Whether you are a new contractor that’s just starting out or a contractor that is looking to branch off on his own, starting up a business can be a lot to take in. As a contractor, you deal with tough projects and go through a lot to build experience. If your business isn’t run properly, it can make your operations more difficult and your jobs less smooth. You need a business that is organized, properly managed, and has a brand built out.
We wanted to bring you a guide to the start-up of your business from the ground up. This way you can be prepared for everything that goes into having a business and running it. As a contractor, these are things that should be marked as a priority. They all are vital to your day to day operations and the organization of your business.
Equipment
As a contractor, the work that you do requires you to have certain equipment for certain jobs. Without equipment, a lot of your job can’t be complete, so this is a good place to start. The equipment you need will depend on the services that you offer. You will need job site equipment and you will also need office equipment like computers, desks, phones, and so on. Once you have all of this set up you can properly begin operations.
Labor Expenses
Now, this is a broad category, as a business owner with employees, you must be able to cover normal pay along with overtime, sick, holiday, leave, and taxes. These are also not the only expenses you will have to cover. You will need to set extra money aside to cover unexpected expenses like damage to any of your materials, new materials, or supplies that are needed for specific jobs.
Licenses
As a business owner, you must have the correct licenses and permits for your company to run and take payment for the work you do. Make sure you educate yourself on the correct licenses and permits you need and ensure that there aren’t any specific training that you must complete first. It is also a good idea to set aside a budget to send your employees to training so they can get certified as well.
Branding
This is probably one of the most important aspects of your business, especially when you are just starting out. In order to get your name out into the community and get clients, you need to advertise. This can be anything from signage, commercials, flyers, brochures, and more.
You want your company to look professional and put together so you could even have branded clothing for your employees to wear. Anything from hats, coats, vests, hoodies, and t-shirts can be beneficial in branding and getting your name out there.
Build a Team
When you go to hire your employees, make sure your team is stable and works well together. Hire people who are outgoing and excited to work for you. You want to manage your team in a way where they don’t feel like you are their boss, they want you to feel like their friend and be comfortable with you.
A few good ways to keep your team happy is giving them set hours, good pay, and keeping everyone informed of jobs, events, and important dates for the office. This way everyone feels included and important, which means they will want to stay working for you longer.
Starting up a business isn’t as easy as 1, 2, 3 and everything on the list isn’t the only component to building a business from the ground up. You will have specific bullet points to cover depending on your business and the type of work that you will do and the way you want your business ran. This, however, is a good starting place to get your name out there and build a foundation for everything so you can succeed. To learn more and to get more tips and tricks, check our social media page where we post contractor specific information, as well as design inspiration for jobs!
