MNSparky
Senior Member
- Location
- Minneapolis, MN
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor - 2023 NEC
Hey all,
I'm a frustrated contractor in MN and we experience a seasonal fluctuation in workload. Typically first quarter is pretty dead and the summer is insanely busy. We do mainly resi service and remodeling but dabble in just about everything. I'd like to do more commercial work but haven't put a ton of effort into getting it until just recently. I'm open to any work, but we aren't really set up for big industrial.
Anyone have any tips to fill in the slow times? Is there different work that people go after in the winter vs the summer? I'd like to grow, but finding help these days is nearly impossible when we are starting to ramp up because everyone else is ramping up too. I'd like to hire in the winter but I'm struggling keeping the guys I have busy then, let alone being able to hire new people. Then we get swamped in the spring and summer and I'm turning work down because I don't have the man power. I'm stuck in a vicious cycle. I've tried doing discounts on projects that can wait if we do it first quarter and that has helped some but not enough. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
I'm a frustrated contractor in MN and we experience a seasonal fluctuation in workload. Typically first quarter is pretty dead and the summer is insanely busy. We do mainly resi service and remodeling but dabble in just about everything. I'd like to do more commercial work but haven't put a ton of effort into getting it until just recently. I'm open to any work, but we aren't really set up for big industrial.
Anyone have any tips to fill in the slow times? Is there different work that people go after in the winter vs the summer? I'd like to grow, but finding help these days is nearly impossible when we are starting to ramp up because everyone else is ramping up too. I'd like to hire in the winter but I'm struggling keeping the guys I have busy then, let alone being able to hire new people. Then we get swamped in the spring and summer and I'm turning work down because I don't have the man power. I'm stuck in a vicious cycle. I've tried doing discounts on projects that can wait if we do it first quarter and that has helped some but not enough. Any thoughts would be appreciated!