9 Ownership Transition Issues Specific to Contractors

All businesses face challenges with an ownership transition.

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There are nine interrelated issues that heavily impact contractors. 

Succession: 9 Ownership Transition Issues Specific to Contractors.

We will dive deeper into each of these over the next week:

  1. Strength and alignment of the management team (post-deal)
  1. Culture of the company - Is it prepared for an ownership succession and compatible with the new owner? Seems “soft” but is very “hard” and can destroy value quickly.  
  1. Key relationship continuity with employees, customers, and others.
  1. Financial partner alignment with banking, surety, and possibly insurance.  
  1. Cash generation capabilities.
  1. Asset vs. stock sale - who owns past liabilities, how are they quantified, and what is the tax implication?
  1. Sustainable growth strategy and plan to ensure value is created for all stakeholders.  
  1. Future direction of the construction industry and ensuring you are neither selling nor buying the equivalent of a horseshoe manufacturer and installer in 1900.  
  1. Extremely low barriers to entry for new contractors can easily create competitors out of unaligned stakeholder groups, which often destroys value.  

9 Ownership Transition Issues Specific to Contractors
Continue building value in your business, yourself and your key team members with a good succession strategy....

9 Ownership Transition Issues Specific to Contractors
Continue building value in your business, yourself and your key team members with a good succession strategy....

Definition - Delegation
Delegation is the process of distributing and entrusting work to another person. This includes standards, resource allocation, follow-up, and quality checks to ensure the work is done correctly. Accountability for outcomes does not diminish.
Cash Flow Tip 6 - Build Relationships
Build Relationships at All Levels. There isn’t a “Computer” that is negotiating your contract with you, approving your Schedule-of-Values, approving your billing or ensuring timely payment for you. It is the people.
Doing What You Don't Want to Do
It is natural for all of us to focus on our strengths and the things we love to do. Things we love to do are usually things that we are good at doing; our strengths. None of us were born with great business acumen or technical competency.