The Markup and Profit: A Contractor’s Guide, Revisited provides contractors with a thorough understanding of the business side of construction. The book is structured to guide professionals through all key financial and management practices needed to run a profitable contracting business. It covers how to correctly calculate markup and margin, determine overhead, develop accurate estimates, write contracts, manage job costs, and handle customer relations. The guide also addresses critical cash flow and collection strategies, along with early warning signs of financial trouble. Each chapter builds on real-world experience, making the content immediately applicable to residential remodelers, general contractors, and specialty trades alike. With downloadable tools and templates included, the book serves as both a learning resource and a day-to-day operational guide.

Markup & Margin Fundamentals

• Teaches the difference between markup and margin and how to apply them properly.

Overhead & Profit Calculations

• Guides contractors in identifying all overhead expenses and incorporating them into bids.

Estimating & Bidding

• Step-by-step instructions on how to estimate costs and set profitable prices.

Breakeven & Cash Flow Analysis

• Explains how to determine your breakeven point and maintain positive cash flow.

Contracts & Legal Considerations

• Provides templates and guidance on creating solid, protective contracts.

Collections & Payment Management

• Strategies for setting payment terms and dealing with slow-paying clients.

Business Management Tips

• Covers topics like employee oversight, scheduling, and avoiding common pitfalls.

Red Flag Warnings

• Helps contractors spot signs of trouble in their business before it’s too late.

Support Tools & Resources

• Includes access to downloadable forms, worksheets, and job-cost tracking tools.

The Markup and Profit: A Contractor’s Guide, Revisited is built for immediate, real-world use. It offers contractors practical tools and strategies they can apply directly to estimating jobs, pricing work correctly, managing cash flow, and improving overall profitability. Every concept is explained using clear, relatable examples drawn from real contracting scenarios. The book helps contractors avoid common mistakes—like underbidding or failing to include overhead—and gives them the confidence to defend their pricing to clients. It also includes downloadable templates, such as cost worksheets and contract forms, that contractors can start using in their business right away. Whether you’re a new contractor or a seasoned pro looking to increase your margins, this guide is a working manual that delivers actionable results.

• Useable formulas and calculators for markup, margin, overhead, and breakeven.
• Step-by-step estimating methods that lead to profitable job pricing.
• Contract templates and cost-tracking forms for everyday business use.
• Guidance on invoicing, collecting payments, and setting payment terms.
• Teaches how to say “no” to unprofitable jobs and choose work that sustains your business.
• Helps avoid underbidding and job-cost mismanagement.
• Designed for day-to-day reference, not just passive reading.
• Works for all types of contractors—remodelers, builders, and tradespeople.

The Markup and Profit: A Contractor’s Guide, Revisited is widely recommended as a supplemental resource for contractor licensing exams across the U.S. Many state licensing tests—especially for general and residential contractors—require a strong understanding of business management, estimating, overhead, and profit principles. This book thoroughly covers those areas, making it a valuable tool for test-takers. Contractors studying for exams can use it to reinforce key financial concepts, improve pricing strategies, and gain real-world insight into how construction businesses operate successfully. Its clear explanations, practical formulas, and field-based advice make it an ideal reference for exam prep and for long-term business success.

• Covers essential business topics found on many state contractor licensing exams.
• Reinforces understanding of markup, margin, overhead, and breakeven—core exam subjects.
• Offers real-world pricing and estimating methods that align with exam questions.
• Supplements official state contractor guides with practical, experience-based knowledge.
• Ideal for open-book exams, thanks to its clear organization and formulas.
• Recommended by educators and licensing schools as a companion to state-specific materials.
• Helps new contractors build confidence in financial and project management topics tested on exams.

The Markup and Profit: A Contractor’s Guide, Revisited is structured for clarity, ease of use, and quick reference, making it a practical tool for both study and daily business operations. The book is organized into logically sequenced chapters, each focusing on a core aspect of construction business management. Within each chapter, key points are broken down with bullet lists, examples, and step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. The writing is straightforward, with minimal jargon, and includes highlighted formulas and definitions to help contractors grasp critical financial concepts like markup, margin, breakeven, and overhead. In addition, the book includes downloadable forms and templates, making it not just a reading resource but a working business manual.

• Logical chapter structure for smooth progression through core topics
• Step-by-step instructions and clear examples for financial calculations and business practices
• Highlighted formulas and definitions for quick reference during estimating or exam prep
• Bullet points and checklists that summarize key takeaways in each section
• Downloadable forms and templates, including cost breakdown sheets and contract examples
• Real-world document samples like job cost reports, invoices, and estimate forms
• Index and glossary for quick lookup of business and construction terms
• User-friendly design that supports both beginners and experienced contractors