This study describes the business side of construction contracting today. It shows how a contractor operates, thinks and reacts and it outlines specifically the risks he faces in the acknowledged high risk field. The author addresses ten common elements of contractor failure and the risk these elements pose to successful operations. Each element is illustrated with examples drawn from experience, assessments of risk, realistic alternatives for risk avoidance and practical advice on how to plan and defend against these pitfalls and how to achieve and sustain success.