Business

The Pros and Cons of Starting a Construction Company in 2020

Published

6 years ago

May 14, 2020

It’s almost impossible to go anywhere these days without seeing some kind of construction taking place. It might be the road outside your neighborhood being repaired, the house across the street adding on an extra bedroom, or your favorite shopping mall getting an entirely new wing.

With so many projects taking place at all times, would it be worth your while to get a piece of the pie and jump into the construction world? Is now a good time to start a construction company?

Let’s run through the pros and cons of starting a construction company in 2020.

The Pros

Why not start off positive with our list of pros.

Plenty of Work

When it comes to construction, there are plenty of projects to go around, especially in large, metropolitan areas. States like New York, California, Texas, and Florida all enjoy strong economies, low unemployment rates, and plenty of money available to be invested in construction projects.

It doesn’t matter if you’re in residential or non-residential construction, there is plenty of work to go around.

Future Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction jobs are on the rebound and by 2026, the industry is set to be employing nearly eight million people.

That means that construction is not just a solid job to enter into now, but it’s going to be a job that doesn’t go away over the next decade. You can expect continuous work for many years to come.

Job Control

No matter how small you start out or how big you grow, you’re going to have more control over your job and the work you do.

As the head honcho, you can decide which projects to take on and which projects to stray away from. Some projects are going to attract multiple construction companies and you’ll have to improve your bidding skills, but you still have control over what you do and where you do it.

You’ll also have control over the types of construction tools you want to use, such as an Aurand deck crawler, and other details like whether or not you want to buy the vehicles you use for each job or simply rent the vehicles you’ll need per job type… Plus, it’s way more cost-effective to rent a flatbed truck than to buy one… and you have full control over that.

High-Earning Potential

OK, let’s talk about money.

Even if you love your job, you may not be able to do it forever if you’re not earning enough cash, right?

When it comes to the construction industry, there is great potential for current and future earnings. Even if your company specializes in a certain trade, you can expect to earn at least $50,000 a year, if not more.

Construction bosses can expect to earn well into six figures over time.

Providing Value and Filling a Need

While having high-speed internet and a great TV are important, humans really only need a few things to survive: food, water, access to medical care, and a roof over your head.

In construction, you can take solace in knowing that you’re filling a dire need in the community and helping people live better lives. Even if your company specializes in electrical repair, you might not be building a house but you’re making sure the lights stay on.

The Cons

We can’t have a pros list without a cons list, unfortunately. What are the biggest cons in the construction world?

Work is Concentrated in a Few Places

Even though there is plenty of work to go around in the country itself, the majority of that work is found in only 10 states.

Other states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Minnesota are actually experiencing negative growth in the construction world. So it’s vital to choose a great location for starting your business.

Lack of Skilled Workers

While you may start off small and do most of the work yourself at the beginning, eventually you might want to grow and hire more and more people.

However, it can be quite hard to find skilled workers in the construction world. Skilled workers to fill trade jobs are becoming scarce and some estimates say that for every four people that retire from a specific trade, only one enters to fill their spot.

Legal Hoops

One of the most annoying parts about starting a construction business is making sure you follow all the legal guidelines.

You have to get the right insurance, obtain a business license, and make sure you have all the correct permits. The challenging thing is every state is going to have its own set of guidelines, so what may work for a friend in Tennessee might not work for you in Kentucky.

Business

Click for Counsel: YesLawyer Wants to Make Lawyers as Accessible as Wi-Fi

Published

5 days ago

April 1, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Photo Courtesy of: YesLawyer

Byline: Andi Stark

For many people facing a legal problem, the most difficult part is not understanding their rights but finding a lawyer willing to speak with them in the first place. Long wait times, unclear pricing, and administrative hurdles often delay even the most basic consultations. YesLawyer, an AI-enabled plaintiff firm operating across all 50 states, is testing whether technology can shorten that gap.

Founded in 2024 by 25-year-old entrepreneur Rob Epstein, the platform offers free intake, automated screening, and, in many cases, same-day conversations with licensed attorneys. The idea is simple: reduce the friction between a client’s first request for help and an actual legal discussion. In this interview, Epstein explains how the system works, where artificial intelligence fits into the process, and what problems the company is trying to address in the broader legal system

Q: When you say you want lawyers to be “as accessible as Wi-Fi,” what does that mean in practical terms?

A: It’s a way of describing speed and availability. Someone dealing with a workplace dispute, a serious injury, or an immigration issue should be able to move from an online form or phone call to a real conversation with counsel in hours, not weeks. YesLawyer is structured so that a client begins with a free case evaluation, goes through automated conflict checks and basic screening, and, in many instances, speaks with a lawyer the same day.

Q: How does the process work once someone contacts the platform?

A: We use a structured workflow. It starts with a short questionnaire and an initial conversation to capture basic facts. That information feeds into conflict checks and internal review. The system then proposes a match with a licensed attorney and provides a calendar link for a virtual consultation, often within 24 hours. After the meeting, the client receives a written legal plan outlining next steps, deadlines, and estimated fees.

Q: Where does artificial intelligence fit into that process, and where does it stop?

A: AI is used for organizing and routing information, not for giving legal advice. It helps with conflict checks at scale, case categorization, and structured summaries so attorneys can focus on the substance of the matter. Every consultation is conducted by a licensed lawyer, and all decisions about strategy or next steps are made by humans.

Q: What problem is this model trying to solve in the current legal system?

A: Delay and cost are still major barriers. Many civil plaintiffs face long waits just to get a first appointment, along with high retainers and hourly billing that make early legal advice risky. We try to respond with faster consultations, flat-fee options, and financing. The idea is to remove administrative friction so lawyers spend less time on logistics and more time speaking with clients.

Q: Some critics say platforms like this blur the line between a technology company and a law firm. How do you describe YesLawyer?

A: We describe ourselves as a national, AI-enabled plaintiff firm that connects clients with independent attorneys. That structure does raise regulatory questions, especially around responsibility and oversight. We focus on licensing verification, attorney-written case plans, and clear communication about fees and services.

Q: You’ve said the main bottleneck is “systems” rather than people. What do you mean by that?

A: The issue isn’t that lawyers don’t want to help more people. It’s that the systems around them make it hard to scale their time. Intake, scheduling, and document handling take hours. Automating those parts means attorneys can handle more matters without being overwhelmed by repetitive tasks.

Q: Does this model risk favoring only the most profitable cases?

A: That’s a real concern in legal technology. Automation often works best for repeatable, high-volume disputes. Our view is that lowering administrative cost can actually make it easier to take on smaller or more complex cases that might otherwise be turned away. Whether that holds over time depends on the data.

Measuring Impact Over Time

YesLawyer’s attempt to compress the timeline between inquiry and consultation reflects broader changes in how legal services are being delivered. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in administrative work, firms are experimenting with new ways to reduce wait times and clarify costs.

The company’s early growth suggests that many clients value faster access to an initial conversation, even before considering long-term representation. Whether this platform-based model becomes widely adopted or remains one of several emerging approaches will depend on regulatory developments, lawyer participation, and measurable outcomes for clients. For now, YesLawyer’s experiment highlights a central question in modern legal practice: how quickly can help realistically be made available to the people who need it.