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If you're considering starting your own construction business, all the knowledge, tips, and blank forms you need are here.
How to Succeed With Your Own Construction Business begins by taking you step-by-step through the process of setting up a new company. You'll learn about several ways to structure your company, and the benefits and disadvantages of each of them.
You'll also learn how to make a good impression on clients, how to work with architects, inspectors, and bankers, and where to look for more help when you need it.
The authors, a husband-and-wife construction team, specialize in remodeling, but the information they share is just as valuable to spec builders and subcontractors.
How to Succeed With Your Own Construction Business has everything you need to start and run your own construction business the right way:
- setting up the paperwork
- finding the work
- advertising, using contracts
- dealing with lenders
- estimating
- scheduling
- finding and keeping good employees
- keeping the books
- coping with success
If you're working as a builder but dream of running your own construction company, this is the book for you!
Clear, Easy-To-Follow Chapters Cover:
- advertising
- sales techniques
- contracts
- financing
- estimating
- scheduling
There Are Tips On:
- hiring and training employees
- organizing your office
- managing your time
- keeping your books
- buying insurance protection
- staying out of trouble with tax collectors
Whether you've already started your own business, or are considering doing so, this book will give you the basic information you'll need to make the right decisions and get off on the right foot to a successful and rewarding career in the construction industry.
About the Authors: Stephen & Janelle Diller both grew up with construction, but when it came to starting their own business they quickly discovered that knowing how to swing a hammer and how to run a business profitably were two very different skills.
They needed was a book like this one: one that would explain estimating, scheduling, setting up books, dealing with the IRS, marketing, and salesmanship. They learned these skills the hard way, through trial and error.
The information they have provided fills the gap between construction skills and business skills. The authors' purpose is to relieve other would-be construction company owners of the pain of learning the hard way.
Table of Contents:
1. Taking the Plunge - 5
- Learning the Hard Way - 6
- But Is It Right for You? - 10
- Are You Up to the Challenge? - 13
- The Next Step - 14
- Choosing Your Name - 19
- Registering Your Company Name - 20
- An Employee Identification Number - 21
- Getting a Business and Contractor's License - 22
- Getting Bonds and Insurance - 24
- What About a Franchise? - 26
2. Knocking on Opportunity's Door - 35
- The Professional Look - 36
- What Do You Have to Offer? - 39
- The Next Step - 40
3. Digging Up Business - 53
- Creating a Logotype - 55
- Institutional vs. Promotional Advertising - 59
- High Dollar Advertising - 65
- Your Media Choices - 71
- Qualifying Leads - 86
4. Making the Sale - 90
- A Hard Lesson - 90
- That Important First Impression - 91
- Sell Yourself Before You Sell the Job - 93
- Sell the Value of Remodeling - 99
- Listen, Listen, Listen - 99
- Bid Specifications, Not Ideas - 101
- Don't Let Money Do All the Talking - 103
- Polishing the Proposal Folder - 105
- The Final Step - 107
- Selling the Next job Off This One - 108
5. Dealing with Clients - 111
- The Handyman - 112
- The Purchasing Agent - 114
- The Manipulator - 115
- The Perfectionist - 116
- The Deadbeat - 117
- The Fall Crazies - 118
- The Pre-construction Meeting - 119
- The Change Order - 120
- Job Completion - 121
- Summing It Up - 123
6. Making It Legal - 125
- The Smart Contract - 126
- Complete Agreement, 137
- A Contract Checklist - 137
- Time and Materials Contract, 138
- Collection Troubles - 140
7. Financing - 147
- Money Sources - 148
- Getting Paid - 152
- Contractor Financing - 166
8. How Much to Charge and How to Bill It - 169
- The Options - 170
- Your Prices Are Based on Your Costs - 171
- The Profit Question - 178
- Contract vs. Time and Materials - 178
- Bidding or Negotiating for Work - 181
9. Estimating with Accuracy 183
- Estimating Methods - 186
- The Estimating Take-Off Form - 190
- Putting Your Estimate Together - 194
- A Math Primer for Estimators - 198
- A Sample Estimate - 202
10. Scheduling the job - 213
- The Basics of Scheduling - 214
- Choosing the Right System for You - 215
- Staying on Schedule - 226
- Scheduling Software - 226
11. Finding and Keeping Good Employees - 299
- Hiring Employees - 230
- Hanging On to the Good Ones - 242
- Firing Employees - 244
- Working with Subcontractors - 244
12. Running an Efficient Office - 247
- The Equipment You Need - 248
- Managing Your Time - 254
- Computers or No Computers - 256
13. The Paper Shuffle - 263
- The Federal Tax Forms - 265
14. Keeping the Books - 299
- Breaking the System into Parts - 301
- Managing Cash Flow - 316
- Totaling Up for the Year - 317
15. Buying Insurance - 319
16. Looking Ahead - 325
- You're on Your Own - 327
- For Further Information - 327
Index - 330
Includes: Book
By: Stephen and Janelle Diller
Published by: Craftsman Book Company
336 Pages, 8-1/2 x 11
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