All the business basics = you need to=20 know in order to

"Stop The Downward Spiral = and
Grow=20 Your Contracting Business
Even During The Current=20 Recession"

You'll soon discover there are = certain=20 advantages of being
in the home = improvement=20 business during a recession.

Find out how you can grow while = others are=20 shrinking.

Take a look at your business as a whole - way=20 beyond
the actual home improvement services you=20 = perform.

Dear Fellow=20 Contractor,=20

Imagine = this: You=20 did not get that job you were hoping for. You under = bid your=20 next job even if it means you don't get a paycheck so you = could pay=20 your workers. =20

The phones = haven=92t=20 been ringing as often as before. You tap into = your line=20 of credit so you can launch a new promotional = campaign. Pretty=20 soon, you'll have to lay off one or two of your = workers.

You find = yourself working=20 at the jobsite just to save on workers wages just to stay=20 afloat. You're too tired to thing of actively pursuing = new=20 customers. As a result, you see yourself closing your = business=20 and selling your equipment just to pay off any debts you may = have=20 incurred.

This should not be you!

Believe it or not, there are ways the = recession can=20 work in your favor - provided you have a reputation = for=20 serving your customers well. For one thing, during a=20 recession, a lot of your competitors, especially those don't = do=20 quality work, will disappear, leaving a lot more potential = customers=20 for you.

In truth, only about 10% of the population = is=20 affected during a recession. In other words there are = still=20 among 90% of homeowners people who will need work done with = their=20 houses. If people know you for doing excellent work and you = have=20 good references, it's simply a matter doing more to promote = your=20 business. There's something else working in your favor = during=20 a recession, as I shall soon explain.=20

It=92s all about doing more to get new=20 customers
and to make sure your customers are = satisfied.=20

It would = behoove you=20 to be open to newly developed ways of generating = business. Keeping customers = satisfied=20 goes a long way to help you acquire new customers, as well = as keep=20 you out of trouble. = You=20 must also be aware of business generating activities that = worked=20 well in the past but no longer contribute to your success = nowadays.=20

Eventually you=92ll do better by working = on your=20 business than in it.

=20 This is where the real challenge comes running and = growing=20 your business. = You=92ll=20 be on the job site mostly in a supervisory role. You might spend = some time=20 training your employees. =20 But then you need to get with your material suppliers = about=20 what you=92ll need for your next job. And then there=92s = the printer=20 making your yard signs and flyers. All the time you = must never=20 neglect this one important duty - contacting your potential=20 customers in a timely manner.

You=92ll find yourself wearing several = hats.=20

=20 You=92ll soon find it hard to keep your hard hat = on. For one thing, you = don=92t go=20 to your customer=92s house to get a signed contract wearing = your work=20 boots. = You=92ll be more=20 and more doing things like selling and advertising and = dealing with=20 customer concerns. =20 You=92ll be switching roles back and forth with your = partner,=20 and leaving the actual skilled labor to your trusted = employees.

Yes,=20 all this can be overwhelming.

= Operating a=20 business, especially when it involves having employees, = requires you=20 to have at least some working knowledge of what=92s involved = in=20 running a business. Granted, you can=92t be an expert at=20 everything. = You should=20 at least have some idea of what is involved in every part of = your=20 business.

Sooner = or later=20 you=92ll run into a problem you=92re totally unprepared = for. So many things = about running=20 a business you might not be aware of. Is there any = kind of=20 information that touches on everything about the kind of = business=20 you're in? =20

Allow me to introduce myself

I=92m Jason Reid, co-founder of = National Services=20 Group. I=92ve = started and=20 operated two house painting businesses for several years = - = College Works=20 Painting and Empire Community Painting. Together they = are one=20 of the largest residential re-paint contractors in = the=20 USA.

I=92m also on=20 the board of Ambassador Energy, a fast-growing solar = solutions=20 company. My = partners=20 and I have been twice finalists for the Ernst and Young = Entrepreneur=20 of the Year awards.

=93Ambassador = Energy has been=20 extremely fortunate to have Jason Reid on our Advisory = Board. From the beginning of our growth phase, = Jason=20 offered steps and tactics which are illustrated in = this=20 well-constructed, insightful book. We have experienced = the=20 benefits of Jason=92s intellectual property, and I = highly=20 recommend it in the form of his book, as he clearly=20 articulates strategy, reason, motivation and many = useful=20 nuances to recognizing success in all markets =96 not = just=20 challenging ones!=94=20

Steve=20 Fulgham CEO
Ambassador=20 Energy, = Inc.

=20 Over the years in home improvement contracting I=92ve = gathered=20 information every contractor needs to be familiar with. = I=92ve put it=20 together in a comprehensive, well-written guidebook that = covers the=20 essentials of business you need to know. This is basically = the=20 business underlying any type of contracting specialty.=20

Introducing the

Contractor=92s
Survival=20 = Guide

This = 207 page book=20 covers a broad range of business topics contractors need to = know to=20 do well on a day to day basis and be prepared for anything = that=20 could come up. = These=20 include:=20

Advertising and = marketing -=20 promoting your business
=20
Sales - getting signed = work=20 orders
=20
Keeping in touch with = current and=20 prospective customers
=20
Meeting with a = customer to=20 formulate the contract
=20
The consequences of = leaving a=20 customer dissatisfied these days
=20
What to do when things = go=20 bad
=20
Setting up an=20 office
=20
Hiring = employees
=20
Legal = issues
=20
and=20 much more!

=93This=20 book will help all contractors, but particularly those = trying=20 to grow their businesses. Jason = has=20 done a great job in laying out in, an easy to read = format, the=20 steps to success for those willing to=20 grow.=94=20

Richard=20 Peckham Chairman of the = Board=20
Westside=20 Building Material=20 Corp

Let=92s=20 start with the lifeblood of any business =96 finding and = keeping=20 customers.=20

Name,=20 Tagline, and Marketing

=20 From your tagline to your promotional methods, to = your sales=20 presentation, you need to set up and maintain a source of = work for=20 your workers. = The=20 Contractor=92s Survival Guide delivers up to date = ideas and=20 suggestions such as:

Is what you=20 want about your business the same as what's important to = your=20 customers? = Are you in=20 tune with your customers' expectations? Here's how you can = find=20 out. = Pages 2-3 =20
How to come=20 up with a good tag line that is in line with what most = customers=20 expect from a home improvement service. Page 4 =20
What is=20 marketing your business all about and what are the best = strategies=20 that work today and in years to come? Page 8 =20
Why some of=20 the old ways of promoting your services don't work as well = today=20 as they once did. =20 Page 8
=20
What are=20 the two numbers that can show you which marketing efforts = are=20 profitable and how to calculate them. (Hint: they are=20 comparatives.) Page 9 =20
What type=20 of advertising you should best avoid. Page 10 =20
Should you=20 spend a lot of money to get a big display ad in the Yellow = Pages?
The answer is not a 100% yes or = no. Page = 11 =20
An old=20 fashioned way to get referrals that still works = today. Page 21 =20
A = new=20 source of leads previously unavailable a few years ago = that could=20 result in additional contracts and how you absolutely must = handle=20 these leads.
Page 56 =20
A = list of=20 commonly used promotional materials =96 how to decide = which ones you=20 really need, and pointers on how they should be = designed. Pages=20 13-15
=20
Free=20 publicity through your local newspaper. What to do. Pages = 16-17=20

Your Web Site

In this age = of the=20 Internet, just about any business has a web site. Just = about=20 any business needs a web site. It is the main portal = of=20 information about your company.

=20 All national and = local=20 franchises and multi-location establishments have one. With few = exceptions, so do=20 single-owner =93Mom and Pop=94 businesses. What constitutes a = good web=20 site for a home improvement contracting business? Here = are a=20 few ideas:

=B7 =20 Easy to = find by=20 people seeking your services in your town or district or a = major=20 city.

=B7 =20 How to = choose a good=20 URL (www.yourbusiness.com) =20 Pages 23-24

=B7 =20 What your = web site=20 should consist of. =20 Pages 25-26

=B7 =20 Search = engine=20 optimization and keywords. =20 Page 27

=B7 =20 How = not to=20 design your web pages. =20 Page 25

=B7 =20 How best to = use=20 Craigslist and it=92s chief competitor. Pages = 30-31

Sales =96 getting a contract and work for = your=20 crew.

=20 This is the actual process of getting the job. Many people use = the words=20 sales and marketing as if they mean the same thing. Believe me they = don=92t. Marketing is all = about=20 finding where potential customers are and how to make them = aware=20 that you provide the services they would need.

=20 Sales on the other hand, is getting the customer to = commit to=20 having the work done. =20 Explaining to the customer step by step what is going = to be=20 done. Putting = items=20 like brand name materials and appliances in writing. Getting a signed = contract=20 and deposit. Should you hire someone to do the selling for = you?=20 etc.

Here are some details and fine points = that will=20 improve your odds of winning a contract:

Your=20 presentation binder or reference book. A must-have for = you or any=20 salesperson who visits a prospective customer for a bid or = contract.
What = your binder=20 must include. = Page=20 18
=20
Why=20 trying to qualify leads is not a good idea. Page = 49
=20
Some=20 misconceptions about sales leads. Are month-old leads=20 bad?
The answer may surprise you. =20 Page 51
=20
How to=20 best handle and follow up on leads from different = sources. Each has its own = special=20 characteristics that dictate slightly different approach = to=20 contacting and following up on the customer. There=92s a = whole list on=20 pages 52 thru 56.
=20
A new=20 source of leads for your projects (Hint: it=92s on the = Internet) and=20 the best way to turn these leads into work contracts. Pages=20 56-59
=20
Why a=20 contractor must be a salesperson. Page = 61
=20
The first=20 steps of how to handle appointments. Page=20 63-65
=20
Understanding=20 different customer personalities and how to communicate = with each=20 in your effort to win a contract. Pages=20 65-68
=20
The=20 complete sales process. =20 A blueprint to guide you every step of the = way.
A=20 screen-script of you should perform in every presentation = from=20 greeting at the front door to after they approve the=20 contract. = Pages=20 70-77
=20
Pointers=20 on samples and other props used in presentations. Pages=20 80-81
=20
Up-selling=20 your customers for greater profits. Doing extra work or = providing=20 an additional service. =20 Pages 83-89
=20
A whole=20 chapter devoted to sales management =96 including do=92s = and don=92t=92s=20 of hiring and training salespersons.

Why you should do = your best not=20 to leave your customer dissatisfied

=20 Prior to the end of the twentieth century, = contractors always=20 having done somewhat less than an outstanding job in a home = would=20 remain in business and get away with it. Not anymore. There are numerous = consumer=20 web sites where disgruntled customers can post their=20 grievances. = And most=20 prospective customers do more than just check with the = Better=20 Business Bureau.

= This book has=20 a whole chapter devoted to these consumer sites. Knowing this will = make it=20 imperative to doing right by your customer and to obtain = proof in=20 the way of customer surveys, references, etc. Some of this you = can post on=20 your web site.

"As a student of = Mr. Reid's=20 for the last 15 years, I can assure you that no one = knows the=20 home improvement business better. He has been = paramount in=20 helping me build 3 businesses in the remodel market = and I am=20 thrilled that he has finally taken the time to write = this=20 book. His ideas are simple, many of them are timeless, = and=20 several of them are on the cutting edge of new = technologies;=20 especially his approach to marketing and how to build = a solid=20 internet presence. You can learn all the lessons the = hard way,=20 as many of us do, or you can read his book, study it, = read it=20 again, and keep it close at hand. Without a doubt, = this is the=20 best how-to manual ever written for small business=20 owners."=20

Matt=20 Landauer Owner=20 - ProWorks = Flooring

Hiring Employees
(other than=20 salespeople)

=20 Now here=92s where, among other reasons, a recession = might not=20 be a bad time to expand your business. Obviously the = inept and fly=20 by night firms will close shop, leaving you with more = potential=20 customers. = And there=20 will still be homeowners who will need repairs or = remodeling.

The=20 biggest advantage, however, is when it comes to hiring = people. You=92ll have lots = more job=20 applicants available. =20 You can take your time choosing the workers who will = best=20 serve your needs. =20 Selecting employees is something that needs to be = done with=20 utmost care.

How to=20 categorize individuals seeking employment with your = firm. Page 100 =20
Why=20 recruiting is an ongoing effort. Page 105 =20
Ideal ways=20 to find people. =20 Page 106

Screening=20 candidates. = Page=20 107
=20
Why it is=20 so important to have a good =91vacation player=92 among = your=20 workers. By = the way=20 what is a vacation player? =20 See page 104

Jason Reid's = ability to see=20 through the "contractor tunnel vision" we all have as = business=20 owners is unbelievably beneficial to us all. His book = is=20 filled with many important "Ah-Ha" moments we as small = businessess need to improve upon. It prepares the = everyday mom=20 and pop contractor for best practices both in and out = of the=20 field. The insight and ideas definitely have = real-world=20 applications many of which I have implemented in my = small=20 solar business. This book is a definite read for any = home=20 improvement contractor, large or small looking to = build a=20 profitable, efficient and dynamic = business"=20

Ricky=20 Chu Director=20 of Operations Frontier Solar=20 Inc.

Business intelligence
Know = your=20 customers and your competitors=20

As a = businessperson,=20 it is of utmost importance to know your market from various=20 aspects. = Geographic and=20 median income, typical architectural styles, etc. It is also = important to keep=20 up to date on your competition. What=92s special = about your=20 competitors. = Do they=20 offer services you don=92t? =20 What can you offer that others in your field = don=92t? What=92s the best = way to=20 gather this information? =20 Read Chapter 11.

And = then there=20 are contractors that offer other services. You might be a = drywall=20 painter. You = can get to=20 know personally the carpet and flooring jobbers. Then there are = kitchen and=20 bathroom remodelers. = Chances are a someone who needs to have the carpet = replaced=20 might also need to have the walls painted.

And then there are the services every business = needs=20

Every = business,=20 especially where you hire employees, needs accounting and = legal=20 services. The = Contractor=92s Survival Guide has a chapter devoted to these = services.

There = is emphasis=20 on maximizing the relationship with an attorney. In fact, the book = proposes=20 an alternative to contingency cases only a few lawyers will = not=20 accept

= There are=20 other entire chapters dedicated to: =

Technology

Expense Management

Estimating and Pricing

Management

Business Planning=20 =

A=20 complete guide for operating your business=20

Written in = an easy to=20 read, interesting style, The Contractor's Survival Guide is = one of=20 those books you pick up and cannot put down. Especially when it = has to do=20 with your bread and butter.

"The = Contractor's Survival=20 Guide is a 'to the point,' at times 'fiercly to = the=20 point,' direct attack on bad business. This book is = applicable=20 to many small entrepreneurs in many industries, not = just those=20 in construction contracting. If you are a small = business=20 owner, if you are looking to start a small business, = or if you=20 are in school and you are considering the immense=20 opportunities available to you if you become an = entrepreneur -=20 GET THIS BOOK! Jason Reid provides a well thought out = and=20 direct insight into the missed opportunities of small = business=20 today, then provides a road map to a style that = provides=20 greater success and prosperity. The opportunities are = endless=20 when the chains of disorganization and small thinking = are=20 shed."=20

Matthew=20 K Stewart Chairman=20 of the Global Board
The Entrepreneur's=20 = Organization

Choice of Ebook or Paperback

Ebook =96=20 downloadable so you can start reading in a few minutes. =

Paperback =96=20 handy when you=92re away from your computer.

You'll=20 experience growth and improved efficiency.
We = guarantee it.

You'll = find The=20 Contractor=92s Survival Guide is a resource you wouldn=92t = want to be=20 without. = If after=20 90 days, you don=92t experience any kind of improvement in = your=20 business, simply return the book for a full refund.

**Pricing**
Downloadable ebook - $24.95 = Soft cover book - $26.95 +=20 postage

Order=20 Today

Wishing you success,=20

[image of=20 your signature goes here]

Jason=20 Reid

P.S. =20 I=92m sure you want to bring yourself up to date on = all the=20 essentials so you can start seeing your business grow and = provide=20 more income and security to yourself, your family and your=20 workers. Time = is of the=20 essence. You = never know=20 when some difficulty with a particular aspect of your = business will=20 arise. = Wouldn=92t you=20 want to be in a better position to handle these issues? =