Construction Contractors' Survival Guide [Hardcover]

Thomas C. Schleifer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 1990 | ISBN-10: 0471513245 | ISBN-13: 978-0471513247 | Edition: 1

The turnover rate for companies in the construction industry is high. This book identifies the ten key elements of contractor failure and shows how to avoid them. Each element of failure is defined, illustrated by real examples, and ways are discussed to avoid or minimize the risks involved. The final chapter shows how to bring all these elements together to develop a positive and workable management strategy. This survival guide should prove invaluable to the 1.4 million individual construction-industry businesses in this country.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The turnover rate for companies in the construction industry is high. This book identifies the ten key elements of contractor failure and shows how to avoid them. Each element of failure is defined, illustrated by real examples, and ways are discussed to avoid or minimize the risks involved. The final chapter shows how to bring all these elements together to develop a positive and workable management strategy. This survival guide should prove invaluable to the 1.4 million individual construction-industry businesses in this country.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience; 1 edition (March 2, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471513245
• ISBN-13: 978-0471513247
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CONTRUCTION CO. SURVIVAL BY EXAMPLE NOT PHILOSOPHY., June 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Construction Contractors' Survival Guide (Hardcover)

THE WISE MAN LEARNS FROM OTHER PEOPLES MISTAKES ,THIS BOOK OPENS YOUR EYES TO THE MINE FIELD THAT YOU FACE WHEN RUNNING A CONSTRUCTION CO .IT HAS HELPED ME TO SEE THE ROAD IN FRONT. K MALONE

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read for everyone in the construction industry, October 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Construction Contractors' Survival Guide (Hardcover)

Reading this book makes one rethink "the bigger the better" philosophy. In this book, Tom discusses from his experinces as a consultant as to why there are so many companies that fail in the construction industry and what could be done to prevent the cash flow problems...

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The First Book a Contractor Should Read, January 31, 2007

By 

Nick Ganaway (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Construction Contractors' Survival Guide (Hardcover)

"Your management decisions alone determine whether you will succeed or fail in the construction business." As a general contractor, my attention was caught by this the opening sentence in Thomas C. Schleifer's "Construction Contractor's Survival Guide". After reading the book I ordered a copy for every one of my project managers and other key staff and continued using it for training throughout my construction career. Schleifer was formerly a consultant to the surety industry, where it was his business to understand the causes of contractors' failures, and it is from this perspective that he describes in his book the ten most common causes of contractor failure and how a contractor can avoid them. No contractor should be without this book.

Nick B. Ganaway
General contractor and author of "Construction Business Management, What Every Construction Contractor, Builder and Subcontractor Needs to Know"