The construction business is a tough industry to be in. The competition is fierce, and it’s difficult to grow your business organically. Construction can also be dangerous work, but there are ways that you can make sure the job site stays safe while you’re managing projects from afar. Find out how construction businesses should start, what they need before they do, and some top tips for success.
Steps for Starting up a Construction Business:
Finding a Property:
When you search for a place to start your construction business, it needs to be accessible and safe. You don’t need much space, but the natural environment should not present any uncertainties such as rocks or high sands that can cause problems with running operations. By using rock boulders in strategic locations on the property, you’ll take care of this uncertainty issue right off the bat.
Getting Permits Approved from Local Authorities:
The next thing is starting up your business legally. When you go through this process, be sure to get a DBA or “Doing Business As” license to protect your business. It will also help you get bonded, which is mandatory for any construction company in most states. This will vary by location, so you’ll need to research what’s required in your area or create an LLC (Limited Liability Company) or corporation for yourself if needed, which is required in some parts of the country.
Early plans:
The first thing you need to do is find the right person for the business. If your partner has a construction background, it will be beneficial to have them on board from day one to make decisions and get things done quickly. If they don’t, then finding someone who does might also be wise as soon as possible.
You should also make sure that you have someone on the team who is good with finances because construction projects are expensive, and it’s necessary to plan for any contingency. Decide who will be responsible for managing your construction company and set up their role before anything else.
Planning a budget
Managing your budget for equipment and other necessities will also be crucial when finding a construction company. Understanding how much it will cost in both time and money should come before you start looking at property or signing any contracts with clients, so make sure to do those calculations first!
Get your contractor’s license.
Learn about your State’s laws on hiring employees for construction work. In some states, you are required to have a contractor’s license before you can hire someone else who will be doing the physical labor of building or remodeling homes. You can do this by taking a few hours of class time and then passing the exam to get certified for work in that state.
Decide what services you’ll offer.
You’ll also want to decide what you will offer — i.e., full service or just taking on subcontracting jobs? This is important because it dictates the types of projects you’ll be able to handle and how much work can flow through your company.
Marketing and Strategy
Be aware of the local zoning laws and other regulations that may affect your commercial project. This is a great place to start your research because it will inform you of the kinds of projects allowed in an area and help you find out what construction project you want to start with, whether it’s remodeling an existing home or building a new one from scratch.
Put up signs, talk with neighbors about hiring you, and start marketing yourself on social media to get the word out about what business you are starting! Make use of digital marketing as much as you can to spread out.
Branch Out With Your Skills
You’ll want to make sure that you have a diverse skill set. This will give you an edge over the competition and keep things interesting for yourself as well! For example, if your background is in carpentry, then consider branching out into other trades like plumbing or design so that you can offer your customers a complete package. If you are in the electrical trade, consider learning about appliance installation so that you can offer those services as well.
Top Tips for Success
Be sure to use social media and marketing tools to reach out to potential clients! Apps like Hoot suite make it easy to schedule posts across all of your social media platforms.
Set up a website to advertise what you do and who you are! You’ll want to be sure that the design is professional but also attractive so that it will attract potential customers.
A blog is an excellent way for people in the industry or those looking into starting their own business with helpful information. You should be able to include photos, videos, and testimonials from past clients, so people know they’re in good hands with you.
Insights
One thing that is often overlooked in the beginning stages of a construction business is making sure you are properly insured. If something goes wrong with your project and it’s not your fault, then you’ll want to be able to compensate for any damages or injuries someone else may sustain from work on the property.
You should also have an attorney on retainer in the event you need legal advice. Many decisions need to be made before starting up the operations, but one decision should be an agreement on who does what and when they do it.
For example, if someone doesn’t want to be on-call for emergencies, the company should have a system set up to call someone else in case something goes wrong.
If you plan to start a construction business, it is crucial that you understand the industry and what skills will be necessary to succeed. You’ll also need some guidance, so make sure you’re asking others for advice as well! It is essential to be realistic about how much time and energy it will take to have an idea of the commitment you are making.
We hope these tips were helpful! With some research, guidance, and the willingness to work hard, there is no reason that you can’t succeed.
