals concerned about the confusing 1099-K reporting requirements can breathe a sigh of relief: On November 21, 2023, the IRS announced that the deadline for the new $600 reporting threshold won't go into effect for the 2023 tax year [...]

Eight strategies for boosting profits, cutting costs, and reducing risk. Sound cash management practices are essential for any business. However, businesses in a cyclical industry have unique issues that require special diligence. A cyclical industry—like construction, airlines, oil and gas—is [...]

By Paul Cachero | Bloomberg The Internal Revenue Service recently bumped the income thresholds for its tax brackets by 5.4% for 2024, its latest adjustment to account for elevated rates of inflation. The move is unlikely to produce a material [...]

Written By: Alicia Esposito “Innovation” is a common word in the world of business, but it can often feel out of reach for small businesses. With the right technology, however, small business owners can establish processes that improve efficiencies and [...]

Written By: Laura Tiffany Employees who feel appreciated, listened to, and supported are naturally going to do a better job and stick around longer. And the way to build a business that provides this type of employee experience is through [...]

Written By: Francesca Nicasio Some business owners see themselves running their companies for decades — maybe even passing them down to their children — but most entrepreneurs don’t want to own and operate their companies forever. Industry data shows that 53% of [...]

Whenever a new generation comes through, it stirs conversations about how much this new cohort will disrupt the way we work. Such was the case with millennials, now it’s Gen Z and soon it will be Gen Alpha creating [...]

The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) estimates that about 6,500 U.S. companies have employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Many owners of closely held businesses use these plans as an exit strategy. Although ESOPs offer a variety of benefits, including [...]

Bathtub Party Day Bathtub Party Day encourages us all to skip the ordinary shower and linger in the tub instead. On December 5th, add some suds to the tub and pamper yourself. 3000 years ago is about the time that [...]

By: Datasite - October 30, 2023 Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence are having ripple effects in virtually every industry, and the M&A field is no exception. This new technology has potentially huge implications for dealmakers, both in day-to-day practice and [...]

By, Matt Benjamin, Senior Markets Expert, The Oxford Club In a presidential election, should smart business owners, CEO’s and investors vote for the Democrat or the Republican? It's an age-old question, and it's becoming relevant again as the 2024 election [...]

Author:  Steve Finkel is a globally renowned author and trainer for the executive search profession. Executives depend on the quality of their people to achieve their corporate and personal career goals. It is an old adage – and a true [...]

At some point, every business owner leaves the company, either voluntarily through retirement or otherwise. Some businesses will outlive their founders. Others can't survive without the continued involvement of a key owner-employee. And a few business concepts — from horse-drawn buggies [...]

By Larry Adams WOODWORKING NETWORK October 23, 2023 Custom and semi-custom cabinet sales increased from August 2022 to August 2022, rising by 11.4 percent and 6.3 percent respectively. These positive gains, however, were muted by stock sales, which took a YTD [...]

Jon Jennings, Forbes Councils Member Forbes Business Council In today's fiercely competitive market, the talent behind a company's pricing strategy can significantly influence its trajectory. Finding the ideal fit for such a pivotal role can be daunting. This is where [...]

In recent years, recycled building materials have become increasingly popular in the world of construction and home design. From glass to newspaper, your recyclables are being turned into a wide range of unique and useful building materials. Here's a closer [...]

Tax Deductions: Right, Wrong, and Risky by Charles RenwickSeptember 27, 2023 PLANNING FOR TAXES Tax law is not just a complex matrix of rules and regulations—it’s a world in which interpretation and decision-making play vital roles. Deciding how to handle deductions [...]

The holidays are just around the corner, and now is the time for employers to start thinking about treating their employees with holidays parties or gifts. Such gestures are always a nice idea. Plus in a tight labor market, they [...]

By: Daniel Abramson Managing Lead of HRSource Guidelines by the Equal Employment Opportunity commission (EEOC), as well as federal and state law, prohibit asking job applicants certain questions, whether on the application form or during the job interview. It is [...]

Analysis by Nicole Goodkind, CNN Published 8:26 AM EDT, Wed September 13, 2023 CNN New York Chief executives have left their posts at an alarming rate this year. It’s been a bad year for CEOs. Chief executives have left their [...]

While technology has empowered humans to do some incredible things, it’s also contributed to a rise in scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 2.4 million consumers filed fraud complaints in 2022, with over $8.8 billion lost to scams (an [...]

Starting a new phase in one's career, whether it's local talent or a relocation hire, is a mix of excitement and stress. This sentiment is amplified for senior executives, as the transition to a higher position or the C-suite brings [...]

By Anna Bahney, CNN Washington, DCCNN Housing is less affordable than it has been in about four decades. But buying or renting a home might be even less affordable now if it weren't for the continuing impact of remote and [...]

The Notice would ban all existing and future non-compete agreements with workers, with a narrow exception in connection with the sale of a business by any individual holding at least a 25% interest in such business. January 9, 2023 Thanks to Pillsbury [...]

Courtesy of Kerkerin Barberio Is your business ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in 2023?  Financial statements show how a company has performed in the past.  But historical data doesn't necessary predict future performance, especially in an uncertain, [...]

By:  Matt Meyers, CEO of Yesler Yesler CEO Matt Meyers takes a in-depth look at the state of U.S. housing and how we arrived at the current state. The housing market.  To many, it's crazy and unknowable.  It always seems [...]

By:  Kelli Vukelic, CEO of N2Growth Senior leadership hires can make or break an organization.  Various studies show that the failure rate of executives coming into new companies is 30 to 40 percent after 18 months.  In a hiring market, like [...]

By:  Robert Jordan and Olivia Wagner Authors of "Right Leader, Right Time," say there are 4 leadership styles: fixers, artists, builders, and strategists. Here are the four types of business leaders Jordan and Wagner identified: The fixer When things are [...]

By:  Bill Treasurer Excerpted from "Leadership Two Words at a Time" You look uniquely familiar.  You, the one who has learned to believe in yourself, trust yourself and follow the quiet inner voice that says, "Why not me?"  You don't [...]

November 14, 2022 / IR Magazine Thanks to Jean McLoughlin & Kyle Seifried The SEC's new pay-versus-performance rule changes will present myriad challenges - and potential opportunities - to public company management teams and boards.  Most publicly listed US companies [...]

Author: John M. Collard, www.StrategicMgtParters.com "You need these guys...to increase cash flow, provide valuable guidance, contacts, and credibility. Companies committed to going through significant business change (restart, turnaround, transition, generational ownership transfer), anticipating a major liquidity event, need guidance. Why Add [...]

By: Benchmark International October 7, 2022 Industrial robotics is now critical across many sectors for the automation and manufacturing of many tasks, including loading, packaging, labeling, and inspection.  They are commonly used in the automobile and heavy engineering sectors and [...]

By: Randy Garn Entrepreneur Leadership Network An in-depth conversation with Jess Toolson, founder and CEO of Mixhers, about how being a parent has shaped her skillsets. Motherhood arms women with several important skills that serve them well as CEOs, such as [...]

Author: Brendan Nussbaum Transaction Support Analyst Benchmark International In the world of small to mid-market mergers and acquisitions, a number that is very important is a company's adjusted EBITDA.  The adjusted EBITDA is meant to find a company's true normalized [...]

Forbes Business Council Council Post - June 16, 2022 Explosive growth is exciting for any business, and watching your brand become a success feels rewarding.  While you and your team should definitely celebrate that win, you should also be prepared [...]

By: jimmue I wish I could tell you that Half-Retirement was as simple as flipping a switch...poof, you are Half-Retired.  However, Half-Retirement is more of a journey than a decision.  We observe many business owners begin down the path towards Half-Retirement and [...]

Author: Ari Marin, SVP, Family Wealth Strategist August 2022 - The Inflation Reduction Act, "the Act," amounts to the largest investment encountering climate change in U.S. history and allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices.  The Act also increases IRS funding and changes [...]

Courtesy of: Benchmark International If you are considering selling your business, you will need to have a clear understanding of its type of customer revenue because it can significantly impact the value of your business.  Sometimes people confuse recurring revenue [...]

Courtesy of: Entrepreneur Magazine By:  Ken Gosnell Business owners have many styles that help them lead an organization effectively.  Here's how to use that knowledge to your advantage. Team members who wish to become valuable to their organization will need [...]