Kitchen&bath business and project management

Content: introduction xv     Acknowledgements xxi     CHAPTER 1 Getting Started 1     Do You have What it Takes? 2     Evaluate Yourself 4     Before You Start 8     Why Many Companies Do Not Make It 10     Avoid These Common Mistakes 11     Getting Help from Advisors and Mentors 12     Summary 12     Review Questions 12     CHAPTER 2 Planning Your Business 15     What Type of Kitchen and Bath Business are You Going to Operate? 15     Your Business Selection Criteria 17     Deciding on the Right Business 17     Choosing a Name for Your Business 18     Stages of Company Growth 18     Short- and Long-Term Planning 20     How to Create a Strategic Business Plan for a Kitchen/Bath Dealer 21     Researching the Market 33     Preparing Your Business Plan 35     Reviewing Your Plan 40     Summary 40     Review Questions 41     CHAPTER 3 Business Start-up Issues 43     Choosing the Business Legal Structure 43     Other Requirements and Considerations 50     Location, Location, Location 51     Financing the Business 55     A Look at Taxes 60     Selecting Vendor Partners 61     Buying Groups   Sharing Expertise 63     Joining the Business Community 64     Taking Advantage of Outside Help 65     Summary 66     Review Questions 66     CHAPTER 4 Accounting and Record Keeping 67     Why You Need to Keep Good Records 69     Establishing Bookkeeping Procedures 70     Choosing an Accounting System 70     What to Keep Track of 71     Accounting Software for Your Business 73     Record-Keeping and Administrative Needs 74     Hiring an Accountant or Bookkeeper 76     Budgeting for Profit and Cash Flow 76     Summary 83     Review Questions 83     CHAPTER 5 Financial Controls 85     Understanding Financial Statements 85     Chart of Accounts 86     Balance Sheet 95     Cash Flow Analysis 98     Financial Ratio Analysis 103     Gross Margin 105     Ideas on How to Improve Gross Margins 108     Summary 120     Review Questions 120     CHAPTER 6 Protecting Your Business 121     Business Legal Structure 122     Professional Advice 122     Contractual Agreements and Personal Guarantees 122     Extension of Credit to Your Customers 123     Copyrighting Your Drawings 123     Developing an Insurance Program 124     Protecting Your Business from Theft 129     Summary 130     Review Questions 130     CHAPTER 7 Basic Tax Management 131     Small Business Tax Management 131     Special Rules for Small Businesses 132     Tax Responsibilities 134     Specific Substantiation Requirements for Certain Expenses 134     Hints on Preventing an Audit 135     Help from the IRS   135     Other Taxes 136     Summary 137     Review Questions 137     CHAPTER 8 The Basics of Human Resource (People) Management 139     The Broad Picture of Human Resources 141     Future Human Resource Trends 142     Determining Your Needs 144     Deciding on the Right Compensation System for Your Sales Team 151     Examples of Compensation Plans 155     Resourceful Recruiting 159     Narrowing Down the List: Applications, Resumes, and Testing 162     Art of Interviewing 164     Making the Final Hiring Decision 167     Summary 171     Review Questions 171     CHAPTER 9 Human Resource Management   after the Decision Is Made 173     The Orientation Period 173     Training and Development 175     Policy and Procedures Manual 177     Creating an Employee-Friendly Work Environment 180     Alternate Working Arrangements 181     Keep Tabs on Company Morale 182     Conduct Regular Meetings 182     Measuring Employee Performance 184     Developing Disciplinary Procedures 188     Defining at-will Employment 189     Terminating an Employee 189     Termination for    Just Cause    190     Summary 208     Review Questions 208     CHAPTER 10 Marketing 209     Marketing and Sales are not the Same 210     The Big Picture: The Marketing    Wheel of Fortune    210     Make the Time 214     Your Marketing Plan and Budget 215     Marketing Budgets 217     Knowing Who Your Customers are 222     Are You Offering the Right Product/Service Package? 224     Knowing Who Your Competitors are 227     Business Image and Branding 230     Establishing Your Brand 235     Finding and Filling a Meaningful Market Position 236     Why It   s Important to Have a Great Web Site 237     Develop an Advertising Campaign 238     Getting Your Work Published 240     Social Media Marketing 244     Sales and Selling 247     How to Get Started 247     Your Sales Team Needs a Strong Leader 254     Summary of How to Build a Marketing Plan 256     In Closing  257     Summary 258     Review Questions 258     CHAPTER 11 Professional and Profitable Project Management 259     Introduction 259     Project Management Fundamentals: From Information Gathering to Visiting the Finished Room 260     Summary 265     Review Questions 266     CHAPTER 12 Responsibilities of the Business Owner/Manager 267     The Installation Delivery System 267     Job Site Dynamics: New House versus Old House 268     Job Site Dynamics: Single-Family Dwelling versus Multifamily 269     Installation Service Business Models 269     Key Competencies of Installation Specialists 271     Developing Successful Working Relationships 272     Systematic Approach to Project Management 274     Role of a Manfacturer   s Representative 286     Importance of Job Costing 288     Summary 289     Review Questions 289     CHAPTER 13 Responsibilities of Designer of Record 291        Win-Win    Strategy 291     Designer   s Role during Project Documentation Process 292     Successful Designers are Detail Oriented 293     Understanding Construction Constraints 293     Summary 311     Review Questions 311     CHAPTER 14 Managing Client Expectations and the Job Site 313     Understanding    Remodeling Fever    313     Managing the Client and the Project 314     Summary 331     Review Questions 331     CHAPTER 15 Industry Standards for Molding Order Procedures and Cabinet Installation 333     Ordering Molding 333     How to Install Kitchen Cabinets 336     Summary 344     Review Questions 344     index 345