Few construction companies fail because of poor building practice; they fail because of poor pricing practice. To succeed in construction, you have to price your jobs to cover all labor, material, and overhead expenses, pay yourself a decent salary, and make a profit that will keep your company thriving. A large part of that is knowing how to figure the correct markup for your business.

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. You'll find tried-and-tested formulas here to guarantee profits, with step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow examples to help you learn how to operate your business successfully. Information is included on how to access the forms and charts used in this book. The principles outlined here apply to all construction-related businesses.

In this hands-on manual, Michael Stone, a highly successful contractor, lecturer, and construction consultant, provides the keys to a profitable business. He 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.