Product Description

Written by a general contractor of 25 years, Construction Business Management offers the lessons learned from both good and not-so-good decisions. Read what it takes to build all aspects of a business that’s profitable, enjoyable, and enduring:

a.. Contract Terms & Conditions (to include and to avoid) b.. Fair Allocation of Risk Between Contractor and Owner c.. How to Make Sure You’re Paid What You're Owed d.. Critical Dos and Don'ts of Mechanics Liens e.. How to Select, Hire, and Keep Golden Employees f.. How to Choose Accountants, Lawyers & Insurance Agents g.. How to Target, Check out, Land, & Retain Profitable Customers h.. Effective Marketing Even the Smallest Contractor Can Afford i.. The Required Success Characteristics of a Contractor j.. Avoiding the 57% Four-Year Contractor Failure Rate k.. Opportunities & Requirements of Retail Construction l.. The Importance of the “Human Factor” And much more that will pay off now and throughout your career.
Written for contractors, key employees, subcontractors, students, and facility executives. Check out the Table of Contents for more detail.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34453 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-16
• Released on: 2006-10-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 201 pages

About the Author
Nick B. Ganaway started and then operated his own successful construction business for 25 years. Prior experience includes several years as a construction manager for Shell Oil Company. He has a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. Nick lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where he currently consults with contractors and other small-business owners.

Customer Reviews

A testimony to the principles of this text
Upon graduation from Georgia Tech's building construction program in 1982, I went to work for Nick Ganaway. One of the many reasons I selected his company was his obvious knowledge of business. Even more, I appreciated the motivation he placed in us (and himself) to always become better as contractors and as businessmen. We met frequently to "log in" new discoveries, efficiencies, risks, and methods of profitability that he had wisely accumulated for us. As I "ventured out" into the world and developed my own business with very little experience, I quickly noticed that although I was a "great" project manager that running a construction company was an entirely different issue. For example, do you understand the unique requirements of the construction firm owner? Terms in the project owner's construction agreement that can unfairly shift major risk onto your plate and what to do about them? How to ensure that you get paid for change orders? What to do when hard times suddenly strike (and they will)? After 25 years of experience in operating a commercial construction company, Mr. Ganaway explains chapter-by-chapter these and every other risk area you must manage if you are going to survive in construction. I know these explanations well as they ring in my mind from discussions with Mr. Ganaway concerning my very first projects and through calling for help with running my own construction business. You will feel like you're having these same discussions with him as you read this book. Every contractor, project manager, and construction student should read it. Today I use this very text to teach our students at Georgia Tech's building construction program how to run a business, as well as consulting in the same area. His principles work!

An added bonus to this text is the final chapter, where Mr. Ganaway makes the case for specializing in chain store construction. To "outsiders" who have not reviewed this market segment, I think you will be surprised at the benefits. If you are not already specializing in a niche market, this chapter is sure to start you thinking about it.

Great Book!
This is the first straightforward, down-to-earth book on how to run a construction business that I have come across. A realistic account of what it takes to start an enterprise and what it's like to be a contractor. Anyone contemplating starting their own construction company should read this before attempting it and every contractor already working at it should study Nick's work to learn how to do it better and to realize that they are not alone when they discover just how challenging and difficult the struggle for success can be. Everyone associated with the construction industry should read this book to gain an understanding of how the business really works.



Thomas, C. Schleifer, Ph.D.

Visiting Eminent Scholar
Del E. Webb School of Construction
Arizona State University

Author, Construction Contractors' Survival Guide

Important Information for New Contractors
If you are a person that is just starting out in the Construction industry, this book can help guide you in the right direction. Many mistakes that I have made in the past 10 years are covered in these pages. I wish I would have had this book back then. It would have made our company grow and prosper without the glitches. I highly recommend this book.