Managing the Profitable Construction Business: The Contractor's Guide to Success and Survival Strategies

A must read for Construction Owners,CEO’s , CFO’s , COO’s, of any size construction company, I wish I would have had this book years ago. The book lays out in an easy read format the key elements of managing a successful construction company. The first section deals with the elements of construction failure, the second section introduces proven strategies for success. Although the first section is a bit dated and doesn’t cover a wide spectrum of contractors, the concepts still apply. But realizing the path of others failures is not enough. The second part, especially in chapters 12-16, are chapters that allow insight into how to manage for success. Here the authors created a number of key concepts that resonated with me and that I asked all levels of mangers to read especially chapter 12 and 13. Each chapter of the book is organized and contains a summary , review questions, and critical thinking discussion questions at the end of each chapter. The reader can use these to test their comprehension and future explore how these concepts might apply to their organization. The minor drawn back is the photos are old and at times not very relevant to the material. A great book to keep handy in your office and re-review over time or as the situation warrants.

I've been in the land-lording business for a while and have some experience developing small real estate projects too. I've always wanted to be a builder and feel I'm at a position now to venture into a side business of construction. Hey, isn't being a builder a dream for many boys, and the boy inside of us may never grow up? This book cured my desire for now. Construction could be such a high-risk endeavor, I realized after reading this book. The only reason I have not been burned in my developing is that I've kept projects small and only did them in my own backyard. I've seen much bigger developer went belly up during the 2007-2008 period, in my own hometown.He was never able to re-enter this business again. Construction business is very much like the restaurant business in the sense it needs your constant supervision. Except that construction is so much more high-risk than owning a restaurant. In the latter, you don't change a location with each job, and constantly face new unknowns. Once you hit page 33 and read the first case study in the book, you know what you have in hand is gold. Whether you are in the construction industry already or are a wannabe, this book will somber you up, and make you much less likely to fail--if you re-read the book often.

As a retired construction insurance bonding agent, I wish this book had been available while I was in business; I would have given a copy to every one of my accounts. The common sense approach and many useful tips Dr. Schliefer outlines will help many contractors from making expensive mistakes. Just as importantly it shows them how to be more profitable in both good and bad times, His ideas on accelerated overhead control are especially germane in these troubling times.

Overall there is a very detailed description of how to avoid contractor failure throughout all the up's & down's in this very cyclical industry. I would not recommend this book to people who are in an organization that are not responsible for the financial mgmt. or profitability. It is primarily for owners & CFO's. Even though my work involves management of field operations & was still able to glean good information and highly recommend this valuable book.

Tackled all the aspects of the construction business highlighting the inherent traits of this industry. Recommended to management in construction.

This should be required reading for all contractors forming their own business. It's a quick read overall. This was a textbook in my master's program. I will keep it on my bookshelf for the rest of my life.

Helpful but basic guidance.

Great book to have for references

Good content for anyone in a management role in the construction business. The book cover itself looks like someone printed it off the 2006 canon inkjet printer.