In this book, the author, Nick B. Ganaway, shares what he has learned -- sometimes the hard way -- to help contractors, builders, and subcontractors minimize the pain and risk of operating a construction business -- especially in their first few (riskier) years. While not every risk can be eliminated in construction, or any field, it can be managed if its elements are identified and understood.
Throughout the chapters, Nick speaks directly to the construction business owner as an equal, using his own experience to show the risks in various situations and how to avoid them. His message is, "based on my own 25 years' experience as a general contractor, this is what I believe you must know and do if you are going to survive in this business for the long term." From the construction company owner's role, to finding and retaining the right key employees, to marketing the company, there is strong emphasis on the "human factor" so crucial to success in construction.
The book also makes the case for specialization, or niche contracting, a strategy that allows a contractor to become more knowledgeable in a field, be seen as an insider, become sought after, and achieve a more profitable business.
