A Simple Guide to Turning a Profit as a Contractor

A Simple Guide to Turning a Profit as a Contractor PDF Author: Melanie Hodgdon
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing
ISBN: 9781608442546
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 216

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Book Description
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.

A Simple Guide to Turning a Profit as a Contractor

A Simple Guide to Turning a Profit as a Contractor PDF Author: Melanie Hodgdon
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing
ISBN: 9781608442546
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 216

Get Book

Book Description
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.

Markup & Profit

Markup & Profit PDF Author: Michael C. Stone
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781572182714
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 332

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Book Description
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.

Markup & Profit

Markup & Profit PDF Author: Michael Stone
Publisher: Craftsman Book Co
ISBN: 9781572180710
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 316

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Book Description
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.

Managing the Profitable Construction Business

Managing the Profitable Construction Business PDF Author: Thomas C. Schleifer
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118837134
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 288

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Book Description
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.

Guide to Supply Chain Management

Guide to Supply Chain Management PDF Author: David Jacoby
Publisher: The Economist
ISBN: 161039514X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 211

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Book Description
Globalisation, technology and an increasingly competitive business environment have encouraged huge changes in what is known as supply chain management, the art of sourcing components and delivering finished goods to the customer as cost effectively and efficiently as possible. Dell transformed the way people bought and were able to customise computers. Wal-Mart and Tesco have used their huge buying power and logistical skills to ensure the supply and stock management of their stores is finely honed. Manufacturers now make sure that components are where they are needed on the production line just in time for when they are needed and no longer. Such finessing of the way the supply chain works boosts the corporate bottom line and can make the difference between being a market leader or an also ran. This guide explores all the different aspects of supply chain management and gives hundreds of real life examples of what firms have achieved in the field.

Ten Commandments of Better Contracting

Ten Commandments of Better Contracting PDF Author: Francis T. Hartman
Publisher: Amer Society of Civil Engineers
ISBN: 9780784406533
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 454

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Book Description
Ten Commandments of Better Contracting provides a fresh look at management of supply chains with a particular focus on contracting for construction and related goods and services. With the objective of getting more out of contracts, this book draws on recent research, extensive professional and practical experience, and even trial and error in testing contracting innovations. The book explores issues such as games played, proven solutions to common problems, the importance of business relationships, trust, and other issues not typically addressed in books on this topic. In readable style, every chapter focuses on real-world problems and offers suggestions that help improve the performance of next and future contracts. The book outlines ten basic rules ("commandments") for improving contract performance. The author illustrates these different techniques with cartoons, icons, and case studies. Each of the first 10 chapters addresses one of these commandments. The closing chapter presents a successful contracting strategy that applies these commandments in a cohesive approach. This proven strategy has yielded better results than industry norms when intelligently applied. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the contracting environment including basic legal principles; Chapters 2 and 3 address contract strategies; Chapters 4 through 7 focus on contract award; Chapters 8 and 9 address contract administration issues; and Chapter 10 focuses on dispute resolution.

Making Money in Construction

Making Money in Construction PDF Author: Robert Baldwin
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780578082530
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 180

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Book Description
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.

Profit First for Contractors

Profit First for Contractors PDF Author: Shawn Van Dyke
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781790264506
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
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.

Profitable Sales

Profitable Sales PDF Author: Michael C. Stone
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780979508301
Category : Building
Languages : en
Pages : 319

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Book Description


Simplified Guide For Hiring Contractors

Simplified Guide For Hiring Contractors PDF Author: Greg Vanden Berge
Publisher: Greg Vanden Berge
ISBN:
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 72

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Book Description
"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.