Try this simple test. Go to your file
cabinet, pull out the file for one of
your current projects, and in less than
15 minutes, determine the costs of
materials for the project to date.
Time's up. If you just barely got
started on the cost data — or worse, if
you couldn't find the folder — it probably
means you don't know if you're running
a profitable project, let
alone a profitable company.
You're not alone. During
our early years, we learned the
hard way (usually through our
wallet) that the foot-battle for
profits is won or lost in the
arena known as "job costs."
So we implemented a system
of procedures and forms to be
used on