Contractor's Survival Manual
Table of Contents

Chapter 2
Which Way Is Up? 23
Debt Organization and Priorities, 24
Too Little Debt, 27
Collection Agencies and Your Credit Rating, 28
Trading Services and Working Off Debts, 29
Liquidating Assets, 30
Hard Money Loans and Factoring, 33

Chapter 3
Finding Money and Finding Time, 37
Interest Rates, 37
Buying Time, 40
Dealing with Your Banker, 42
Cash Flow, 42
The Tax Man, 43
The Utility Companies, 44

Chapter 4
Got that Sinking Feeling? 47
Bankruptcy and Legal Process, 47
Lawsuits and Judgments, 49
Mechanic's Liens, 52
Asset Protection, Trusts and Corporations, 53
Protecting Your Equity, 54

Chapter 5
Who's Minding the Store? 59
Accounting, 59
Your Checkbook, 60
Journals and Records, 61
Job Costing, 65
Payroll and Withholding Tax, 65
Billing and Statements, 68
Collections, 71
Insurance and Bonding, 72
Suppliers and Purchasing, 74
Employee Dishonesty, 77
The Labor Relations Board, 78

Chapter 6
Who, Me Work? 81
Sole Proprietor or Partnership, 81
Job Supervision and Your Foreman, 83
Losing Time, 84
Risk Management, 85

Chapter 7
The Equipment Payment's Past Due, 87
Capital Incentive Contractors, 88
Paper Contractors, 89
Doing Your Own Work, 89
Equipment Maintenance, 90
Switching Emphasis and Your Profit Margin, 92
Your Working Radius, 94
So You're a Lousy Salesman, 95
Repeat Business, 96

Chapter 8
One Problem at a Time, 97
Your Home and Your Privacy, 97
Time Off, 98
Employees, 98

Chapter 9
Your Purpose and Goals, 103
Goal Setting, 103
A Realistic Look at Retirement, 105
Your Work and Your Company, 108
Your Family and Your Business, 111

Chapter 10
Going Where the Money Is, 113
Inflation: The Multiplier, 114
Their Buck vs. Your Buck, 116
The Limited Partnership, 117
Cash Is King, 120
Staying Power and Reserves, 120

Chapter 11
So You Can't Find a Job? 123
Talk to Your Clients, 123
Public Relations and Your Company, 123
The Project List, 124
Your Company Brochure, 124
Magazines and Newspapers, 127
Recommendations, 127
Credit Checks, 128
Where's the Money Coming From?, 129

Chapter 12
Over-Design, Under-Design & No Design, 131
Architects and Engineers, 131
Zoning and Permits, 132
Planning and Building Departments, 134
Plans and Specifications, 134

Chapter 13
Second, for the Third Time, 137
What Business Are You In? 137
If Bid You Must, 138
Negotiated Fees and Design-Build Contracts, 139
Adding Taxes and Insurance, 141
Kinds of Overhead, 143
Financing and Carrying Your Client, 144
Schedules, 144
Contracts, 146

Chapter 14
Investing in Inflation, 149
Buying and Investing in Property, 149
Trading Property, 150
Deal Structuring and Financing, 153
In Summary, 155