7 tips to getting your tradie business set up for success

Tradies own and operate some of the busiest small companies in the country, but they don’t always get the best press. Here are our top tradie tips for ensuring satisfied clients and a successful business.

1. It’s all about word of mouth

One of your most valuable assets is a satisfied customer as a business operating in the trades sector. They will not only spread great word of mouth, but they will also be a source of return business. As a result, it’s critical that you record any client feedback and utilise any lessons learned. What did they enjoy the most? What are some ways you might enhance your service? Is there anything you might improve about your processes? After you’ve completed a project, talk to your consumers or send them a brief questionnaire to see how you ranked. Customers may easily send you comments if you have a Facebook profile for your business.

2. Keep up with the latest developments

It’s also essential to keep up with current trends in the sector in which you operate. This can also aid you in identifying potential development opportunities for your company and knowing what clients could anticipate from a job. To stay current, keep an eye on industry websites related to your niche.

3. Examine your marketing plan

How are you currently promoting your company, and are you seeing any positive results? How did your ten most recent consumers learn about your company? Continue to do what works and abandon what doesn’t. Examine what your rivals are doing and how it may impact your company.

What can you do to take advantage of the fact that they are working with a premium brand or have an excellent customer offer? Create a customer profile. You will be able to target your consumer better if you have a deeper understanding of them. Whether you’re using social media, direct mail, or digital marketing, tailor your marketing approach to your ideal consumer.

Do you have an established website? If you don’t, now is the time to start. People are increasingly using the internet to investigate and make purchasing decisions. Make sure you have a strong web presence to keep your clients are informed and educated about what you do. Invest in Google Adwords and make sure your company’s Facebook profile is updated.

Recommended reading: How to create effective marketing plan?

4. Create procedures

Keep a record of your processes. A system will help you to manage all the operations associated with your company efficiently. From the moment a new job is received through the completion of the work, scheduling your workers, ensuring equipment is available, negotiating with sub-contractors, and providing after-sales support. If your firm is suddenly in a difficult position, recording the flow will help you identify bottlenecks to overcome. It may also be beneficial to hire an efficiency specialist to look at your operations from the outside.

Keep everything up to date and compliant using accounting software. Invoicing, tax payments, and payroll are often the last things on a busy entrepreneur’s mind. A robust accounting system may assist in reducing stress and administrative work.

5. Make your payment operations more efficient

If you make it simple for customers to pay immediately after work is finished, they will be more inclined to do so. Small businesses are increasingly able to use mobile payment methods. Why not make it simple for your consumers to pay you and for you to pay your vendors?

For tradies, there are now amazing mobile payment alternatives that allow you to collect payments on the move using your phone and a card reader. EFTPOS also allows for in-store and on-the-go payments, making the procedure even simpler. Alternatively, if you’re working on a large contract, you may set up Direct Debit to debit money directly from your consumers’ accounts.

6. Have the appropriate tools for the job

Make sure you have all the necessary vehicles and equipment you need to complete your job to a high standard. For instance, it is important to ensure that your cars and equipment are compatible with your company’s requirements. Consider if you want to buy new, used, or lease. If the need is just temporary, you can lease, but make sure to include these fees in your cost predictions when quoting for jobs.

Recommended reading: How to Prevent Your Trade Tools From Theft

7. Sort out your insurance

Whether you’re a carpenter, a cabinet maker or a plumber, things like accidentally injuring or damaging a third-parties property or getting your tools stolen are real risks that tradies face every day. Business insurance for tradies is designed to give your tradie business the protection it needs and peace of mind knowing that you have a safeguard in place when things don’t stick to the blueprint.

Don’t be a ‘hero’ and rock up to your next job without your insurance. With BizCover* you can get multiple competitive quotes from some of Australia’s leading insurers online quicker than you can say “smoko” and grab yourself a feed from the tuck shop.