Starting up a construction Business

[Annie0562]

Hello all,
My father has been working as a plumber in the past 15 years for the same company. Anyway recently he has worked saturdays, sundays , bank holidays and over time as well. He doesn't receive the appropriate paying for all of this work along with two collegues of him - one is a carpenter and the other one very good constructor. So three of them have great experience and skills in what they are doing and I am trying to convince him the best thing to do for all of them is to start a business together. I am familiar with basics of business so I will help them to some extend. My main concern is how I will find projects and clients for them , because Internet is not the best place to find new clients , since the competition is huge and I want to rely more on networking with other people , than depending on just advertising on websites.
Thank you

 

[Daniel Brownell]

Hi Annie,

If you're looking for a cost-effective method of advertising then I would recommend making contact with former builders and those working within your prospective industries.

Are you, for example, going to be building residential or commercial buildings, or are you going to specialise even further into particular types of buildings? In any case you should approach the appropriate authorities, along with your target market (individuals with disposable income).

I would recommend telling friends and neighbours about your enterprise and encouraging them to advertise it through word-of-mouth.

The vagueness of your inquiry prevents me from being more specific and tailoring this advice to the context of your situation but I hope that this has given you food for thought!

Kind Regards,
Daniel Brownell.

 

[Ian J]

I have a friend who did something similar a few years ago when he set up with a partner and took on kitchen and bathroom rebuilding plus extensions etc and they have been working flat out ever since.

Most of their work has come from recommendation and word of mouth starting off with previous clients of his previous employer of which I was one.

 

[John Crowder]

Its strikes me that you have the working talent in the 3 people but you need someone who will step up and win work, which will take them away from the day to day work.

In my experience its still a sector where personal relationships and referrals are hugely important.

Google property and construction networking - there are often lunches and events just for this sector.

In my BNI chapter the trades do phenomenally well starting with the planners and architects the work seems to cascade down - so that one job feeds many. Its perhaps worth looking at a few local groups and attending to see if that works.

 

[Deleted member 268094]

I think John is right about BNI being a great source for trades to pick up work. It sounds like you're looking for effective low cost marketing (I know ho isn't!). The trades you will be offering have strong demand as far as I know so you're marketing won't have to be the best to get started. My suggestions beyond BNI would be get on to one of the major trade listing sites like check a trade and build up your profile if you have just 4 or 5 people leave you a great review that will put you ahead of most even if you do really small jobs on the side to start. Also Property Investment Networking events. Investors always need work doing and often struggle to keep hold of good trades because their work is low volume and the best trades eventually start to pick and choose their jobs based on who's giving them the most work. With those three avenues I'd be very surprised if you don't get enough work to get started. Then it's a case of getting the better paying / higher value work in off the back of the referrals you will start to get and increased visibility n the likes of checkatrade. One other thing. It will take a little while to build up so you're fully booked for work with good margins. Accept that build in a runway so you're not living from job to job and allocate money for marketing at the start and a % of your profits to build things up. Once you're established good jobs will come in easier and with less / no marketing spend.

 

[John Crowder]

I asked a lad I know.

He also picks up work from Streetlife dot com. A small classified in the local paper and being on the local council trader register.

He also said hes been to property auctions with clients and picked up new work in the room.

 

[kelvin black]

Yes agree with John, BNI great job in referral supply and sources.

 

[Mark T Jones]

As above - finding clients isn't terribly difficult.

However, before running off and taking on random jobs, you really need to consider where you want to be in the market: do you want to do lots of small independent jobs, or work as subbies on big projects, or take your own larger, private contracts?

Each one requires a different approach and has different potential pitfalls - don't rush in and become busy fools!

 

[Ian J]

However, before running off and taking on random jobs, you really need to consider where you want to be in the market: do you want to do lots of small independent jobs, or work as subbies on big projects, or take your own larger, private contracts?

According to the Op (who hasn't yet been back) there is no real indications that the three individuals want to be in the market at all as the post seems to imply that it is Annie0562 that is pushing her father to go into business whether he wants to or not

 

[Oliver Wild]

There are sites such as rated people, my builder and check a trade, I know people who do really well out of using the internet presence of these companies to find work. All three work in different ways. I've not used them for a few years but from memory, you have to pay my builder and check a trade for individual leads, checkatrade there is an annual subscription. you get people who your dad has worked for to put references on these sites and enquiries will start coming in.