Would you like to start a building maintenance business? If so, with a little hard work and planning, you could be in charge of your own successful building maintenance business in no time. Follow this handy guide on how to start a successful building maintenance business, and you’ll be reaping the benefits in no time.
Decide on your scope of services
To get started, you’ll need to decide on the scope of your services. For example, will you be providing general building maintenance and repairs? Will you be giving something more focused, like plumbing or electrical work? Consider your skill set and experience when deciding what services you’ll offer.
Here are a few examples of the types of services your building maintenance business could provide:
- Renovation work – painting, drywall repair, etc.
- HVAC maintenance and servicing
- Electrical work
- Landscape maintenance
- Pest control services
- General repairs
- Interior and exterior cleaning
Once you’ve decided on the scope of your business, you’ll need to create a business plan, which will help you map out the steps you’ll need to take to get your business up and running. Speaking of which…
Create a business plan
This document will outline your goals, strategies, and how you plan on achieving them. It’s essential to have a detailed business plan when starting any new business, as it will keep you on track and ensure that your business is booming in the years to come.
Here’s a quick reference on what the business plan outlines:
- Business goals and objectives
- Research your industry and what your target market is
- Marketing strategy
- Pricing plan
- Financial intention
Figure out start-up costs to start a building maintenance business
You will need money to start a building maintenance business, so it’s critical to factor in start-up costs. Then you can decide if you need to take out an SBA Loan or whether you can do a crowdfunding platform to raise the money if you don’t have the cash on-hand to start it up.
Here is a short list of start-up costs you may or may not have considered for this new endeavor:
- Tools, equipment, and supplies
- Legal fees (Example: Business licensing and permits, insurance, etc.)
- Payroll (if applicable)
- Technology – you’ll need a good computer, business website, and software that can help you run your new business without the overhead of hiring another person. ServiceWorks is designed for business owners like you who need to do invoicing, reports, scheduling, and more.
- Marketing and advertising costs – (Example: business cards, brochures, online advertising, etc.)
Do your research
Research the industry, your target market, and the market in your location. For example, do you want to work at apartment complexes, office buildings, or others? Next, find out what other business owners in your area charge for this same service so you don’t overcharge or undersell. Finally, ask yourself how to set yourself apart from the competition and gain an advantage.
Make sure you’re legally covered
Once you have it all figured out and have a name, you must get a business license.
Then you want to decide how you will file your business for tax and legal purposes. For example, will it be a sole proprietorship, an LLC, or other? You can research more about these kinds of businesses and how each differs and can benefit you by visiting the IRS website.
Then, ensure you have any licenses and permits that may be needed to perform the services you offer. Finally, you can check with your local municipality for your needs.
In addition, you will want to make sure you have all the insurance you need for your peace of mind.
Market your business
It helps to have a plan for marketing your building maintenance business. Here are a few fresh ideas to help get you started on the right track.
- Join local businesses and organizations for networking
- Get involved with your community
- Use social media regularly to create a solid online presence
- Online advertising
- Utilize Google and Yelp for business listings
In summary
We’ve reviewed some of the main steps in how to start a building maintenance business. To recap, we touched on the following:
- Scope of services
- Creating a business plan
- Start-up costs
- Research the industry and competition
- Take care of all legal things
- Marketing your business
Once you have all your buildings in a row, you’ll likely want a software program to help take the load off administrative things, such as job scheduling, invoicing, payroll, and customer reports.
That’s where ServiceWorks software comes in. This software even enables you to accept credit card payments. Plus, you have the bonus of not having to pay anyone an hourly rate or benefits to do your administrative duties. Try ServiceWorks free two-week trial today with no risk to you and no credit card needed. You’ll be glad you did.
