Experience meets inspiration in the form of John Abrams, of South Mountain Company - a $7.5 million design/build firm in Martha's Vineyard, Mass. - and winner of the inaugural Fred Case Remodeling Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The qualities that won him that accolade are well on display in his body of work. More
Thomas Buckborough signed up for a two-day class given by John Abrams at Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Warren, Vt. As president and design director at Thomas Buckborough Associates in Acton, Mass., he was looking forward to hearing about some new ideas and initiatives that could help him run his architectural design, build, and remodeling firm. More
Generational transition seems to work best when it's gradual, consenting, and unambiguous. More
Retirement. Most remodelers are too busy running jobs to even think about it. Or they love their work so much that they can't imagine a time when work might be replaced by leisure activities. Either way, your body may not allow you to work forever. The smart thing to do is to plan for a life after remodeling. The sooner you start planning to retire, the sooner you will have the option. And it's never too early or too late to begin. More
In 1983, Mary Kilgore took a job as an accounting clerk at Mid South Building Supply, a $10 million siding, window, and cabinetry business in Springfield, Va. Two years later, company founder Norman Rales started looking for a way to retire. The problem: Rales' children had no interest in taking over the business and potential buyers were few and far between. More
Most contractors are so immersed in the day-to-day issues of running a company they fail to protect themselves against events that could cost them or their families the business. More
Retirement is changing. Because we're living longer, healthier lives, we require more income to maintain current lifestyles for a longer time. That requires planning, and for remodelers, as for owners of other businesses, the sooner you start, the easier it will be to meet the needs of your own retirement. More
The Internal Revenue Service now offers a free CD-ROM to help small-business owners learn about setting up and maintaining IRA-based retirement plans for their employees. More