typical day in the business, 58–59
understanding contracting lingo, 17
startup funds, 17–18
state rules and regulations, 40–41
storage space, 50
subcontractors, 2–5, 41–42, 68, 125–126, 127–128
successful contractors, traits and skills of, 9–10, 12–14, 19–22, 57–60, 121, 130–135
supplier credit, 56–57
suppliers, 125–126
T
tablets, 52–53
tax credits, 43
tax deductions, 44
taxes, 35–36, 40–41, 43–44, 45, 89
team sponsorship as advertising, 104
telephone answering machines, 52
telephone systems, 50–51
time management, 13–14
tools and equipment, 16–17, 55, 76
Total Quality Management (TQM), 125
tracking expenses and revenues, 91–95
traits and skills for success, 9–10, 12–14, 19–22, 57–60, 121, 130–135
travel expenses, 75–76
tuition assistance, 114–115
turnkey construction operations, 2
turnover, employee, 115–116
U
unemployment taxes, 68–70
V
variable costs, 75–77
venture capitalists, 30–31
W
wages and benefits, 112–115
website builder sites, 100
websites, 98–101
word of mouth, 105–106
work spaces, 49–50
workers’ compensation insurance, 44–45, 70, 73, 115, 128
written warnings to employees, 114
Y
ON YOUR MARK . . .
Why did you pick up this book? Perhaps you know you want to be an entrepreneur and take charge of your own life. You’ve already got a great idea for a business you’re sure will be a hit. Or perhaps you think, somewhere in the back of your mind, that maybe you might like to start your own business but you’re not sure what venture to start, what entrepreneurship is really like, and whether it’s for you.
Whichever of these categories you fall into, you’ve come to the right place. In Part 1, “Think,” we’ll show you what it means to be an entrepreneur. Use our personal goals and objectives worksheet to decide if entrepreneurship is right for you. Don’t have a business idea, or not sure if your idea will fly? You’ll