Individuals may consider subcontracting for various reasons: to test the waters of independent consulting; to see what type of work is available and in demand and what kind of work they like; or to augment their independent consulting business. In this issue of TD at Work, Howard Prager, Joe Willmore, Rebecca Boyle, and Rick Hicks detail the ins and outs of subcontracting and why talent development professionals should consider this path. They detail: • how to get started as a subcontractor • the ways and how much subcontractors generally are paid • questions to ask when considering a subcontracting gig • land mines to avoid and tips for being successful.

"The Contractor Fight" is what HGTV host and best-selling author Tom Reber calls the battle between your ears. We all have stories and experiences that have formed us into who we are. We are what we think, and the battleground is our mind. The Fight is not with the people you think are "cheap customers." It's not with the unlicensed competitors or the "illegals," as many contractors think. The Fight is with yourself. Sadly, most of the struggles contractors have are self-imposed. It's friendly fire. The negative ways we think about ourselves and our worth... friendly fire. The growing debt, working too much, small bank account... friendly fire. Winning the Fight is a choice. You're noble and full of integrity. You bend over backward to serve your family and clients. You have taken it on the chin more times than you can count. Now, it's time to get yours. Earn what you're worth. Create a business that serves you and energizes you, instead of one that beats you down. Choose to own your crap and get better today.

In order to succeed in a construction business you have to be able to mark up the price of your jobs to cover overhead expenses and make a decent profit. The problem is how much to mark it up. You don't want to lose jobs because you charge too much, and you don't want to work for free because you've charged too little. If you know how much to mark up you can apply it to your job costs and arrive at the right sales price for your work. This book gives you the background and the calculations necessary to easily figure the markup that is right for your business. Includes a CD-ROM with forms and checklists for your use.

It's time for subcontractors to Quit Getting Screwed. Every day, subcontractors across all trades face the same critical dilemma: Should I sign a subcontract I don't understand-one that might even put my company at risk? Or should I refuse to sign and lose the job? Attorney Karalynn Cromeens wrote Quit Getting Screwed to help every subcontractor, no matter how big or how small, understand what those subcontracts mean. Know which provisions you should expect and which ones to avoid. Identify dangerous provisions that need to be removed, learn the best negotiation techniques, and come to the table armed with fair language that can be substituted for unfair clauses. Signing a subcontract you don't understand can put your entire livelihood in jeopardy. If you're a subcontractor, don't sign another subcontracting agreement without knowing what it means.  Keep this book in your pocket, and quit getting screwed.

Get the contracts you need and want; achieve bondability and get bonded; manage any project right; ace the construction schedule process; prepare needed documentation at every stage; develop a money-saving safety program; deal with difficult general contractors; avoid misuse and abuse from general contractors (a sadly frequent occurrence); prepare successful claims against general contractors for justifiable damages; and market and expand your business with free and low-cost promotion."--Jacket.