The Secrets To Construction Business Success

The Secrets to Construction Business Success provides a masterclass in structuring, managing, and futureproofing a construction business.

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.

With a daunting industry-wide business failure rate, construction professionals need to manage risk and finances as effectively as they manage projects and people. The Secrets to Construction Business Success empowers contractors and other professionals to defy the long odds threatening their stability, growth, and very survival. Drawing on the authors’ more than eight decades of combined experience turning around failing firms, this book provides a masterclass in structuring, managing, and futureproofing a construction business. Chapters on measuring and responding to dips in revenue equip executives to recognize and respond to the warning signs of financial distress while chapters on succession planning ensure that organizations survive their founders’ departures. Sample documents and tools developed for the authors’ consulting practice offer field-tested solutions to organizational structure, forecasting, and accounting challenges. A steady source of guidance in an industry with few constants, The Secrets to Construction Business Success makes an invaluable addition to any industry leader’s library.

Only 43 per cent of U.S. construction firms remain in business after four years. Why? Inadequate management, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. This is surprising because most construction firms are formed by ambitious construction project managers, executives and tradesmen who have excelled at what they have been doing. But as experienced as these entrepreneurs may be, they are not likely prepared to take on the full range of responsibilities forced on them in managing the business of construction in its entirety. While this business failure rate and its causes are based on U.S. experience, available data from a number of other industrialized countries shows they are similar. This book describes in detail what the business side of the construction equation requires of the construction firm owner. The contractor who quickly learns these requirements can identify and avoid or manage around the pitfalls that cause the high failure rate in our industry and put his or her construction firm on a level playing field with the best-run companies in the business. The detailed duties of the owner, whether in the U.S., U.K., Australia or Canada, are a common theme throughout the book. The author, Nick Ganaway, speaks peer-to-peer, and the book is sprinkled with supporting examples from his own experience. He is immersed in the industry and this book is "based on the things I've learned, used, and refined as a light-commercial general contractor in the course of starting and operating my own construction firm for 25 years." The contractor doing $5 million or $50 million or more in annual sales or the equivalent amount in other countries, or the entrepreneur who is just starting up, can use the tried and proven material in this book to build a business that is profitable, enjoyable, and enduring. Additionally, the book devotes a chapter to specializing in chain-store construction.

Book & CD-ROM. Starting a construction company, even a small one, can be a very profitable venture. In good times and bad construction is an industry that will always be in demand, and construction is not an industry where technology will replace or undermine it. The construction field is growing rapidly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction firms are expected to be one of the fastest growing business segments in the U.S. economy. There has never been a better time to start a construction company and get ahead of the competition. This is a comprehensive, detailed study of the practical side of starting and operating a construction firm. It will take you step by step through every aspect and prepare you with everything you need including sample business forms, leases, contracts; worksheets and checklists for planning, starting, and running day-to-day operations. You will get dozens of other valuable, timesaving tools of the trade that every entrepreneur should have. While providing detailed instruction and examples, the author help you find a location and business name that will bring success, take you through the process of drawing up a winning business plan (the Companion CD-ROM has the actual business plan you can use in MS Word TM), and teach you how to start and manage your construction company. You will find guidance on obtaining licenses and permits, drawing up contracts, hiring subcontractors, meeting governmental regulations, attracting new clients and referrals, applying for financing, tracking utilities, employing basic cost control systems, dealing with pricing issues, and staying ahead of the competition. You will avoid trial by error when setting up equipment layouts, meeting legal and IRS requirements, and tapping into the best sales and marketing techniques and pricing formulas. The book will even help you set up computer systems to save time and money, teach you how to hire and keep a qualified professional staff, use the best computer software, network with publishers and associations, do your own sales planning, customer service, keep your own books, compile monthly profit and loss statements, and prepare taxes. You will become adept at media planning, pricing, and public relations. You will be able to manage and train employees, motivate workers, generate high profile public relations and publicity, and learn low cost marketing ideas and low cost ways to satisfy customers and build sales. You will learn how to keep bringing customers back and build referrals the secret of continued success as well as getting thousands of great tips and useful guidelines. The manual delivers literally hundreds of innovative demonstrated ways to operate and streamline your business. Learn new ways to make your operation run smoother and increase performance, shut down waste, reduce costs, and increase profits. The secret of continued success as well as getting thousands of great tips and useful ideas. In addition, you will appreciate the valuable CD ROM resource in your daily activities as a source of ready-to-use forms, templates, worksheets, business plan, surveys, letters, web site resources, everything you will need to get up and running. We also went the extra mile and spent an unprecedented amount of time researching, interviewing, e-mailing, and communicating with hundreds of today s most successful construction company executives. Aside from learning the basics you will be privy to their secrets and proven successful ideas. Instruction is great, but advice from experts is even better, and the construction experts chronicled in this book are earning a great deal of money for their expertise.

How you can make your construction company more profitable. A 'must read' before you price your next project.Many construction companies fail despite the hard work and knowledge of their managers and owners. Some companies even start well, earning good profits, building successful projects, and the company grows - only for it all to come crashing down, often leaving a mountain of debts behind. So why do construction companies fail? Is it due to bad luck?This book explores important aspects of managing a construction company that impact its success and profitability. Obviously managers should have an understanding of running a business as well as the appropriate technical skills. But, it's usually more than this. The chapters in this book focus on the importance of selecting the right project, how to find projects, tendering correctly, winning the project, delivering the project, avoiding unnecessary costs, increasing revenue, financial and contractual controls, managing the company, the importance of good people, growing the company and ensuring the company has a good reputation.The chapters are set out in an easy to read format, filled with practical tips, which provide a step-by-step guide to growing profits, remaining profitable and running a successful construction company.

Construction Business Development is the first book to provide an insight into business development strategies, tools and techniques in construction. This edited text combines academic research with the broad industrial experience of construction business development professionals and marketing consultants. It uses illustrations and case studies in addressing current and future challenges and opportunities in a highly competitive business environment. This practical book will help construction managers learn how to turn clients into loyal customers.