Читать книгу Construction and Contracting Business - Entrepreneur magazine - Страница 22
ОглавлениеA
About Us pages, 99
accountants, 37, 38–39, 45, 85, 89
accounting, 38–39, 85, 89, 131. See also budgeting; financial management
accounting tools, 65–66
actual value insurance, 40
advertising, 76, 103–104. See also marketing
advisors, 27, 36, 37, 38–39, 45
angel investors, 31
answering machines, 52
assets, return on, 85
association memberships, 105
attention to detail, 58
B
backlinks, 100
backup media, 53
bank accounts, 57
bank payments, 73
bankers, 31, 39. See also debt financing
benefits, employee, 112–115
big picture viewpoint, 9–10, 58
bonuses, 114
break-even point, 80, 85, 88, 90–91
budget analysis, 91–94
budgeting. See also financial management
assistance and tools for, 64–66
break-even point in, 80, 85, 88, 90–91
contribution margin calculations in, 88–91, 135
direct cost projections, 67–72, 75, 78, 80, 89
estimates and, 80–83
fixed cost projections, 72–75, 78, 80, 89, 131
overhead projections, 77–80, 84
revenues vs. spending in, 66–67
variable cost projections, 75–77
business plan software, 29–30
business plans, 25–30, 39. See also financing
business structures, 36–38
C
capital, return on, 85
capital equipment funds, 73
cash accounting, 38–39
cash flow, 18–19, 28, 32, 56–57, 73, 107, 131
cash payments, 57
cell phones, 51–52
certification classes, 114–115
change orders, 5
character traits and skills for success, 9–10, 12–14, 19–22, 57–60, 121, 130–135
checking accounts, 57
client complaints, 121–125
communication skills, 20–21, 133–134
communication systems, 50–52
community health and welfare, 8
community-based websites, advertising on, 104
company vehicles, 113–114
complaints, 121–125
computers, 52–53
confidence, 133
construction liens, 56
construction tools and equipment, 16–17, 55, 76
contact pages, 100
continuing education opportunities, 15–16, 114–115
contractors vs. employees, 41–42
contribution margin, 88–91, 135
copy machines, 52
cost efficiency, 84
costs
labor. See labor burden
variable, 75–77
creativity, 132
credit cards, 56
credit ratings, 18–19
credit unions, 31–32
customer complaints, 121–125
customer demographics, 27, 103, 105
customer service, 51, 121–125, 134
D
data storage, 53
delegating, 21–22
depreciation, 76
design/build contracting companies, 4–5
detail, attention to, 58
differentiation, 26
difficult clients, 123–124
direct costs, 67–72, 75, 78, 80, 89
disciplining employees, 114
documentation, 43
domain names, 104
E
earnings statements, 28
economic importance of contracting industry, 5–6
educational opportunities, 9, 11, 15–16, 114–115
employee handbooks, 110–111
employees
applications and hiring forms, 111
bonuses and incentives, 77, 114, 117
communicating with, 20–21, 133–134
contractors vs., 41–42
payroll records, 45
payroll taxes, 68–70
performance records, 44
retaining, 115–116
training, 11–12, 59–60, 106, 122
wages and benefits, 42–43, 112–115
Employer Identification Number (EIN), 40
employment taxes, 68–70
engineering requirements, 11
equipment and tools, 16–17, 50–55, 76
equity, return on, 85
equity financing, 30–31
estimates, 80–83
executive summaries, 26
expense and revenue tracking, 91–95
expert status, 102
F
failure, causes of, 120–121
fax machines, 52
federal rules and regulations, 40–41, 55–56
field labor costs, 67–71, 94–95
financial management, 28, 38–39, 63–66, 85, 89, 91–95, 120, 131. See also budgeting
financial planning, 131
financial statements, 28
financing, 17–18, 19, 30–33, 39, 73
fixed costs, 72–75, 78, 80, 89, 131
flexibility, 58–59
fliers, 104
friends and relatives as financing source, 30
G
general contractors, 2, 5, 127–128
general liability insurance, 70, 128
government rules and regulations, 40–42, 55–56
guest blogging, 102
H
health considerations, 13
hiring employees. See employees
home offices, 48–49
homepages, 99
I
incentives, employee, 77
income potential, 84
income statements, 28
income taxes, 45
independent contractors, 2. See also subcontractors
inland marine insurance, 40
inside contractors, 3
instinct, 133
insurance, 39–40
internet access, 53
J
job applications, 111
job descriptions, 111–112
L
labor burden
break-even point and, 80
in estimates, 80–83
field labor costs, 67–71
office staff costs, 72–74
in overhead calculations, 78–80
in variable costs, 76–77
labor law posters, 55
landscape architects, 4, 9, 10, 11
legal business structures, 36–38
liens, 56
lifestyle considerations, 9, 59
limited liability companies (LLC), 36–37, 38
loans, 31–33, 39, 73. See also financing
locating your business, 48–49
logos, 97–98
LucidChart organizational chart software, 117
M
management expertise, 19–22, 59, 103–110
management teams, 27
managing people, 19–20, 59, 109–110
marginalism, 66
marketing
customer demographics and, 27, 103, 105
definition of, 98
expert status and, 102
guest blogging, 102
logos, 97–98
preparing for growth and, 106–107
press releases, 102–103
print advertising, 103–104
self-promotion, 102–103
social media presence, 101–102, 103
sponsoring local sports teams, 104
websites, 98–101
word of mouth, 105–106
writing articles, 102
marketing plans, 26–27
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), 55–56
math terms, 87–88
mechanic’s liens, 56
Medicare taxes, 68
menu ads, 104
mission statements, 30
mobile phones, 51–52
money market accounts, 57
monitoring expenses and revenues, 91–95
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), 55–56
multi-function machines, 52
N
naming your business, 104
natural ability, 131–132
negative feedback, 121–125
nest eggs for personal expenses, 17–18
net income, 84–85
newspaper ads, 104
nightmare clients, 123–124
O
Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), 4, 55
office equipment, 50–55
office staff, 72–74
office supplies, 53–55
off-season services, 60
online data storage, 53
online offers, 100
online presence, 98–103, 121, 125
on-the-job training (OJT), 11–12
organizational charts, 116–117
OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration), 4, 55
outside contractors, 4
outsourcing payroll processing, 116
overtime costs, 71
P
paid vacations and holidays, 70, 113
PANIC list, 130–134
payroll processing, 116
payroll records, 45
payroll taxes, 68–70
PBX telephone system, 50–51
people management, 19–20, 59, 109–110
perseverance, 130–131
persistence, 131
personal finances, 30
phone directory ads, 103
physical and mental health, 13
placemat ads, 104
position descriptions, 111–112
press, 99–100
press releases, 102–103
price fixing, 76
pricing, 27, 63–64, 75, 76, 84–85
print advertising, 103–104
private branch exchange (PBX) telephone system, 50–51
professional associations, 105
profit and loss statements (P&L), 28
promoting you business. See marketing
property development contractors, 2–5, 8
property owners as general contractors, 5
R
rapid growth pitfalls, 106–107, 120
record keeping, 42, 43–45, 53, 57, 64, 113–114
relatives and friends as financing source, 30
replacement cost insurance, 40
requirements for professional fields, 10–11
retaining employees, 115–116
retirement plans, 113
revenue and expense tracking, 91–95
revenues vs. spending, 66–67
reviews on social media sites, 103, 121
risk planning, 28
rules and regulations, 55–56
S
safety, 8
safety considerations in construction, 8
sales per labor dollar, 75–77, 94–95
savings accounts, 57
SBA loans, 32–33
seasonality of the construction business, 60
self-promotion, 102–103
skills and traits for success, 9–10, 12–14, 19–22, 57–60, 121, 130–135
Small Business Association (SBA) loans, 32–33
small business tax credits, 43
SmartDraw organizational chart software, 117
smartphones, 51–52
social media presence, 101–102, 103, 121, 125
social security taxes, 68
software upgrades, 64
sole proprietorship, 36, 37–38
specialty trade contractors, 4
spending vs. revenues, 66–67
sponsoring local sports teams, 104
spreadsheets, 64–65
starting a construction business
customer loyalty and, 6
finding a niche, 6
funding a startup, 17–18
having the right tools, 16–17, 55
health considerations, 13
lifestyle considerations, 9, 59
skills and traits needed, 9–10, 12–14, 19–22, 57–60, 121, 130–135
typical day in the business, 58–59
understanding contracting lingo, 17
startup funds, 17–18
state rules and regulations, 40–41
storage space, 50
subcontractors, 2–5, 41–42, 68, 125–126, 127–128
successful contractors, traits and skills of, 9–10, 12–14, 19–22, 57–60, 121, 130–135
supplier credit, 56–57
suppliers, 125–126
T
tablets, 52–53
tax credits, 43
tax deductions, 44
taxes, 35–36, 40–41, 43–44, 45, 89
team sponsorship as advertising, 104
telephone answering machines, 52
telephone systems, 50–51
time management, 13–14
tools and equipment, 16–17, 55, 76
Total Quality Management (TQM), 125
tracking expenses and revenues, 91–95
traits and skills for success, 9–10, 12–14, 19–22, 57–60, 121, 130–135
travel expenses, 75–76
tuition assistance, 114–115
turnkey construction operations, 2
turnover, employee, 115–116
U
unemployment taxes, 68–70
V
variable costs, 75–77
venture capitalists, 30–31
W
wages and benefits, 112–115
website builder sites, 100
websites, 98–101
word of mouth, 105–106
work spaces, 49–50
workers’ compensation insurance, 44–45, 70, 73, 115, 128
written warnings to employees, 114
Y
