Attention MN Contractors
This course contains the following courses that are also available for purchase individually. Please note that if you have taken any of these courses during the same two-year licensing period, you may only receive continuing education credit once.
Courses included:
- Cyber Security for Builders (20220192)
- Managing Subcontractor Liability (20220339)
- Success or Failure Depends on Your Plan (20210422)
- Winning with Mechanics' Liens (20200329)
Subcontractor Liability, Mechanics’ Liens, Business Plan, & Cyber Security
Total Credits: 4 including 4 Minnesota Residential Building Contractor, 4 Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor
- Categories:
- MN Business Management Credit | MN Contractor Credit | WI Contractor Credit | WI Legal/Business Credit
- Faculty:
- Bill Gschwind | Stephen Yoch
- Duration:
- 4 Hours
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- License:
- Access for 180 day(s) after purchase.
Description
This course is composed of four separate sections focusing on business management, construction laws and codes and contracts, liability, and risk management.
Topics Included:
- Cyber Security for Builders
- Managing Subcontractor Liability
- Success or Failure Depends on Your Plan
- Winning With Mechanics’ Liens
"Outstanding speaker!" Charles Aspenson, Aspenson Construction LLC
"Great information shared on liens and how they are used. Course was easy to follow and understand." Daniel Sollom, Emerald Construction
"Bill is a great motivative speaker and resource." Dean Soderbeck, Soderbeck Design & Construction, Inc.
"Bill packs a lot of information into his courses. Highly recommend taking this course." Rollyn Zeltwanger, Zeltwanger Construction Inc.
"Stephen Yoch is a great instructor!" Anthony Brown, TNT Building Corp. and Brown & Sons Construction Inc.
"This was one of the most informative classes I have taken in recent years." Raymond Moe, Raymond Moe Construction Inc.
"The course was very easy to sign up for and had tons of great info!" Jeremy Jones, Basic Construction LLC
"Good instructors." Ben Minks, Capstone Homes, Inc.
Quiz Info
In order to receive continuing education credit(s), you will need to take a 10-question quiz after each hour of the course. To pass each quiz, you will need to achieve a score of 70% or higher. If you are unsuccessful, you will have an opportunity to repeat the quiz. Once you have successfully completed the course, you can download your continuing education certificate(s) showing the credit(s) that you have earned.
Credit Info
This course is approved for 4 hours of MN residential contractor, remodeler, and roofer continuing education by the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry, including the business management and energy requirements. It is also approved for 4 hours of WI Dwelling Contractor Qualifier continuining education by the Wisconsin Dept. of Safety & Professional Services, and qualifies for the 4 hour focus requirement on construction laws and codes and contracts, liability, and risk management.
If you are eligible to receive continuing education credits, your information will be electronically reported to the appropriate agency within 3 business days of course completion.
Access Info
Your online course is accessible 24/7. The course will be available to you for 180 days from purchase date.
Questions and Comments
Questions and comments related to the curriculum for this course may be submitted to the instructor at education@housingfirstmn.org.
Handouts
| Cyber Security for Builders Handout (2.3 MB) | 40 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Managing Subcontractor Liability Handout 1 (87.4 KB) | 3 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Managing Subcontractor Liability Handout 2 (84.9 KB) | 3 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Managing Subcontractor Liability Handout 3 (87 KB) | 3 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Managing Subcontractor Liability Handout 4 (1.9 MB) | 4 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Success or Failure Depends on Your Plan Handout (1.8 MB) | 6 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Winning with Mechanics Liens Handout (2.6 MB) | 5 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Faculty
Bill Gschwind Related Seminars and Products
Principal Attorney
Minnesota Construction Law Services, PLLC
Bill started Minnesota Construction Law Services in 2012 focusing on residential construction and small business law providing legal and business services to residential contractors and other owner-operated businesses. He became a lawyer after more than 25 years in the business world to bring common sense and business principles to the implementation of legal services for the construction industry.
Stephen Yoch Related Seminars and Products
Felhaber Larson
Stephen has extensive transactional and litigation experience which allows him to assist builders and developers in evaluating all the alternatives when facing legal challenges. Steve is a highly rated speaker and an award-winning writer. He is a member of the Felhaber Larson Board of Directors, and he currently serves as Chair of the Business and Real Estate Section of the Firm.
Course Details
Cyber Security for Builders
This course will review cyber security threats and the legal landscape. How to limit risk, respond to cyber security breaches and social media attacks.
Course Outline:
- Cyber Security Definition and Threats
- Legal Landscape and Limiting the Risk
- Responding to the Breach
- Social Media Attacks and Response
Learner Objectives:
- Understand cyber security threats and legal landscape
- Learn how to limit risks and respond to breaches and attacks
Managing Subcontractor Liability
This legal based course is taught by licensed Minnesota and Wisconsin licensed attorney Bill Gschwind. Misclassification of employees subjects the employer to liability for worker’s comp, unemployment, payroll taxes, and income tax withholdings, plus penalties and interest. Government agencies don’t care what the parties call each other; they will look to their operating relationship to determine employment status.
Course Outline:
- Introduction
- Independent Contractor
- Written Subcontractor Agreement
- Personal Guaranty
- Proof of Authority to Work as a Subcontractor
- Certificates of Insurance
- Conclusion
Learner Objectives:
- Learn how to be more careful and purposeful in managing the relationship with sub-contractors to avoid liability
Success or Failure Depends on Your Plan
Most business owners have heard of a business plan, but few know about, or understand the importance of, a strategic plan. Consequently, their businesses commonly fail to achieve the success they envisioned. More disappointing? Owners struggle throughout the life of their businesses, putting out fires but never achieving the success they dreamed of. This course provides an overview of the strategic planning process: who prepares it, what makes it different from a business plan, when do you need a strategic plan, why it drives success, and how strategic planning is similar to other planning contractors already know how to do.
A strong construction business is able to successfully complete challenging projects and survive a challenging construction environment. A well-developed strategic plan is fundamental to a strong construction business.
Course Outline:
- Introduction: What is Strategic Planning?
- Why and when do you need a Strategic Plan
- What is the Strategic Planning Process?
- The 4 components of a Strategic Planning Map
- Building a Business Plan from the Strategic Plan
- The Plan Annual Review
- Conclusion
Learner Objectives:
- Identify weak points in your business plan
- Identify core items to achieve your business vision
- Learn about available resources
Winning With Mechanics’ Liens
Frustrated contractors trying to collect for their work often see, mistakenly, mechanics’ liens as their most powerful collection tool. Mechanics’ liens can be used to collect, just as a nail can be driven with a lineman’s pliers, but they are frequently not the best tool for the job. In this legal based course, taught by licensed Minnesota and Wisconsin attorney Bill Gschwind, students will gain a clear understanding of how best to use mechanics’ liens to help them collect, and how to avoid throwing good money after bad.
Course Outline:
- What is a mechanics’ lien?
- Failure to use the funds provided by an owner for labor or materials for that project when money is due is a theft crime
- How does a person entitled to a mechanics’ lien protect that right?
- When should a mechanics’ lien statement be filed?
- Who should a contractor turn to for the preparation, service, and recording of mechanics’ lien notices and statements?
- What does it cost to prepare and record a mechanics’ lien statement, and then use the lien to collect the balance due?
- How are lien waivers used and when are they required?
- What alternatives to mechanics’ liens are available to collect debts?
- Conclusion
Learner Outcomes:
- Recognize when it is best to spend money on a mechanics’ lien
- Learn when other collection tools are a better choice