subject: Dining With Your Contractor [print this page] Your contractor can be the devil or your savior. Either way if the lines are blurred between a working relationship and a personal relationship, it will cause problems. There is nothing wrong with a business lunch or dinner. Going over the details of the job over a cup of coffee in the morning away from the job site, wont hurt anything. It is how you dine with your contractor that will keep the relationship professional.
PAYING THE BILL
Even if you cannot write off the meal as a business expense, pay for your own bill. If you frequently go out to eat to discuss the job, you can take turns. Accepting the offer to have the contractor pay may cause problems down the road like hearing I paid for all the lunches and he cant even let _____ slide. It is best to keep things separate. Dont make too much out of an occasional cup of coffee if he wants to pay, but keep it in check. You are paying good money for your contractors services; there is no need to add to the cost by paying for any meals. If you do pay for meals, dont expect any favors in return.
CONVERSATION
Keep the conversation about work when dining out with your contractor. You are paying your contractor to do a service, not to be your friend and companion. Even if you did hire your best friend, keep clear-cut boundaries between the work relationship and the friendship. Work lunches are work lunches and social lunches are for socializing. It is great if the job is completed without a hitch, but if there is a glitch, it should be handled in a professional and a business-like manner. This is easier to do if you have clear boundaries with your contractor.
ALCOHOL
No matter how close you feel with your contractor, you should not be mixing alcohol and business. There are several problems with that including unclear memories of what is discussed, impaired judgment, defenses let down, emotions rising, and boundaries becoming blurred. There is no good that can come out of trying to resolve a problem during happy hour.
When looking for a professional contractor that wont blur the lines between business and friendship, contact Concrete Flooring Solutions to meet your concrete flooring needs. You will be assured professional results by experienced personal and staff.
by: Kristy Mills
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
