Here are 8 tips on how to grow your business successfully. If you want the best contractor business possible, develop these habits in your daily operations.
Create Your Best Contracting Business
Contractor Habit 1: Get in the Habit of Goal Setting
Do yourself a huge favor and get into the habit of running your contracting business with intention. Go out of the way to write down the goals you have for your company and its future. Studies show that making this small effort increases the chance of you meeting those goals! Your day-by-day becomes more bearable and even exciting if you’re moving toward a solid target, rather than guessing as you go.
Contractor Habit 2: Put Safety First
In the contracting industry, safety comes first. Protect your business with insurance and surety bonds and your employees with worker’s compensation. Your contracting business should always be in compliance and your education up-to-date. Train your employees so they’re as qualified in safety best practices as you are. Work site safety procedures should be a routine process and the starting point of each job.
Contractor Habit 3: Build a Team of High-Performers
Depending on your business goals, you’ll probably be working with either subcontractors or direct employees. You’ll want to treat them similarly when it comes to your selection process. Think of the reputation and quality of work you want your business to represent and hire only those who will work hard to uphold this. It can be difficult at times, especially if you’re in a bind for more labor. However, if you are subcontracting, do your best to repeatedly offer work to those high-performers. In time you’ll find yourself with a reliable team of producers.
Contractor Habit 4: Find Your Best Niche – and Stick With It
Business begins because someone has an idea, or a skill, they want to share with others. Although they consider that their specialty, many business owners do evolve over time. If you discover that management is something you excel in more than swinging a hammer, hire a carpenter and start planning your next projects. As you acquire new skills, shed the ones that might be holding you back. Keep looking for the roadblocks to your contracting business’ growth, and address them each and every day.
8 Tips to Grow Your Business
- Get in the Habit of Goal Setting
- Put Safety First
- Build a Team of High-Performers
- Find Your Best Niche – and Stick With It
- Delegate Whenever Possible
- Deliver Great Customer Service
- Ask for Referrals
- Make Yourself Visible
Contractor Habit 5: Delegate Whenever Possible
This piggybacks on our last point; make sure you have the person most-qualified for the job doing that job. This doesn’t just apply to on-site work, either. Are you finding yourself stretched thin or trying to accommodate for lack of skill in any area of your business? You should seriously consider reaching out for help and outsourcing those tasks.
Contractor Habit 6: Deliver Great Customer Service
Customer service continues to be the make-it or break-it of consumer experiences. A well-performed job really doesn’t mean much if the client felt ignored, mistreated or disrespected at any point during the process. Establish an open and honest flow of communication and encourage your clients to ask questions. Follow up with them during job delays or unexpected changes. Allow them to offer their input when it makes sense. Remember, happy clients are the foundation of any great business!
Contractor Habit 7: Ask for Referrals
Once you’ve established a base of satisfied clients, ask them for referrals. Most contractors are wary of this because it feels like they’re asking too much. You’re not – people like doing favors for others. If you’ve performed high-quality work, your clients will enjoy referring their friends to you because it makes them look like they have the good connections. Make it simple for them by sending a hand written thank you with a few business cards, or following up with a personal call.
Contractor Habit 8: Make Yourself Visible
While word of mouth is arguably one of the best marketing tools around, it shouldn’t be the only one you’re using. Between print and digital marketing, there are tools available for every budget and every contracting business. Marketing campaigns vary wildly from one company to the next, so do some research and consider which options make the most sense for your contracting specialty and business. Running a small-town company could require as little as a nice truck decal and some signs around town. Working in a large city? You might want to consider online search advertising. The possibilities are endless; creativity is encouraged, but focus on delivering your message clearly.
Ready to become maximize your success? Start Goal Setting now!
Want to grow your contracting network? Visit ContractorTalk which hosts one of the largest contractor forums on the web.
Read about another crucial contracting habit: Notices of Right to a Lien!