Under $250,000

Key Results

Kitchen and bath rank highest as the projects that generate the most revenue for these companies. It’s no surprise then that 12% of these respondents identify themselves as K&B specialists, the highest percentage of any revenue category.

The next highest-ranking projects are, in order, handyman, window and door replacement, and trim carpentry. These three projects — none of which are included in the top five by any other revenue category — are characteristic of the smaller scope and size of jobs undertaken by these smaller remodeling companies. As was the case in 2007, these companies report the least expense for subcontracting, performing most of their work with their own forces.

Much of the data from this under–$250,000 group reflect the effects of the recession. In the 2007 Business Benchmarking survey, for example, 50% of respondents said that revenue had increased compared with the year before. This year, that number is only 19%. In 2007, just 19% of companies reported that revenue decreased, but 58% said that this year. The future outlook is also more pessimistic: In the 2007 survey, 56% of respondents thought that revenue would increase; this year, just 27% expect an increase in 2009 compared with 2008.

—Nina Patel