For anyone toiling in the trades that is looking to get ahead, Coldstream’s Jack Borden has packed all of the necessary tools in his book Faster, Cheaper, Better – Starting and Operating a Business in the Trades.
There are plenty of tradespeople in the industry who are adept at what they do, but know little about running their own company. With his book, Borden, a developer who began his career as an electrician, walks his readers through the challenges and potential pitfalls in setting up a successful company.
“My book will provide you with business ideas, direction and concepts that you can apply in your business to help you start, build and operate a better business,” said Borden, who moved to Vernon in 1972 to take on a role as Goodwin Electric.
Borden delivers his material with a no-nonsense approach that will help start-ups, as well as existing businesses that are struggling, manage their operations, keep customers and suppliers happy while earning a profit.
Published by Self-Counsel Press, Faster, Cheaper, Better is 137 pages and broken into a dozen chapters. Topics covered include: considerations for being self-employed, business and marketing planning, project management and accounting.
The book also includes several worksheets and sample pages depicting things like balance sheets, invoices, progress reports and purchase orders.
Borden said his customers are the ones who inspired him to write the book.
“Throughout my 50-year career in the construction industry, I have always been driven by a desire to be the best in my field,” said Borden, who developed Coldstream Meadows retirement community.
“Contractors in the construction industry are surrounded by competition, and in order to survive, a business must provide customers with everything they want and be profitable at the same time.”
Borden said the title for his book was the result of him asking his clients what they expect when he does a job – faster, cheaper, better.
“Customers used different terminology to express their project objectives, but when translated, all they wanted was speed, quality and the best possible price.”
