Markup and Profit by Michael Stone
We asked, you answered. For the past few weeks, remodelers have been submitting their favorite books that have helped them improve their business in some way. From learning how to build a better house, to how to best manage your time, we’ve got book recs to help you. Below are a few of the suggestions and why readers chose them. The slideshow to the left contains all of the other recommendations.
Title: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity
Author: David Allen
“At BOWA, this book required reading for most employees,” says CEO Larry Weinberg. “A great deal of stress is created when you’re not sure if you’re on top of everything you need to accomplish. Thinking that you may be missing some important task, or meeting, or simply feeling overwhelmed can be very disheartening. Developing an organization system based on David Allen’s principles not only helps you accomplish the most important tasks, it also reduces your stress level when you know that your system captures it all.”
Title: Profitable Sales: A Contractor’s Guide
Author: Michael Stone
“This book by Michael Stone presents his approach to sales in the context of construction and remodeling,” says Nic Bitting, client relations manager for Gauge Design Group. “Specifically applicable to General Contractors working directly with homeowners. Great, actionable, on-the-ground sales advice from a long time member of the construction and remodeling industry.”
Title: Raving Fans
Author: Ken Blanchard
“Referrals and repeat customers are the lifeblood of our business,” says Beth Rendon, an accountant with Lane Homes and Remodeling. “In today’s competitive marketplace we want every customer to feel that they’re being treated with the highest care and respect. We have hired the right people and we wanted to impart the knowledge to create top notch customer service. This book shed some light on how to do just that.”
Title: Mastering the Business of Remodeling
Authors: Linda Case and Victoria Downing
“From employee management to understanding margin and markup, it’s the ultimate guide to the business of running your remodeling company,” says Bryan Sebring, owner of Sebring Services. “I learned how to figure out how much to charge for our services. I wish had this 15 years earlier when I first started my business.”
Title: First, Break All the Rules
Authors: Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
“I learned that people are different and can do successful things in different ways,” says Steve George, managing partner at The George Group. “The great managers set expectations for their employees, defining the right outcomes rather than the right steps – the build on each person’s unique strengths rather than trying to fix his/her weaknesses.”
Title: Track it To Crack It
Author: Susan Raisanen
“The book reinforced the need to really watch our numbers and then use the numbers to help with training and to make necessary adjustments to help take us to the next level,” says Von Raisanen, president of TraVek. “I also learned that it is very helpful to use numbers to help with training and making different business decisions because it helps keep emotions out of it.”
Title: Markup and Profit
Author: Michael Stone
“Michael does an excellent job as someone who understands contractors and their weaknesses,” says Matt Michalak, owner of Handyworks. “With 50+ years in the business, he knows his material and shoots straight with you about pricing, strategy, marketing, etc…”
Title: The Power of Habit
Author: Charles Duhigg
“[This book] made me realize that I needed to utilize my work ethic in my personal life and to think about ways to improve my business and overall life,” says Rick Hirsch, owner of Rick’s Southwest Mercantile. “It was very helpful in improving efficiency and satisfaction.”
