Markup & Profit: A Contractor's Guide (Revisited) by Michael C. Stone
The Definitive Business Handbook for Construction Profitability, Job Pricing, and Operational Management
ISBN-13: 978-1572182714 |
Format: Trade Paperback |
Publisher: Craftsman Book Company
The Essential Financial Roadmap for General Contractors, Remodelers, and Trade Specialists
For construction business owners, mastering the intersection of project estimating and financial management is the difference between a failing company and a thriving enterprise. Michael C. Stone’s Markup & Profit: A Contractor's Guide, Revisited provides the concrete business logic needed to move beyond "guessing" your overhead and start building sustainable profit margins into every single project.
This guide systematically dismantles the common myths that keep contractors trapped in a cycle of under-billing. Whether you are running a solo trade operation or managing a multi-crew general contracting firm across key construction zones, this book offers the precise formulas and management strategies necessary to cover your direct costs, absorb your overhead, and secure the net profit your business deserves.
Core Financial Management & Estimation Mechanics:
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Accurate Job Pricing: Simple, repeatable formulas to calculate true job costs, including material burden, labor insurance, and administrative overhead.
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Business Systematization: Practical advice on streamlining your operations, crew tracking, and client contract transparency to reduce project liability.
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Profit-First Methodology: A fundamental shift in how to account for profit before you submit a bid, ensuring your business survives market volatility.
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Digital Tools & Forms: Includes access to downloadable, ready-to-use business templates, estimation checklists, and contract forms that can be customized for your local market.
Cross-Industry Utility & Management Applications:
This guidebook is an essential reference for construction owners, remodelers, and specialty trade professionals working in high-growth infrastructure corridors:
| • General Contracting Estimating & Bid Logic |
• Construction Overhead & Expense Tracking |
| • Small-Business Trade Profitability Models |
• Contract Preparation & Risk Mitigation |
| • Texas Residential Remodeling Markets |
• Michigan Infrastructure & Renovation Sectors |
| • California Construction/Development Hubs |
• Washington Urban Commercial Building |
