If you've asked questions like these, the book "Markup &
Profit: A Contractor's Guide" will give you the information necessary to
figure the markup that is right for your general or specialty construction
business.
Construction contracting businesses have the highest rate of failure of any
type of business in America today. Why? Because too many contractors
undercharge for their work. They don't work out how much they need to have left
over after covering all their costs to make sure they stay in business.
If you're concerned about losing money by charging too little, or losing
jobs by charging too much, you need "Markup & Profit; A
Contractor's Guide". Michael Stone, a highly-successful contractor,
lecturer and coach, explains the importance of setting your own markup - not
just picking a markup figure that someone else uses, or a number you found in
an estimating book. Every business is unique, with different labor costs,
different overhead costs, different profit requirements - so their markup
should be different, too. Michael gives you the background and calculations you
need to correctly figure markup based on your individual business. He writes in
simple layman's language and includes examples, formulas and sample problems to
help you.
After you've read this book, you'll thoroughly understand what markup is and
how to arrive at the correct markup for your business. And just as important,
you'll know how and why you should apply it to your job costs to arrive at the
right sales price for your work. And that's the secret to success in the
construction industry.
You'll learn how to :
- Calculate your full overhead
- Price your work at the proper markup
- Forecast increases in your overhead
- Set and keep a budget
- Figure all your job costs
- Sell yourself and your work
- Estimate your breakeven point
- Recognize an unprofitable job
- Compute a fair wage for yourself
- Write a good contract
