Despite what doomsday prophets proclaim, there are HVAC contractors out there who are growing and profiting. This article is a guide to your own 10-step program on how to make more money in this economy.

How did the economy fare in 2011? What will it do in 2012? These questions are tricky to answer, but as contractors prepare their business strategies for the coming year, many are looking to numbers and forecasts for direction.

Are you looking for ways to attract new customers? Are customers coming in the door, but you have trouble keeping them as long-term clients? These are fairly common dilemmas for HVAC contractors — and almost everyone else in the services industry.

No small company has been immune to the negative business forces that have besieged the HVAC industry since the implosion of the housing market and the economic downturn. How did two contractors use IAQ to fight back?

In a tight economy, contractors have to move beyond just selling the basic furnace or air conditioner to customers. One way to expand sales and improve profits is by focusing on IAQ products.

If you are in a Groundhog's Day rut and each day is essentially the same, it's time to break out of the trance.

We, as contractors, have to walk a very fine line when it comes to deciding what issues/opportunities we go after. The reason for this is that we have a responsibility to our customers to make them aware of upcoming issues in order that they, the customers, may make informed decisions regarding the issues confronting them.

Striking the balance between the need to hire qualified employees and the need to avoid disability discrimination claims has become even more challenging since changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) went into effect in 2009.

Climate Zone recently celebrated a grand reopening and returned its headquarters to Haverhill, Mass. 

Often we find ourselves so caught up in the day-to-day activities in which we are putting out fires that we are unable to step back and try to figure out how to prevent the fires in the first place. There is one method that I have found that can really help to make you take the time to look at why there are fires and emergencies in your organization.