Resources & Tools
Recommended books, software, and external resources for contractors, project managers, and construction business owners. Hand-picked by Peter based on 18+ years in the field.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase using them. Thank you for your support — we only recommend products we genuinely believe in.
Recommended books for contractors
Excel and spreadsheet skills
- Excel Bible — A complete guide to Excel from beginner to advanced. The go-to reference book that should be on every contractor’s desk.
- Power Excel with MrExcel — Bill Jelen’s practical guide to Excel features most users never discover.
- Excel Formulas and Functions for Dummies — Plain-English explanations of every formula you’ll actually use in construction work.
Construction business management
- Markup & Profit: A Contractor’s Guide by Michael Stone — Required reading for any contractor who doesn’t know exactly what to charge.
- Profit First for Contractors by Shawn Van Dyke — A practical cash flow management system specifically for construction businesses.
- The E-Myth Contractor by Michael Gerber — Why most contracting businesses fail and how to build one that actually works.
Construction estimating and project management
- Estimating Construction Costs by Robert Peurifoy — The classic estimating textbook used in construction management programs.
- Construction Project Management by Frederick Gould — A practical guide to running construction projects from start to finish.
- RSMeans Cost Data — Annual cost data books for accurate construction estimating.
Software and tools we use
For document creation
- Adobe Acrobat Reader — Free PDF reader, required for many construction documents
- Microsoft Office (Excel, Word) — The industry standard for construction documentation
- Google Workspace — Excellent for collaborative spreadsheets and documents
For drawing and design
- AutoCAD — Industry standard for construction drawings
- Autodesk DWG Viewer — Free viewer for AutoCAD files
- SketchUp — Easy 3D modeling for residential and small commercial
For collaboration
- Google Drive — Free cloud storage and file sharing
- Dropbox — Reliable file sync across devices
- Slack — Team communication for construction crews
Construction industry resources
- AIA (American Institute of Architects) — Standard contract documents and industry guidance
- CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) — Division and section formats used throughout construction
- OSHA Construction — Safety regulations and training resources
- ENR (Engineering News-Record) — Industry news and trends
- Construction Dive — Daily construction industry news and analysis
Have a recommendation?
Found a book or tool that’s helped your business? Email support@constructionofficeonline.com and let us know. We’re always looking for new resources to share with the contractor community.