Business

The Pros and Cons of Starting a Construction Company in 2020

Published

2 weeks 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, 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

Cobalt Advisors Complaints Already Starting For Debt Consolidation Loans

Published

1 day ago

May 24, 2020

Matthew Wiles

Cobalt Partners: Can You Trust Them?

Cobalt Advisors and Credit 9 have joined Saxton Associates and Hornet Partners in flooding the market with debt consolidation and personal loan offers in the mail. The problem is that the terms and conditions are at the very least confusing, and possibly even suspect. The interest rates are so low that you would have to have near-perfect credit to be approved for one of their offers. Best 2020 Reviews, the personal finance review site, has been following Carina Advisors (also known as Corey Advisors, Pennon Partners, Jayhawk Advisors, Clay Advisors, Colony Associates, and Pine Advisors, etc.).

Consolidation loan occurs when someone decides to pay off several smaller loans with a single larger loan. You are lumping together all your payments into a single large payment. One of the benefits of the larger loan is a lower interest rate than smaller loans.

Moreover, the term on the larger loan is often longer which can lower the amount the person has to pay every month.

Most creditors offer consolidation as an easy solution for debt problems. While a consolidation loan can make it easier to control your debt because you only have a single payment to remember, it doesn’t address the main reasons why you got into the debt in the first place.

That being said, a consolidation debt is an efficient way to help you make short work of your debt and significantly improve your financial life. There are many kinds of consolidation loans for creditors to choose from. Make sure you select the right type of consideration loan for your particular financial situation.

Loan Consolidation for Students

Student loan consolidation is popular among students but it is important to have a college degree to qualify. The debtor can take all of their loans from previous years and consolidate them into a single loan. This will lock the interest rate to prevent it from rising over a long period of time. Moreover, student consolidation loans will stretch out over a longer time frame which will reduce the monthly payments, but it won’t save you from having to pay the interest.

Since you won’t be taking out any more student loans, this type of consolidation loan is a great option. Most people can only consolidate their federal loans, but this will make managing the loan much easier since they have to worry about a single payment every month.

If you want to learn more about the student consolidation loan, get in touch with the US Department of Education’s Direct Loan Program. These entities will help you consolidate the loan and lock in a fixed interest rate. You may even seek a payment forgiveness program. The consolidation must be done through the Direct Loan Program to qualify for repayment benefits.

Unsecured Consolidation Loans

Unsecured consolidation loans are unsecured loans that are offered by banks and credit unions. They are also known as signature loans. The interest rates on unsecured loans are lower than the credit card’s. Most people take out the loan for a certain period of time.

Despite its advantages, unsecured consolidation loans can offer a low-interest rate, but it may not be that great for many debtors. Moreover, it still doesn’t address the main reason why most people got into this problem in the first place: a spending problem.

Without addressing this issue first, you may ‘relapse’ and rack up more credit card refinancing vs debt consolidation, not to mention the fact that you still owe payments on the consolidation loan. If you decide to go this route, you should stop the use of your credit cards entirely.

You may have received unsecured consolidation loan offers in the mail. But it is searching in more credible sources to see if you can qualify for a better loan. Apply at your credit union ort local bank in addition to the offers in your mail. It is worth reading online reviews of the loan and the creditor offering the consolidation loan.

Home Equity Loan (aka Second Mortgage)

This type of consolidation is a home equity loan or a second mortgage. This gives people the option of borrowing against their property (or their home) and utilize this money to pay off their debts on credit cards that may have been accrued.

Because the loan is secured against the equity in the home, this option provides you with the lowest interest rates but also increases your risk of losing your property if you fail to make the payments on time. At the end of the day, most people end up going back into debt out of force of habit in just a few years’ time. Make sure to be weigh the pros and cons of this option before choosing it.

If you are thinking about home equity loans, make sure to stop using your credit cards completely before you accrue further debt on them. It is worth your time to thoroughly research all the different banks and companies that offer home equity loans. As a general rule of thumb, you may qualify for lower interest rates if you go through your credit union or local bank.

Is Consolidation Loan Going to Help Me Recover From Debt

While consolidation loan seems like a good option if you think about it, it is important to weigh all your options before signing up for it. As mentioned earlier in the article, most people are spendthrifts and end up back with crippling debt after having just paid their previous loan off. Using a consolidation loan requires discipline and access to a steady source of income.

This is a serious problem that can get even worse for you if you keep resorting to debt consolidation. In most cases, the best solution is to set up a personalized debt payment plan. This will help you identify your spending patterns and the complete breakdown of cash flow. A bird’s eye view of your finances will help you turn your finances around and get the best possible results.

If as a last resort, you do decide to go down the consolidation loan route, make sure to do your research into all the creditors near you. Whenever possible, look for ways to minimize the interest on your loan and secure the longest pay off time. Your goal should be to lower the interest rate to help you quickly pay off the loan without a hitch.

Finally, there are many budgeting apps that let you take full control of your budget. They provide insights into your spending and let you keep your money situation under control.