Becoming a contractor is a great way to start your small business and build it from the ground up. There are many advantages to being a contractor such as flexible working hours and the freedom to choose your own clients. What’s more, you can avoid corporate charges by not actually having any employees, you can simply hire subcontractors! In the case that this might be up your alley, then you’ll need to establish a business plan, determine the legal structure, find a contractor insurance policy, and plan a marketing strategy among other things.
Among all the business planning, one important thing to consider is procuring equipment for your business. If you are just starting your business, you can also look for renting construction tools and equipment instead of purchasing them. Tools like aerial lifts can be helpful for lifting and moving workers and materials on the work site. Or consider skid steer rental, as it is used for various tasks like moving earth and materials, by changing buckets to its lift arms. And due to its compact size it can be manoeuvred easily on the construction site. As you will be renting equipment instead of purchasing, you are ensuring that you are only getting the equipment you need for a certain project. Additionally, the money you save by renting, can be invested further into your business, like marketing, and further potential business growth.
Passing The Certification
No matter the type of contractor you would like to become, you will have to take a certain number of tests and exams in order to receive your certification. But before you even get to this step, you will need to sign up and pay for the necessary courses.
Some people are able to rely on their previous experience in the field and therefore save money on their education. If this is not your case, you will need to find a training school that offers the necessary certifications to become a contractor. Depending on the type of career you choose to pursue, you might need to become forklift certified or you might need to have your electrical license. These requirements are put in place for your safety and that of the people you will work with.
Your Main Client Base
Once you have chosen the type of contractor you will become, you now need to start thinking about the people you hope to work with. This also begs the question – what sort of projects will you be taking on? You will need to decide whether you want to work in people’s homes or in new office buildings or on massive industrial builds.
It’s important to compile a solid network of potential clients and customers. Understanding the needs of your client base and being able to predict the sort of projects that will be put into place months or even years down the line will give you a massive advantage when placing bids for new potential projects.
Customer Service And Construction
As a contractor, you serve as the intermediary between the client, the construction workers, the interior decorators, the interior architects, and any other third party subcontractors that are brought onto the work site.
It is therefore vital that you are able to play both fields. You must be ready and equipped to provide excellent customer service and to always put your client’s needs first. Then, you must be able to explain to your construction crew what exactly is expected of them in regards to each project. Having many hats often means that it is up to you to explain what is and is not feasible for each project.
