How to grow in Electrical contracting?

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In Charge Electric INC.

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I have been in the trade for 9 years, all commercial. I just got my Contracting License. I have a couple of rewire's and I have a resid... as well. The Question is. How does a one Man contractor grow???
 
First you should decide just how big you want to get. Do you want to stay one man or do you want to become something more than that? Second, do good work, return phone calls, and communicate with people. Show up when you say you're going to show up, or call if you can't. I do these things and the General Contractors appreciate it and tell me so. In two years my one woman show has grew to a two woman show, and sometimes I wish for a third (wouldn't have to be a woman). If you get in with General Contractors, keep them happy before a home-owner with a small job, GC's will give more work in the future. Don't be the guy that the GC complains about.
 
All my old employers are struggling these days, and I remember all too well them lying outright to people. I've been able to keep busy (these days, swamped!) just by being honest for forthright with my customers and builders. You've got nine years under your belt, so you're not a rookie. Use that experience to your advantage.
But keep in mind that running a business is a different beast than being an electrician. Do you have a business plan? Can you produce a current balance sheet today? How's your credit? Do you understand the value of advertising? Legal counsul? Bookkeeping services?
 
There are different approaches as noted above. My approach has been steady and slow, not wanting to be a big shop I am at 20 men and am happy with that. Do what was listed above, pay your bills and be prepared to work hard and long. Several times when I had a guy mess up I stayed in lieu of him to save money, I ran all the emergency calls to keep the burden off the men and increase profits. When you get people and they turn out to be keepers PAY THEM LIKE YOU WANT THEM TO STAY. Do not yell at employees, supply house employees, inspectors or customers.
 
pay your bills and be prepared to work hard and long. Several times when I had a guy mess up I stayed in lieu of him to save money, I ran all the emergency calls to keep the burden off the men and increase profits.
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yes yes. 60-80 hr weeks were the norm for me for quite some time; occasionally i still have to pull one out.

Do not yell at employees, supply house employees, inspectors or customers.
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good advice there too.
 
brian john said:
When you get people and they turn out to be keepers PAY THEM LIKE YOU WANT THEM TO STAY.
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Yes, indeed. It's hard enough to hire an electrician, particularly when an electrician's job is nearly exactly the same no matter who's payroll he does it on. Do whatever it takes, within reason, to keep the good men on yours. Company culture can also play a part in employee retention. Little things, like not yelling as Brian also suggests, is a good start.
 
Once can only Hope

Once can only Hope

brian john said:
...When you get people and they turn out to be keepers PAY THEM LIKE YOU WANT THEM TO STAY. ....
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:smile: What can One say to that, "hopefully it shows everyday" ? :smile:

To the OP:
Yes its Business that happens to be electric ! You might look for a publicist! Get an overview of your service/business, and they can show you some pitchs. (Go Boston)

PR, PR, PR, then go get networking, Netw..., netw...

What Sparky said, might I add. 5 people will say something bad about a service but only 2 will recommend a service.

Besides the fact there's something like 7 figures of stucture work out there, that needs Service'n.
 
cadpoint said:
: 5 people will say something bad about a service but only 2 will recommend a service.
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Those figures are now running about 15-20 who will say something bad about you, and only one will recommend you.

What this means is if you don't treat a customer right, they will tell 15-20 people about how they were mis-treated. But if you do right, they will only tell one.
 
I look @ business like this?

Take a street w/ (200) houses on it ? (100) per side.

Scenario #1:

If you start @ house/door #1 and do shoddy work, rip folks off, are not punctual or less than professional, they?ll know about it before you get to house/door #15. From that point you?ll never get to house/door #200 ? not good.


Scenario #2:

If you start @ house/door #1 and do great work, are a very pleasant person to work w/, treat money matters straightforward, don?t make apologies for you needing to make a living, etcetera, you?ll be so busy, you won?t have time to get to house/door #15 ? that?s when you hire someone for houses #15 thru #30.

Upon hiring person #2, ensure they know the above reasoning and more important, that they buy into it.

I?ve chosen to provide a very high level of service and I charge for it. I make certain clients are taken care of and that the electrical ?stuff? or challenges they?ve hired me to deal with are dealt with and they are relieved of the burden.

I?d rather pay someone $150 to completely remove a given burden than to pay a hack $100 and in many cases have the matter become a larger burden.
 
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