Today the government issued some much awaited guidance on the issue of businesses being scrutinized and/or audited for their receipt of PPP loans. The guidance comes in FAQ 46 (click here for details). Based on the plain reading they will not question “good faith certifications” for loans of less than $2 million. Treasury states that…
True to their name, recently created qualified opportunity zones (QOZs) may raise attractive opportunities for contractors. But, before taking advantage, familiarize yourself with the requirements of these projects and be on guard against their potential risks. How QOZs Work QOZs were established under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. They’re designed to attract investment in…
On Thursday April 30th, the IRS issued Notice 2020-32 to provide guidance on the tax effect of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. PPP provides funding based on 2.5 months of the prior year’s payroll. The amount of the funds used for Payroll, Rent, Utilities, and certain other expenses over an eight week period are forgiven….
Family-owned construction businesses often face distinctive challenges when it comes to succession planning. Emotions can run high, and the business owner’s lifelong working legacy may be at stake. Once you’ve chosen a successor, and put a basic succession plan in place, it’s important to respond quickly if trouble starts brewing. Form your team Succession problems…
After reaching a certain level of success, many construction companies struggle to keep up with employment and human resources (HR) tasks such as recruiting and hiring, payroll processing, and employee benefits and workers’ comp administration. One solution may be to outsource these functions to a professional employer organization (PEO). How it works When you partner…
Tariffs on steel and aluminum have recently contributed to rising materials costs. There are many other factors that can cause prices to escalate, too, including shortages brought about by building booms in other parts of the country or world; environmental issues, such as loss of forestlands; and rising fuel and other transportation costs. What can…
The skilled labor shortage has been a problem for so long that you might be tired of reading about it. Yet, on a nationwide basis, the fact remains that construction businesses face a great challenge in hiring and retaining well-trained and experienced workers. If your construction company has good people on board right now, you’ve…
Benchmarking is the process of comparing one’s business processes and performance metrics with your own historical data or those of other, similar companies. Through this process, you can identify the “best in class” business practices in the construction industry, or in another industry where similar processes exist, and compare these approaches and results with your own. In doing so, you’ll hopefully…
Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 made the research credit permanent after decades of short-term renewals. It also made two important changes that expand the benefits of the credit for smaller businesses. First, beginning in 2016, the act allows businesses with average gross receipts for the previous three years of $50 million or less to claim the…
The thought of creating a buy-sell agreement may strike a certain amount of trepidation into the hearts of some contractors. The mere suggestion of ownership change can raise delicate issues that are often avoided. But putting off the creation of a well-crafted buy-sell can put a construction company at risk if unexpected circumstances arise. Understand…