Hello all,
I run a small remodeling and carpentry business in the Dayton / Cincinnatti area of Ohio and I am linterested in expanding my business. Currently I work only for homeowners, functioning as a general contractor.
I enjoy this very much, but I am struggling to consistantly find enough work. I have been in business since 2003 and I go through really busy periods and really slow periods. I would like to pick up work as a subcontractor (cabinet installs, millwork), but I am not really sure how to market myself to other contractors.
Any thoughts or advice on how to find work of this type will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Matt
Replies
my experience is that subbing from GCs will keep you very busy in good times if you keep a sharp pencil, and very slow in slow times, no matter how sharo your pencil is.
Focus on selling to HOs at your price instead of wearing out tools and body at the buiilder's price.
Your best advertising is word of mouth. Pump that! get your past customers to speak up on your behalf. call each of them to ask whether they are happy with your work and whether they can recommend you again.
Think back to how you have gotten other work in the past. somebody was your lead man. get those same people talking about you again. Offer a finder's fee if need be.
Finally, figure out - if you have 8% down time, bump your price on the next estimates enough to cover that. Then sell like the devil is on your tail. Get the Eye of the Tiger. Be hungy and go hunting.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks for responding.
I can see your point regarding wearing body and equipment, and also your point regarding higher prices and selling more. In fact my business model clearly outlines those two points. I typically sell to customers at the upper end of the market, and I am building a reputation based on my performance. Currently I am at the point where HOs seek me out specifically to complete their jobs. This work is strictly refferal, no competition, "we will take your price" type jobs. However, there are still periods where I cannot fill my schedule, or raise my price enough to cover the slow time.
Currently I publish a newsletter, I am active in the community, and I stay in touch with my customers by providing "small job" services.
What I need to do is establish more customers.
I was thinking of throwing a BBQ event to raise money for a charity that myself and DW are invloved in. I can invite all of my customers and suggest that they bring friends. Networking?
Any thoughts?
Sounds like fun
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I'm gonna disagree with Piffin (playing devil's advocate) and say find the high end custom home builders and make yourself available to them. Actually, find builders that do lot's of high end remodeling. I DO NOT cut my prices for GCs. I make myself worth what I charge with service.
If you've just been out since 2003, you've still got some contact building to do. Find out who the good remodelers are if you don't know (think Indian Hills). Get a portfolio together and call 'em up - See if you can take a project manager to lunch. Show 'em what you got. Believe it or not, most of these guys see each other socially at home builders association meetings, etc. and if they need a sub, they'll ask each other. One company may not need you, but may pass your card to another.
Make a few phone calls, see if anybody bites - what do you have to lose?
BTW, 75% of my business is sub work and half of the rest is referred by the GC's I work for.
Good Luck.
GRANTT LOGANN - THE LEXINGTONVILLE COPPERWRIGHT
http://grantlogan.net/
you devili'll agree with you on high end remodelors. Always looking for a good sub in some trades.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Yeah, most of the guys I work for are kinda like, oh let me think,YOU.
GRANTT LOGANN - THE LEXINGTONVILLE COPPERWRIGHT
http://grantlogan.net/
neat copper coloured sig line, but you spilled some extra lettres in to it, didn't you?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
>>>>>>>>>but you spilled some extra lettres in to it,yes. I wanted to be "Phill -the Onionville Woodwright", but that was already taken.
GRANTT LOGANN - THE LEXINGTONVILLE COPPERWRIGHT
http://grantlogan.net/
Contact Homeowners Association and Property Management Companies. They are usually too reliant on the word of many contractors. Some will go only by price , but once you prove your honesty, the will keep you busy.
Well it looks like you might be in luck.
Depending on where you live and the opportunities , you might start another business to suppliment your income or your retirement .
Lets see , rentals might be the ticket or somthing thats part time like a car wash.
Like the farmer and the cattlemen say , you need an income while you are sleeping and its growing . You can take from it in slow times and let it grow in good ones. Then one day when you dont feel like working it will be there beside you like a good dog only more supportive.
Tim
Memphest 2006
November 18th
Matt,
I worked a fair amount as a sub when I was very new to my own business. For most of the reasons your talking about.
In a perfect world, a GC would take the sub's price, add his Expenses and Overhead to it and bill the Customer. In the real world, all too often, the GC promises a price, takes his cut, and then gets a sub to do the job for what's left over. You can easily get in a rut of wearing out tools and body foor wages.
IF you have decent finish skills, check out a few stair shops in your area. I've yet to run across one anywhere that wasn't looking for at least the occasional rail installer. It's easy work and the jobs usually run from one day to one week. At one point I even had two shops agreeing to set the stairs for the customer and do the framing associated with them, and then subbing me the work.
People think that rails are rocket surgery. Because of that, they automatically assume you are a very skilled carpenter. I've never been offered so much other work as when on a raill install. I would say over time it averaged about 1 in 3 builders or GC would ask me to trim for them after a rail install.
In the end, use it as a side line, not a main focus. Your main focus should be Home owner types. The profit margin and stabilty factor difference between new work and Renovation/Remdeling can be staggering.