Download or read book A Simple Guide to Turning a Profit as a Contractor written by Melanie Hodgdon and published by Dog Ear Publishing. This book was released on 2009-10 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the book you should have bought the day you decided you could make more money running a construction company than banging nails for somebody else. It provides you with the answers to those business questions that plague contractors: what am I doing wrong and what's stopping me from making the money that I deserve? You'll meet Mike, a remodeler who thought he owned a business but actually had a low-paying job. Many contractors start out like Mike. This book, in a very simple and easy to understand way, follows Mike as he learns to understand his numbers, adopts new systems, and creates a repeatable process for profit. "Every contractor should read this book. It is the first and only book that makes the numbers game easy to understand, but, more importantly, easy to incorporate into a contractor's business. Bravo!" - Shawn McCadden, CR, CLC, CAPS, award-winning remodeler, columnist, and nationally recognized remodeling industry specialist. "The authors have distilled many of the mysteries of the small-business person who can no longer manage the business by quick thinking and fast actions." - Mike Gorman, CR, construction industry author and speaker. "Contractors love a good story, and that's what they get. All of the basics are covered, including cash flow analysis, distinguishing job costs from overhead expenses, and calculating mark-up." - Sal Alfano, Editorial Director, Hanley Wood Business Media. Melanie Hodgdon (Business Systems Management, Inc.) and Leslie Shiner, MBA (The ShinerGroup) both manage successful consulting and coaching companies. With over 40 years combined experience, they help contractors better understand and improve business practices and maximize profits. In 2007, they began to work on a series of joint projects that would capitalize on their combined talents. This book is one product of that collaboration.

Download or read book Markup Profit written by Michael C. Stone and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In order to succeed in a construction business, you have to be able to price your jobs to cover all labor, material and overhead expenses, and make a decent profit. But calculating markup is only part of the picture. If you're going to beat the odds and stay in business -- profitably, you also need to know how to write good contracts, manage your crews, work with subcontractors and collect on your work. This book covers the business basics of running a construction company, whether you're a general or specialty contractor working in remodeling, new construction or commercial work. The principles outlined here apply to all construction-related businesses. You'll find tried and tested formulas to guarantee profits, with step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow examples to help you learn how to operate your business successfully. Includes a link to free downloads of blank forms and checklists used in this book.

Download or read book Markup Profit written by Michael Stone and published by Craftsman Book Co. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In order to succeed in a construction business you have to be able to mark up the price of your jobs to cover overhead expenses and make a decent profit. The problem is how much to mark it up. You don't want to lose jobs because you charge too much, and you don't want to work for free because you've charged too little. If you know how much to mark up you can apply it to your job costs and arrive at the right sales price for your work. This book gives you the background and the calculations necessary to easily figure the markup that is right for your business. Includes a CD-ROM with forms and checklists for your use.

Download or read book Managing the Profitable Construction Business written by Thomas C. Schleifer and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2014-03-31 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Take control of your construction contracting business and manage it through the natural highs and lows of the construction market. Learn from a team of construction business veterans led by Thomas C. Schleifer, who is commonly referred to as a construction business "turnaround" expert due to the number of construction companies he has rescued from financial distress. His financial acumen, combined with his practical, hands-on experience, has made him a sought-after private consultant. His experience and no-nonsense philosophy have truly given him a unique perspective. Important topics covered include: Understanding the primary areas of construction business failure in the next decade Minimizing business risk with real-world examples Developing a positive and competent management attitude and strategy Discover how to maneuver through this complicated and risky industry by using the authors' research and proven success strategies to sustain and grow your business.

Download or read book Making Money in Construction written by Robert Baldwin and published by . This book was released on 2012-02-01 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book covers the business aspects of construction, and is written for general contractors as well as subcontractors. Subjects examined in depth include the following: Sales Techniques and Strategies: Includes a basic sales plan and 15 key sales tactics to be used in negotiations with clients. There is also an extensive section devoted to closing techniques. The advice contained in this chapter will increase builders' closing percentages and help them avoid wasting time on customers who will never buy. Estimating: This chapter presents the only estimating formula a builder will ever need and gives precise information on how to figure overhead and profit into their estimates. This section also examines the differences between estimating for remodeling and for new construction. Advertising, Website Design, and Social Media: Discusses the extent to which each trade should use traditional advertising media, presents a case for a reduced emphasis on traditional advertising in general, and sets forth 8 ways to achieve an alternative to conventional advertising that will increase the size and quality of the response. Also covers website design and optimization, and social media, in depth. Kitchen Design and Cabinetry: This section contains an overview of the most important area of knowledge for remodeling contractors, that is, kitchen design, and presents the basics of the technical aspects of cabinetry and dealerships. Accounting, Tax Avoidance and Record Keeping: Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the different business forms and accounting methods, gives the procedures for forming sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations, and examines how each affects taxes. The Legal Aspects of Construction: Covers lien law and the legal relationship between the contractor and his clients, and details the provisions contained in construction contracts. This book also contains a general construction contract, a contract for use between contractors and subcontractors, and a construction management agreement. Subjects also covered in this book are employee relations, bankruptcy options, survival strategies, and a discussion about trends and influences that will impact the future of the industry.

Download or read book Profitable Sales written by Michael C. Stone and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Simplified Guide For Hiring Contractors written by Greg Vanden Berge and published by Greg Vanden Berge. This book was released on 2011-04-28 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Contractor Secrets Finally Revealed To The Public" For years I've been threatening contractors to write a book like this and I finally did. Some of the contractors I've worked with in the past, don't want the information in this book to ever be revealed. Contractor secrets like these are usually taken to the grave and wouldn't ever be revealed. These secrets can provide property owners with valuable negotiating tools that contractor's desperately don't want you to have. You can't negotiate effectively, if you don't understand your opponent. In this book you'll learn how to negotiate effectively with contractors, compare estimates and find contractors. This book provides you with plenty of tips on how to sort through the professionals to find the real winners. Contractor's Personalities In recent years, human behavior and psychology have played an important role in construction job sales. Contractors like myself are starting to study and learn more about different personalities. Some of this information is priceless and if you're looking for a good contractor, you need to understand how to communicate and interact with them effectively. Hiring the wrong contractor isn't just going to cost you a lot of money or waste your time, it's going to create other problems that you might not be aware of. There's a section in this book that talks about conflicting personalities and how you can avoid dealing with them. If you're an arrogant person, there's a good chance that you're not going to get along with another arrogant person. If you're someone who can't make decisions and you're not interested in someone forcing you to make them, you'll need to avoid hiring an aggressive contractor. Aggressive contractors can force their clients into accepting unnecessary change orders and creating a hostile working environment. In the book you'll find personalities that don't work well with other personalities and this by itself, could be worth 10 times the actual amount you're actually paying for this book.

Download or read book Profit First for Contractors written by Shawn Van Dyke and published by . This book was released on 2018-12-03 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Construction industry business coach, speaker, and author, Shawn Van Dyke, has taken the core concepts of Mike Michalowicz's Profit First and customized them to address the specific needs of the construction industry. Profit First for Contractors addresses the major struggles contractors face and provides clear and actionable guidance on how to overcome them. Shawn shows contractors how to go from simply getting by to becoming permanently profitable. This book is for every construction business owner who dreams of prosperity. Using Van Dyke's Profit First for Contractors system, readers will learn how to break out of the "craftsman cycle" - the seemingly never-ending loop of urgent tasks and responsibilities that keep contractors from gaining traction toward their important goals. He guides construction business owners how to understand their financial statements and how to use them to determine the markup and margin that lead to profits. You will also learn hot to develop solid rules of thumb for the operation of your construction businesses, and how to implement an effective cash management plan that simplifies accounting and leverages normal human behavior. Using real-life stories from actual construction business owners, step-by-step advice, and his conversational twang, Van Dyke puts permanent profitability within reach of every construction business owner.

Download or read book Construction Business Management written by Nick B. Ganaway and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2006 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A basic guide only, this book is intended to provide the reader with general information about construction business management, based on the author's personal experience. As such it is not intended as a replacement for professional advice.

Download or read book Contractor s Profit Manual written by Bill Carillon and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a well-developed, principally oriented information source, gathered from years of experience in the Civil Engineering and Construction industry. The content is clear, simple, yet thorough in its depth. The author hopes the reader will review in detail the chapters on Planning and Sales since these are essential to making your company more profitable. Furthermore, the chapters on Crews and Methods, scheduling and production control will unable your company to implement sound cost control measures. Other critical information is contained in the Time Management, Negotiation and Training chapters. All the information contained within this book has but one focus in mind... THE BOTTOM LINE. This book can be used as a powerful tool within your company. Read and refer to it often. I trust you will use this information more like a manual versus a book. I encourage you to write specific notes on the pages and refer to these notes on a regular basis. By doing so, you will become my co-author and those ideas will grow and soon benefit your company on a regular basis. Take and learn from the 40 years of experience Ive gained. This book is a must for the individual, small business and large organization alike. BOOK DISCUSSION This book represents a compilation of over forty years experience in the Civil Engineering and construction industry. It is written as a guide or manual that every person within your organization who reads it, will gain valuable insight and knowledge to all aspects of their specialty. This book is RESULTS oriented, with clear, easy to follow guidance that will increase your companys productivity. Chapter 1 outlines the Overview Planning process within your firm. You will learn to identify the general objectives, goals and strategies of your company and the purposes of each activity. You will be able to identify the various Stakeholders within your organization and their roles within as well as the general condition of your company. Chapter 2 discusses Marketing strategies within your organization. It further explores your firms capabilities, target clients, areas of influence, financial resources as well as true tables to meet your market objectives. Chapter 3 is crucial to the Sales strategy of your firm and the acquisition of jobs/projects. You will see how your sales plan can be developed and coordinated with your planning concepts. Additionally, this chapter will identify your specific sales program with information regarding bidding verses negotiating, risk factors, competition and your companies overall sales climate. To assist your sales team, the book reviews Sales presentations, generations of leads, entertainment, Newsletters, brochures and photos. Lastly.in this chapter you will find sound principles in Sales Training. Chapter 4 rounds out the discussion on sales. This chapter outlines the methods to produce effective Sales Calls. You will be able to identify your action person who represents the client, identify the specific needs of the client and the information required making an effective and persuasive sales call. You will be able to manage and track a successful Sales Call program to include: sales call strategies, sales call reports, and sales call analysis. Chapter 5 begins a comprehensive discussion on Estimating. You will learn about procedures to set up your estimate and the cost relationships you can use for estimating and cost control. You will also see the steps required to prepare your estimate and check lists proven essential to eliminating costly errors in preparing your proposal. You will also read about 6 pitfalls to avoid insuring a complete bid as well as 4 hazards to avoid when dealing with sub-contractors. Other valuable tips for determining the proper profit for each type of job and t

Download or read book Contractor s Growth and Profit Guide written by Michael C. Thomsett and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Step-by-step instructions for planning growth and prosperity in a construction company. How to prepare a business plan, select reasonable goals, marketing plan, income forecasts, and much more.

Download or read book Starting Your Career as a Contractor written by Claudiu Fatu and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2015-03-17 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This incisive, practical guide provides a thorough breakdown of the ins and outs everyone needs to know when turning contracting skills into a business. From summoning the motivation to start your own business to the intricacies of being your own boss, Claudiu Fatu artfully turns his personal experiences and those of other successful contractors into advice on every aspect of building a business. The chapters focus on: Developing a business structure, including bank accounts, tax registration, insurance, and branding Handling legal and accounting hurdles Managing employees and dealing with clients Using marketing systems to find and book work Estimating and bidding on jobs Writing contracts Creating invoices and a billing system Controlling costs, keeping records, and understanding profit margin Planning retirement and other benefits for the self-employed By teaching contractors to anticipate problems that can arise when dealing with clients, and to build a business plan that can support a contractor’s talents in the best way possible, Starting Your Career as a Contractor is the ultimate manual to getting the job done right! Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.

Download or read book The Profit Bleed written by Vicki Suiter and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-01-16 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Being the owner of a contracting company can feel overwhelming, frustrating, and downright life draining, particularly when you're working more hours than there are in a day. You'd delegate more to others, but you worry they won't follow through, or do the job as well as you would. You want to charge more-heck, you need to charge more-but you're afraid you'll lose your shirt to the competition. You're bleeding money, but don't know precisely how to fix the problem, where to begin. Actually, even if you knew where to begin, where would you find the time to make critical changes? Help is here in the form of a doable, step-by-step guide that will put money in your pocket, and more time and fun in your day. Learn how to: - Keep your finger on the critical pulse points that drive success - Depend on your employees to take ownership - Close more deals while charging more money - Develop an air of confidence that magnetizes potential customers - Manage the project scope and stop the profit bleed of cost overruns If you can't remember the last time you took a vacation or watched your kids' soccer game, or the last time you reviewed your balance sheet with a sense of pride and excitement, this book is for you.

Download or read book The Contractor s Closing Success Blueprint written by Mike Jeffries and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2014-08-06 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Of all the headaches contractors have when it comes to lead generation, marketing and sales, closing prospects and generating quality referrals - Which one is Bugging the Heck out of You? -You're spending $300 or more per month on advertising and marketing to generate leads and you desperately want to leverage that cost to get a better return. -You're closing less than 50% of your sales calls. -You've lost jobs to bozo competitors and hackers...AND you know they are not as good as you. -You're cutting your price more than 40% of the time....just to be in the running to get the job. -You find yourself giving honest estimates to too many people each week who only want the lowest price. -You feel insulted when people want to haggle over price. (Because you know your price is right for a quality project or system that will last). -You wonder how you can respond to this question without lowering your price and still get the job? "Gee Bill we like you but do you have any give in your price?" The Contractor's Closing Success Blueprint- A Contractor's Guide to Consistently Close More Profitable Jobs and Generate Higher Quality Leads is a real world guide that will put you on the road to success. It's basic blocking and tackling. In fact, as you review and study this program you may find yourself saying, "Hey...we already do that." Chances are you probably are doing some of the things in this program. But here's the difference. You either don't do them all...or you don't do them consistently...or in the right order...or with the wording that we've developed through testing and implementation since 2002. You may also think, "Gosh, this is common sense." Common sense is not common practice. Now it is time for you to make the commitment to put it into practice. Mike Jeffries is the managing partner of Rivers of Revenue, LLC. Since 2002 he has worked with hundreds of residential and commercial contractors and service companies. In this simple to implement, easy to understand, complete program that will allow you and your sales team to: First - increase your closing rate by 10%-50% almost immediately. This is not hype or theory. This rate of increase is common when his clients implement the tactics and strategies in this book. Second - generate more leads and better quality leads, from your current website, ads and marketing, without having to spend any more money than you're currently spending (or planning to spend). In a nutshell, Mike walks you through, step-by-step, the exact, proven, field tested tactics and specific action steps that his clients use every day to close just about any profitable job they want. These tactics and action steps will allow you to: -Consistently overcome the price objection and other common objections -Take all the guesswork out of your presentations -Have the confidence to close any profitable opportunity -Simply and easily increase your closing success without learning any slick sales training techniques or closing tricks -Know what to say...and NOT say...when you meet the prospect -Confidently deliver the number -Properly follow up - without being a pest - and know when it's okay to walk away What real contractors who use these strategies have to say: "As I mentioned we are on track in the 1st quarter of 2014 to exceed our sales for all of 2013. The system has been amazing. Out of the 5 prospects we have used the system with, I signed a construction contract and another three have signed design agreements." - Jacob T. "Your programs have made it so much easier to close - in fact I raised my prices two months ago and haven't seen any change in closing rate. Awesome." - Dalton T. Bottom Line: If you're ready to learn how to: close more jobs and leads at the price you deserve and start getting great referral leads from your customers, then this book is for you.

Download or read book Profit First written by Mike Michalowicz and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-02-21 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Author of cult classics The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur offers a simple, counterintuitive cash management solution that will help small businesses break out of the doom spiral and achieve instant profitability. Conventional accounting uses the logical (albeit, flawed) formula: Sales - Expenses = Profit. The problem is, businesses are run by humans, and humans aren't always logical. Serial entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz has developed a behavioral approach to accounting to flip the formula: Sales - Profit = Expenses. Just as the most effective weight loss strategy is to limit portions by using smaller plates, Michalowicz shows that by taking profit first and apportioning only what remains for expenses, entrepreneurs will transform their businesses from cash-eating monsters to profitable cash cows. Using Michalowicz's Profit First system, readers will learn that: · Following 4 simple principles can simplify accounting and make it easier to manage a profitable business by looking at bank account balances. · A small, profitable business can be worth much more than a large business surviving on its top line. · Businesses that attain early and sustained profitability have a better shot at achieving long-term growth. With dozens of case studies, practical, step-by-step advice, and his signature sense of humor, Michalowicz has the game-changing roadmap for any entrepreneur to make money they always dreamed of.

Download or read book Paint Contractor s Manual written by Dave Matis and published by . This book was released on 1985 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How to start and run a profitable paint contracting company: getting set up to handle volume work and getting top production from your crews. Loaded with man-hour estimates, sample forms, contracts, and examples you can use.

Download or read book The Mobile Technology Question and Answer Book written by Ron Schneiderman and published by Amacom Books. This book was released on 2002 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Clarifies regulatory issues, technical standards and protocols, jargon, and acronyms central to the mobile communications industry, in a series of 90 questions and answers. Topics include mobile Internet, software defined radio, Bluetooth, satellite-based navigation systems, mobile commerce applications, and security and privacy issues. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR.