Estimating the cost of a project is critical to your business success. If done correctly, your company will be profitable. If done wrong, you'll lose money.Michael Stone, a successful construction business consultant and trainer, shares his years of hands-on experience estimating residential projects in this manual.When your estimated costs are reasonably accurate and you're using the correct markup for your business, you can be confident you're charging the right price for...

Michael Stone's 30+ years of experience in residential remodeling sales and specialty sales is shared in his book, Profitable Sales, A Contractor's Guide. Focused on the construction industry, the information provided is valuable for both the business owner and their sales staff.His experience working with home and building owners has provided him with valuable insights. He spells out how to:determine if a lead is worth your time before you set the appointmen...

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. And 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 ...

Estimating the cost of a project is critical to your business success. Done correctly, your company is profitable. Done wrong, you lose money. Michael Stone, a successful construction business consultant and trainer, shares his years of experience estimating residential projects in this manual.If you're estimating remodeling, renovation, new homes, specialty work, or light commercial projects, this book is for you. The book is divided into multiple short chapters for easy reference...

Michael’s 30-plus years of experience in residential remodeling and specialty sales is shared in Profitable Sales, A Contractor’s Guide. The information provided is valuable for both the construction-related business owner and their sales staff.In this book, you’ll discover how to:determine if a lead is worth your time before you set the appointmentestablish ground rules with a potential client during the initial phone callhelp customers m...

GREAT IDEAS CHANGE THE WORLD, but how do you know if your idea is truly great? That is the problem Professor Sean Wise addresses in his third and best book to date. Sean Wise, former online host and business advisor to the hit reality show, Dragons' Den, has heard tens of thousands of entrepreneurs' idea pitches. Some were good, most were bad, and in this book he shows you how to tell the difference. Based on more than 20,000 hours of pitches, Wise takes us inside the minds of investors an...

Readers have turned to The Complete Book of Business Plans for almost 10 years for advice and information, making it one of the bestselling business planning books of our time.Authors Brian Hazelgren and Joseph Covello have gone back to the drawing board on this updated edition, providing you with more than a dozen brand-new business plans that will help you attract the financing and investment you need. The Complete Book of Business Plans also includes revised an...

Expert tips and advice on starting a home-based businessStarting your own home-based business is a great way to supplement your income in these tough economic times. With thirty percent new and revised material, Home-Based Business For Dummies, 3rd Edition gives you the most current and up-to-date information you need to navigate your way through the whole process.You'll get trusted and creative advice on how to start being your own boss, bringing in a steady paych...

Newly Expanded with More Expert Advice to Help You Build a Winning Real Estate CareerWelcome to the world of real estate sales, and the start of an exciting new career! Your destiny is now in your hands. Along with endless opportunities, flexible hours, and the freedom to chart your own path, you also have the potential to earn fabulous amounts of money. All you need for total success is preparation. Revised and expanded, Your First Year in Real Estate...

A concise extension of the business classic Topgrading, targeted to sales managersBrad Smart's Topgrading has sold more than 150,000 copies since 1999, making it the definitive book for executives who want to hire, coach, and retain top talent. Now Smart has teamed up with Greg Alexander, who used Topgrading to radically improve his sales force at EMC.In Topgrading for Sales, they have boiled down the key Topgrading ideas to a pithy 112 p...

Launch a money-making venture from the comfort of your own home.Starting a home-based business has special challenges. From preparing the right business plan to your first successful sale, The Home-Based Business Kit gives you the tools you need to succeed and make a profit. Experienced home-based business owners give you actionable steps to:Write Your Business PlanAnalyze Market DataPrepare a BudgetManage Your T...