SHOPTALK.(BUSINESS WEEKLY)

When Charles W. Riedinger, president and owner of Standard Plumbing Corp., started in the plumbing business, stores like Home Depot didn't exist, faucets didn't have circuit boards and a plumber was a plumber first and a businessman second.

But increased competition, a myriad of paperwork and reporting required by local, state and federal regulators and the lack of people waiting in line to enter the construction trades forced mom and pop operators like Riedinger to regroup.

Riedinger turned to SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives Association, to learn what he needed to do to become a better businessman and keep his business growing.

He …