“Being a real company sounds like a simple task in theory, but in reality, it is not a consistently followed practice. So what does ‘be a real company’ mean? It requires doing the small and sometimes neglected items that you would normally complete while trying to build your company in your local market,” Jeff Carrier writes.

While advertising, marketing and public relations are all methods businesses use to communicate with their stakeholders, the benefits of each are not usually discussed individually. Small business owners know they need marketing to target the right customers and advertising to make the phones ring, but they do not realize public relations can help them become the trusted experts in their markets, which leads to greater opportunities. So, what is PR? Heather Ripley explains.

“When restorers allow insurers to make major changes to prices and scopes of work, it creates a serious risk that policyholders will end up with something less than what restorers believe in their professional judgment are the best methods to return properties to their pre-loss condition.”

The gap between exit-ready restoration businesses and eager buyers continues to widen, and a lack of sellable businesses could spin the industry into crisis. But there is good news on the horizon for current owners who focus on six key areas of their companies.

By all means, let your gut lead the way when it comes to establishing your company values, your sense of purpose, and your long-term vision. But for the sake of that beautiful vision, strategize by the numbers.

Rather than begin the hiring process by looking at external factors such as unemployment rates or shifts in the perceived value of secondary education (things outside your control), it would be more beneficial to start the recruiting process by looking internally at both your company’s culture and the company’s leadership (things within your control). Chuck Violand highlights three critical areas to invest in.

In this episode of Ask the Expert, Ryan Pritchard shares practical steps restoration contractors can take to ensure the software they invest in delivers value, including scaling solutions with the growth of their business and embracing an integrated ecosystem.

R&R is officially accepting nominations for the 2022 Ladder Award through May 30.

Why the restoration industry is good for women, why women are good for the industry, and three intentional steps employers can take to make space for more women and other underrepresented groups to thrive both in the workforce and at the leadership level.

Barry Rice, a Certified Safety Professional with over 20 years of experience, is the Environmental, Health and Safety director for Signal Restoration Services’ family of companies. In this episode of Ask the Expert, Rice discusses the importance of safety, as well as best practices for employee health and safety, in this particularly high-risk field of restoration.