Owning a trades business can be a wonderful – and lucrative – way of earning a living. However, it can be a struggle to get things off the ground, and grow beyond your one-man show to become a respected and in-demand tradesperson. In this guide, we’re going to take a look at some of the strategies you might employ to increase your market and grow your business the right way. Let’s get started right away.
What do customers look for?
Before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s important to understand what people look for when they choose a tradesperson. We can boil this down to just three things – experience, resources, and communication. You will need the experience to prove you can do the work, and your customers will want to know if you have the resources to finish the job in a timely fashion. Finally, communication skills are essential to keep your customer informed at all times. If you can nail these three areas, you should be able to lay the foundations of a successful business.
What do other tradespeople provide?
The next step is to take a look at the competition. You need to find out what other tradespeople in your field are offering and differentiate yourself from them. There is, of course, an element of undercutting in the trades business. So, you will need to price your work at the right level, without lowering quality. Make sure you place a high emphasis on the quality of your jobs. If you can show great examples of your previous projects, people will pay more if they believe it is better value.
Craig SunterCan you increase your offer?
Never rest on your laurels as a tradesperson – you should always be looking at ways of developing your skill sets. It gives you more options to offer your customers, and you can be ahead of the game when it comes to new trends. Invest in new equipment, too. For example, these high-quality plasma cutters at LincolnElectric.com could be useful for a welder. Learning to use them will give the welder a chance to offer customers a more specialized metal cutting service. It’s something that can help them go that extra mile alongside the ‘nuts and bolts’ of their usual offering.
Do you have references?
You should always ask happy customers if they will give you a reference for your work. The more you have, the better. Offer your prospects the opportunity of reaching out to your references for confirmation on the quality of your services. There are several common questions that crop up. Does the tradesperson complete their work in time? Are their budgets accurate? Are they trustworthy and diligent? If your references can back you up here, you will see your business grow beyond its current status.
Can you think like your customer?
Finally, always think like your customer. Consider how they see your business – are you a professional, and do you act in a courteous manner? Stepping outside of your business every once in awhile and looking in from a neutral position will help you find your weak spots and improve them.
Good luck with the trades business – let us know how you get on!
