Run the Business
Hiring, payroll, cash flow, insurance, contracts and the operating habits that keep a service company profitable.
How to hire your first employee without missing a federal step
How to hire your first employee in a service business: the federal paperwork (EIN, W-4, I-9, new hire report), payroll setup, insurance and the first week.
Read guideEmployee or independent contractor: how to classify the people who work your jobs
Employee vs independent contractor for contractors and service businesses: the IRS and DOL tests, what a 1099 does not prove, and the cost of getting it wrong.
Read guideHow to write a job ad that good technicians actually answer
How to write a job ad for technicians and field crew: what good techs look for, a template, wording that breaks EEOC rules, and how to screen the applicants.
Read guideHow to onboard new field employees so they stay past the first month
How to onboard new field employees in a service business: day-one paperwork, safety training, truck and tool rules, time tracking and a 30-day plan that sticks.
Read guideHow to run payroll for a small service business, from first paycheck to W-2
How to run payroll for a small business: 2026 federal tax rates, deposit schedules, Forms 941, 940 and W-2, state setup, and when to use a payroll service.
Read guideOvertime rules for field crews: what federal law counts and what it does not
Overtime rules for field crews under federal law: the 40-hour workweek, drive time between jobs, bonuses in the regular rate, salaried crew leads and records.
Read guideHow to keep good technicians when every shop in town is hiring
How to keep good technicians in a small service business: market pay, steady schedules, good trucks, a skills ladder, paid training and fewer daily hassles.
Read guideHow to pay commission to sales reps without overtime or payroll surprises
How to pay commission to sales reps in a service business: plan design, when a sale counts, chargebacks, overtime on commissions and federal withholding rules.
Read guideHow to read a profit and loss statement, line by line
How to read a profit and loss statement for a service business: revenue, job costs, gross margin, overhead and net profit, with a worked hypothetical example.
Read guideCash flow for seasonal service businesses: surviving the off-season
Cash flow for seasonal service businesses: map the year by month, find your low point, size a reserve, and smooth income with plans, deposits and credit.
Read guideBookkeeping for service businesses: a setup that survives busy season
Bookkeeping for service businesses: separate accounts, a job-based chart of accounts, the records the IRS expects, how long to keep them, and a routine.
Read guideSales tax on services: the questions that decide whether you charge it
Do you charge sales tax on services? The questions that decide it in your state: taxable services, materials vs labor, real property work, use tax and permits.
Read guideHow to get a small business loan for trucks, crews and cash gaps
How to get a small business loan for a service company: SBA 7(a) and microloans, Lender Match, what lenders ask for, and how to compare offers before you sign.
Read guideOpening a business bank account: steps, documents and FDIC basics
How to set up a business bank account for a service company: documents to bring, features contractors need, FDIC coverage basics and fintech caveats.
Read guideQuarterly estimated taxes for self-employed contractors, explained
Estimated taxes for self-employed contractors in 2026: who must pay, the 1040-ES due dates, self-employment tax, the safe harbor rules and a worked example.
Read guideHow to buy a work truck without buying the wrong one
How to buy a work truck: size it to the job, read GVWR and payload, know the CDL weight lines, inspect a used truck, and finance it sensibly.
Read guideCommercial auto insurance explained: covering the trucks that carry your business
Commercial auto insurance explained for service businesses: what it covers, hired and non-owned autos, trailers, driver lists, limits and federal weight rules.
Read guideSurety bonds explained: what a bond is, who it protects and how to get one
Surety bonds explained for contractors: license, bid, performance and payment bonds, how bonding differs from insurance, the SBA guarantee and federal rules.
Read guideGeneral liability insurance explained: what your policy actually pays for
How general liability insurance works for contractors: covered claims, completed operations, occurrence vs claims-made, limits and exclusions.
Read guideWhat to put in a service contract (and what to leave out)
What to put in a service contract: scope, exclusions, price, deposits, change orders, schedule, warranty, cancellation rights and the clauses to leave out.
Read guideMechanics liens explained: how lien rights protect contractors who do not get paid
Mechanics liens explained for contractors: what a lien is, who can file, preliminary notices, strict state deadlines, lien waivers and when to call a lawyer.
Read guideHow to collect unpaid invoices without losing your temper or your rights
How to collect unpaid invoices as a service business: reminder schedules, phone scripts, demand letters, payment plans, small claims and collection law.
Read guideHow to handle customer complaints so they end with a fix instead of a fight
How to handle customer complaints in a service business: the first call, a five-step conversation, fair remedies, staff authority and fixing the root cause.
Read guideWarranty policies for service businesses: what to promise and how to write it down
How to write a warranty policy for a service business: workmanship terms, what voids it, manufacturer warranties and the federal Magnuson-Moss basics.
Read guideHow to write standard operating procedures your crew will actually use
How to write standard operating procedures for a service business: which SOPs come first, a phone-friendly format, an example and keeping them current.
Read guideDispatching basics: getting the right tech to the right job at the right time
Dispatching basics for service businesses: how to assign jobs, a daily dispatch rhythm, emergency calls, on-the-way texts, crew updates and numbers to watch.
Read guideHow to manage a small fleet: keeping two to twenty work vehicles on the road
How to manage a small fleet of work trucks and vans: vehicle records, maintenance schedules, daily inspections, drivers, fuel, GPS tracking and when to replace.
Read guideJob site safety basics: protecting your crew without a safety department
Job site safety basics for small service businesses: falls and ladders, chemicals and safety data sheets, OSHA injury reporting and free consultation.
Read guideHow to plan your busy season before it starts planning you
How to plan your busy season: forecast demand from last year, match crew capacity, hire early, prep trucks and equipment, pre-book work and answer every call.
Read guideHow to sell your service business, starting years before you list it
How to sell your service business: what buyers pay for, valuation methods, preparing books and systems, finding a buyer, due diligence, taxes and the handoff.
Read guideFind out what your leads really cost.
Get a free system quote: we look at your site, your Google profile, how your calls get answered and what you spend on leads, then put what we'd build and what it costs in writing.
Get a free system quote