Book Description

Are you tired of doing all the work and watching somebody else get all the profit? Nearly all wage earners dream of quitting their jobs and setting up shop for themselves, but strong initiative and careful planning are required for such dreams of independence to become practical realities. Haphazardly-run businesses sometimes grow, but more often they fail because of poor management. Start Your Own Construction and Land Development Business provides a basic guide to successful business management for the prospective entrepreneur. Whatever your reasons for wanting to go into business for yourself, this book provides essential information for you to consider before investing your time and money. The first chapter describes what a day in your life as an independent general building contractor might be like and provides information to help you choose which kind of building is best-suited for you. Do you want to build only custom homes, or do you want to develop whole subdivisions on a speculative basis? Do you live in a densely populated area where there is need for massive repair and remodeling - enough to provide you with ample income on a long-term basis? The author describes the technical and business aspects plus the pros and cons of repair/remodeling, custom building, and speculative building. If you have a very limited amount of capital, then you might start with repair and remodeling jobs which require minimal front-end investment, in order to develop your capital base and obtain referrals. Chapter two explains the importance of estimating jobs carefully so you can afford to do the job right and still make a profit. Chapter three describes various sources of start-up capital. Builders are notorious for their legal problems, so chapter four is devoted to the many legalities involved in operating a construction business, including forms of ownership, company names, building permits and codes, zoning laws, insurance, and taxes. In chapters five through eight the author discusses the details of management, sales, bookkeeping, and building design involved in day-to-day operations. He presents six cases of construction company successes and failures, analyzing how and why each prospered or foundered, to give you clues to the management secrets of others. The final chapters encourage you to look ahead and consider the potential for expansion that incorporation, land development, and subdivision planning can offer.