All of this Hurry Up and Wait for activity makes it hard for The Contractor to schedule other jobs.
Many contractors are only holding a place open for the customer once a job deposit has been received.
The Telephone Books was so thick that it was the first thing used as a “Booster Seat” for little kids at Holiday Dinners.
Those days are gone along with the Full Page – Triple Truck Ads. Today’s telephone book is small, thin and looks closer to an oversized paperback book.
Remember the Thomas Guide Map Books. Everyone had them and bought a new copy every year. Today it is the world of internet marketing and phone apps.
When in doubt – Google It, Bing, Safari, or search on Yahoo.
There are other places, but these are the most common.
• Over 12 million project requests in the last 12 months
• More than 5 million reviews submitted by homeowners
• Nearly 140,000 service pros in their network
Your Construction Company Business Card Should Have:
A business card is two sided – print something on both sides.
Add a Flyer-like the one you used with Footwork Express and do a little “toe & heel work.”
In other words Market, Market, Market.
Get in the Habit of passing out cards.
Because of all the money, it can make you if you do it right...which means if you do it at all!
Contractor Six Pack Marketing is extremely powerful so be very careful with this one...several years ago in one of our construction companies we would send a crew to do a small two or three-day project, and they would wind up staying in the area for several months at a time.
What a scheduling nightmare! We had to hire more workers, train them using our documented process and send them out to a new project in a new neighborhood and BANG! More often than not they would plant the flag and set up operations and be there for a very long time.
Here is how it works: Your crew shows up to a house to do construction project and before things get really busy you go to three houses on each side of the place where you are working (six pack) and introduce yourself to the people living there by handing them a business card and in your own words say something like "Hello, my name is ----- and we are doing a construction project for your neighbor ------ and I just wanted to let you know that if any of our trucks or vans get parked in your way or if you have any concerns about what we are doing you can contact me personally and I will handle it."
WOW! You will amaze and delight them! Now do the same for the six houses across the street and when you are finished if nobody has asked for you to "stop by and see about a construction project" at their house you re-visit them and ask if he or she were inconvenienced in any way. This works because most people are curious about what is going on their neighborhood.
Numbers, Numbers, Numbers! In baseball, if somebody hit home runs 30% of the time they went up to bat they would earn a lot of money. Most of the time you will not find new work in the neighborhood; however, if it works just 10% of the time and one more person hires you then repeat the six pack again, and in most cases, human nature is "Me Too, Me Too!" Nobody wants to be left out, and very quickly you are getting a backache hauling all your money to the bank!
Now for the big news Figure out how much money it costs to "Mobilize" get your vehicles, labor, material, tools and equipment to a job site and how much does it cost to "Demobilize" or reverse the process. Now add an increased efficiency of at least 1% to the bottom line because the crew is familiar with the people and the neighborhood.
Every time your contractor six pack works you just put that "Mobilize and Demobilize" money and the 1% increase to the bottom line in your "vacation, retirement, kids college fund or whatever makes you smile fund."
If you would like to try the contractor six pack but need someone to do it with you and if you are within 20 minutes driving distance from my office in Lynnwood Washington and offer to buy me breakfast ahead of time I could be persuaded to do it with you at no additional charge other than breakfast because I always enjoy a good meal with a contractor! Contact Sharie 206-361-3950 or by email sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com and let her know you are interested in Six Pack Marketing.
If it is a nice friendly neighborhood, the neighbors will be watching your work and come over. Why they might want something done at their house. Neighborhood with sidewalks – walk the block. Years ago we made up packets that consisted of a Door hanger, Flyer, Free Marketing pieces from the supplier, business card and a coupon. Paper-clipped together and bundled in groups of ten:
The World's Smartest Service Businesses Use Coolfront Mobile.Coolfront is a Mobile Flat Rate Pricing App for Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC. Has the ability to customize for additional services. Designed for especially the Mechanical Trades doing Service and Repair. Anyone who has had to build a Flat Rate Pricing Guide appreciates all the built-in features.
We are always looking for a software to use internally, and you help you. Clients love the new Document Management System that links to their Bank Account, Credit Cards and can send other documents to it and they can view 24/7 previous documents sent.
Hubdoc automatically pulls your bills and statements into one secure hub. This means you have one login to view and manage the documents from all of your accounts. No more logging into ten different sites each month to gather your recurring bills.
1. Snap a Photo with the App
Simply take a photo of your receipt, invoice or bill with the mobile app. Hubdoc scans, extracts, and stores your documents, ready to be published.
2. Forward your Email Paperwork
When you become a client, Hubdoc automatically creates a personalized email address just for you. Email in your documents, and we'll do the rest.
3. Scan/Upload your Documents
If you've already scanned your receipts, invoices, statements or bills, you can upload them directly to Hubdoc and the software will extract the key data for you.
Safe and Secure!
Hubdoc uses bank-level security to ensure your data is safe. This includes 256-bit encryption, SSL/TLS, and a Premium Extended Validation certificate -- as well as monitoring and verification from McAfee & TRUSTe, the trusted industry standards in data security.
Simplify and Go Paperless!
Your important financial records are organized automatically for you, backed up forever and available on any device. Hubdoc is your digital filing cabinet in the cloud.
TSheets – Time Cards Construction Contractors And Their Empolyees Love - http://www.tsheets.com/
Whenever possible, we try to use the services before recommending them so yes, We use T-Sheets.
We are currently testing a Dispatch Software with built in estimates, invoices and merchant services. It is a game-changer in the world of dispatch software because IT ACTUALLY WORKS!
This particular dispatch software works with QuickBooks Desktop on your desk or in our QuickBooks Desktop in the cloud, and it will be a help to all contractors and the technicians and customers.
We are adding content to www.FastEasyAccountingStore.com to meet the needs of the Do-It-Yourself Contractor. This is helpful to our US, Canadian and other international contractor friends who want to purchase QuickBooks setup Templates and QuickBooks Chart of Accounts for their specific construction company.
Short List Construction Contractors We Serve
| QuickBooks Set Up Templates | Solopreneur |
| QuickBooks Chart Of Accounts | Free Stuff |
| QuickBooks Item Lists Templates | Consulting |
As summer is approaching here is wishing you a safe trip as you go about your adventures.
Enjoy your day.
Sharie
When You Become A Client - Then we can tap into our resources of knowledge and strategy banks. We use the reports hidden in your QuickBooks in order to diagnose and understand your construction business and develop plans and help you implement a path to success for you and you alone because every contractor has unique Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (S.W.O.T. Analysis) that when understood can lead to a Strategic Roadmap which cannot help but make a lot of money.
For Construction Company Owners who do not need the full power of a QuickBooks for contractors and want 24/7 online access we offer Xero Accounting Online, and we have a custom setup for construction companies. Click Here For More.
This Is One More Example of how Fast Easy Accounting is helping construction company owners all across the USA including Alaska and Hawaii put more money in the bank to operate and grow your construction company. Construction accounting is not rocket science; it is a lot harder than that, and a lot more valuable to people like you so stop missing out! Call Sharie 206-361-3950 or sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com and schedule your no charge one-hour consultation.
Profitable Contractors and Construction Company owners have known about the value of outsourced bookkeeping services and contractor coaching services like ours for a long time, and now you know about it too!
Thank You For Reading This Far, And I Hope You Understand we really do care about you and all contractors regardless of whether or not you ever hire our services.
We Scan Your Receipts, And Invoices link the appropriate transactions to QuickBooks or Xero Accounting Online depending on the construction accounting service you are using and provide ongoing Cloud Based Contractors Bookkeeping Services by accountants who understand construction.
About The Author:
Sharie DeHart, QPA is the co-founder of Business Consulting And Accounting in Lynnwood Washington. She is the leading expert in managing outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services companies and cash management accounting for small construction companies across the USA. She encourages Contractors and Construction Company Owners to stay current on their tax obligations and offers insights on how to manage the remaining cash flow to operate and grow their construction company sales and profits so they can put more money in the bank. http://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/sharie-dehart/ 206-361-3950 or sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com
#1 EZ Step Interview inside QuickBooks Setup
#2 Asked Their Tax Accountant To Setup QuickBooks
#3 They Attended A How To Setup QuickBooks Class Or Seminar