General contractors and freelance home remodeling businesses are the backbone of the home improvement industry. Starting your own contracting business helps the industry grow; however, you need to know how to grow to make your business a success.
Here are some tips to help you find customers, and market and expand your contractor business.
Expanding Your General Contractor Business
-
Develop a Plan
Having a strategy for your business is crucial to its success. Without strategic planning, your contracting business won’t be able to keep up with the demands of your clients.
Several aspects should be factored into creating your business plan. Consider what types of big projects you want to focus on. Find your “niche,” or advantage, against competitors, and be ready to promote yourself. Decide if you want to subcontract or have more overhead.
-
Provide Clear Communication
Good customer service means you’re able to take calls throughout the day. Thoroughly communicate your office hours so clients can reach you. Consider forwarding business calls to your cell phone. That way, if you can’t reach the phone at that moment, it’ll be quicker to respond if you’re not physically in the office.
Also, consider setting up an after-hours answering service. It’s easy and efficient to set up automatic email and social media messaging systems outside of office hours. This ensures the client’s message is received and is the first thing you see in the morning.
-
Promote Yourself
Once you have your strategy and communications plan in place, it’s time to put them to use. Being able to market your services will draw in more clients.
Having a strong online presence is more than just registering your business with Google. Regularly interact with your online audience through social media accounts, email newsletters, and blog posts. Make sure your contact information is visible on all your platforms and easily accessible.
-
Make Smart Financial Decisions
The main reason most contractor businesses fail is because general contractors can’t keep up with the cost of overhead. You need to be aware of extra expenses and the cost of a job before accepting it. Provide clients a ballpark estimate or create your own budget to monitor expenses.
When estimating a cost, look for a supplier that provides quality appliances at an affordable price. Contractor Source is one such supplier.
Rely on Contractor Source to Help Make Your Home Contractor Business a Success
The smart contractor’s best-kept secret, Contractor Source helps both contractors and homeowner clients find the best wholesale home remodeling materials to fit a budget of any size. We serve general contractors and custom home builders with faster and cost-effective ways to finish their projects. From high-quality custom countertops and cabinets to precision finishing and flooring straight from the source, our streamlined product selection makes your contractor job easy. To get started, visit our Orlando, FL showroom or call us at 407-770-2222.
