So, you’ve taken the plunge and started your own electrician business but are unsure how to grow your company. You’re not alone. Many small businesses want to grow but aren’t sure where to start.
Starting your own business is entirely different than working for a well-established company. You’ll have to learn all of the details of how to run your business, including ways to market yourself, getting licensed, plus, all the paperwork you never had to do before. It sounds a bit overwhelming, doesn’t it?
The good news about starting an electrician business is you’ll always have work. At one point or another, everyone is going to need the expertise only a qualified electrician can provide. If you’re not sure exactly how to start or you’re ready to expand, below, you’ll find three tips on how to grow your company.
1. Customer Service Matters
Obtaining new customers can be extremely difficult. This is why the ones you currently have are invaluable. No matter how small of a job you finished, follow up with your client to ensure they were satisfied with the job. Little things like this help them keep you in mind the next time they or someone they know has something that needs to be done. Keep in mind that no matter how small the job is, customer service matters.
A rather unique way you can impress your client is to offer them small incentives. Maybe you could offer residential customers a small thank you gift after the job is done. Nothing too expensive, maybe flowers or a gift card to a local restaurant.
If you have business customers, consider offering them discounts on future jobs or bringing you, new clients. Everyone loves deals, so that’s a win-win for both of you. An added advantage of either of these techniques is you will leave a lasting positive impression.
2. Know Where Your Money Is Going
One of the best business practices that are often overlooked is taking time to review your expenses. There are always ways to cut costs. Even the smallest expenses add up over time. For example, your landline may cost you between $60.00-$100.00 per month, which adds up over time. This is especially true if you supply cell phones to your employees, which the majority of businesses do.
Figure out how much you’re paying for car insurance, maintenance, and other vehicle expenses. You’d be supposed to know that many times it’s much cheaper to rent a pickup truck than buy one. With long-term rentals, you’ll save and don’t have to worry about routine maintenance.
Instead of going through the first supplier or vendor you find, shop around. Just because a company claims to have the lowest prices doesn’t mean they actually do. There are many times you’ll save a bundle just by switching. Many places will also offer you better deals if you tell them you’re looking at other companies. Like you want to keep your customers, your suppliers also want to keep you as a customer.
3. Focus On Marketing
While word of mouth is an excellent way to gain new clients, it’s not the only way. You want to make sure you have other effective marketing strategies. One of the most popular ones people are now using is social media. You’d be amazed by how often the ads that people see while scrolling actually influence their hiring decisions.
Another way to figure out the best way to market your company is to ask yourself a few questions about where the majority of your current clients are coming from. There are some questions you should ask yourself before deciding the best way to market your small business. A few of them are listed below.
- Where have most of your income come from in recent years?
- Do you see this changing in the future?
- Do you plan on expanding your service areas? If so, where to?
Of course, you won’t get results overnight, but you will notice a change for the better with time and effort. There will be times you may have to put extra money into areas you haven’t considered before, such as marketing. You don’t have to tackle all of these ideas at once; instead, start small and work your way up as you see your business grow.
