Contractors live and die by their ability to get hired for and complete different jobs. For the most part, jobs are done just as they should be and everyone is left satisfied by the end result. Sometimes, however, a contractor may find themselves in a position that puts their job in peril.
A Lawsuit
A lawsuit can disrupt any business, but for a contractor it can be even more of a problem. As a contractor, you’re your own employer. This means that you’ll likely need to be more heavily involved in the resolution process than you would if you were someone else’s employee. There are a variety of reasons you might be sued. Regardless of the reason, however, you’ll want to have a lawyer on your side to help you navigate the suit, even if everything points to a cut and dried case.
Customer Complaints
Customer complaints are to be expected in any line of work. It’s not possible to please everyone all the time, so you’re bound to have the occasional complaint. Of course, not all complaints are created equal. There’s your run of the mill complaint on Google, and then there’s what happens when a customer complains about you to your licensing board. The latter is far more serious and has the potential to result in your license being revoked. You should get legal advice if your licensing board reports a customer complaint to you.
A Bad Reputation
Both lawsuits and customer complaints can do real damage to your reputation as a contractor. Your reputation is a real factor in whether or not people decide to hire you. Not only can a bad reputation cost you a job, it can put you out of business. This is why it’s so important to monitor your reputation. If you find that yours is suffering, start by identifying why. Once you know what the problem is, you’ll be able to take action to correct it. Be proactive in maintaining a good reputation so you don’t have to deal with fixing it.
If your job as a contractor is put in peril, it’s important to take action as soon as possible. You probably don’t need to be reminded that it’s your livelihood on the line. The sooner you take action, the better your chances of having a positive outcome. Reach out to the appropriate experts to help you navigate the problem and come out the other side with your job intact.
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