Friday, December 18, 2009

Builder Breakfast & Best Business Practices Program Well Attended

On Thursday, December 17, 2009, Steve Hays and Felicia Malter from RubinBrown, a regional accounting firm that conducts research for the National Association of Home Builders, provided a presentation to the HBA Builders, Remodelers and Developers at the December Builder Breakfast.

The Best Business Practices presentation covered many topics that Builders need to know in regards to accounting practices that can provide the best "real time" business performance data. This helps builders identify their best opportunities for cutting costs and improving the bottom line. The information included a home building industry update, account classifications and where the numbers need to go, how to figure net income and the break-even point, ideas on how to improve gross profit, how to detect and prevent fraud, tips in preparing for your 2009 financial year end, banking requirements, home buyer tax credit provisions, and the NOL (Net Operating Loss) Carryback.


The NOL provision expands the two‐year carryback period to five years for 2008 tax year losses. Carryback expansion only applies to business with average gross receipts of no more than $15 million for tax years 2005, 2006 and 2007. The potential benefit for small businesses is that this provides an immediate cash refund for losses in cases where the taxpayer has exhausted taxable income in the prior two tax years.


Many thanks to Breakfast Sponsor Connell Insurance, represented by Randall Gammill, pictured below in top photo; and Program Sponsor Bob Fitzgerald, First Venture, bottom photo.










Sunday, December 13, 2009

HBA Will Host EPA's Lead Paint Renovator Certification Training in Springfield

WHO NEEDS THIS COURSE? Residential Renovators, Insurance Restoration Contractors, Painters, Window-Siding & Guttering Professionals, Plumbers, HVAC Professionals, Demo Contractors, Foundation Repair Specialists, Government and Historical Restoration Contractors….and the list could go on and on…

Beginning in April 2010, firms working in pre-1978 homes will need to be certified. Along with the firm certification, an employee will also need to be certified as a Certified Renovator. This employee will be responsible for training other employees and overseeing work practices and cleaning. The training curriculum is an eight-hour class with two hours of hands-on training. Both the firm and Certified Renovator certifications are valid for five years. A Certified Renovator must take a four-hour refresher course to be re-certified. Click here to view the EPA's website regarding this new regulation.

The HBA is contracting with one of the EPA-approved training providers in Missouri to provide this two-day training course locally on three different occasions: February 4 & 5, March 4 & 5 and March 11 & 12. If you have questions about this training or would like to receive the course registration information when it is finalized, please email jennifer@springfieldhba.com.



Builder/Remodeler Members Continue Pursuing Designations

Eight HBA members pursuing the NAHB Professional Designations of Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) and/or Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) completed the NAHB's Customer Service course last week in Springfield via webcast.

The Customer Service Course focuses on building effective relationships with customers and strategies to exceed their expectations. The completion of the course moved those in attendance several steps closer to completing their CGR/CGB designations:

Matt Bailey, The Bailey Company
Scott Bracy, Steward Construction
Rick Ramsey, Ramsey Building Company
Scott Kisling, Up-Tyte Construction
Rusty MacLachlan, J. Russell MacLachlan Custom Homes
Andy Flint, HA Construction Design
Shannon Lee, Rock Solid Construction
Sam Clifton, Millstone Custom Homes





Sunday, December 6, 2009

Best Business and Tax Practices for the New Decade

PROGRAM FOR BUILDERS, REMODELERS & DEVELOPERS
If you are a RESIDENTIAL BUILDER, REMODELER, or DEVELOPER, this is your opportunity to learn from the experts at Rubin Brown LLP, CPAs, as they discuss what reports, technology tools, key statistics, ratios and other information will be important as home builders prepare for success in the new decade.

We have combined the HBA's 4th quarter Builder/Remodeler-Only breakfast with this important program on Thursday, December 17 at The Library Center, 8 am - 11:30 am. This is a complimentary breakfast and program for builders, remodelers and developers but you MUST RSVP so we can get an accurate head count for breakfast. You can download an informational flyer by clicking here and RSVP by calling Kay 881.3711.