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Start by formulating a business plan. This will help to focus on delivering a clear message to your potential customers.
There are different types of business plans. (But you can use my 1 page business plan here) It’s designed to cut the waffle but has enough detail to make it a meaningful tool so that you remain laser focussed on what needs to be done when you set up this business.
Hold yourself accountable!!
If you are unsure what to do at this point I recommend seeking professional advice. My team is available to talk you through this in a clear and concise way you will understand.
Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) When you start a construction company, the law requires that you register it under the CIS. This is a payment handling system that ensures that payments are being handled properly by contractors and subcontractors.
To complete this step, submit:
the business name your National Insurance number the company’s unique taxpayer reference number your value-added tax (VAT) identification number (if applicable)
For more information and to register see the Construction Industry Scheme Government Website
This is a business that I would definitely want to fast-track from the beginning for growth. You want to get busy as quickly as possible and there is only one real way to achieve this.
Most buyers/potential clients for this service are going to find a builder using a Google search. Sure some will use an app, some might ask for a recommendation on social media but MOST will look on Google.
Google knows that when someone is looking for a builder, they want to see results close to where they are located.
This usually means that Google will show a maps listing at the top of the search results like the image below.
If your business shows up here then you are right at the top of the search results, under the nose of people who want to find a building company.
For any type of business/search term where Google shows a Maps listing like this , I describe these businesses as having “ high local marketability ”.
High local marketability means if you know what you are doing and tick the right boxes with Google you can get a lot of business enquiries very easily.
So if potential customers can’t find you on Google, they won’t be calling you. And guess what? That means someone else has picked up their trowel and that customer and you’re missing out!
Getting your business on Google maps results can bring in tons of enquiries.
So how do you dominate Google search results for this business? You have to optimise for the Google maps listing. How do you do that?
Follow these 10 simple steps to marketing a building company:
Get a website. Make sure it complies with Google’s best practice guidelines . Get your new website in Google so clients find YOU. Provide LOCAL PROOF . Use a local phone number and a mobile to tell clients and Google you are definitely a local business. Provide SOCIAL PROOF . Show reviews from real customers on your site. This is called “social proof” and turns browsers into customers! Use LANDING PAGES . A landing page is optimised for a specific search term making it rank higher than your competitors. Landing pages are for people who want to buy your service now. They show the client what they want to see. Provide great CTA’s (CTA =call to action). Make it super easy on your website for clients to get in touch with you by including features such as a messaging/chat app and CTA’s that show clients exactly how to contact you. Share FEEDBACK . Go the extra mile to provide an outstanding service and you are sure to collect plenty of positive feedback from clients. Ensure you harness this by collecting reviews from every new customer. AUTOMATE – You won’t have time to be manually updating your website. Make sure you automatically show the new reviews on your website, driving more clients to your business. PROMOTE – Regular updates to your website and using Google tools will give your website an extra edge. MAINTAIN – From time to time websites need technical maintenance to the software they run on to keep peak performance.
Most building businesses DO NOT invest enough time and money to execute this simple marketing strategy providing you with the opportunity to step in and DOMINATE in the local search engine results.
Live Chat Function This is great as it gives your potential customers a “one click method” to message you straight from your website – you get the messages on your usual Messenger account, This is probably something that your competitors won’t have and we’ve had clients getting great success using this tactic. Make it easy for your potential clients to get in touch with you.
Using live chat on your website can boost the number of enquiries you will receive.
Always ask for references and reviews on your website and apps. This is so important for new customers looking for a reliable company.
Google reviews, testimonials and recommendations are essential. Potential customers WILL check for reviews when they are searching for a service, product or trade.
Look for positive feedback from other successful building companies. If customers are giving great reviews about precise price quotations and regular communication from their builders, this means that in order for you to get favourable feedback, you need to be on the ball and do the same but better !
This is difficult when you first start out and asking can be uncomfortable but a happy client will want to help you up the ladder every time.
Demonstrate “social proof” by featuring reviews directly on your website landing pages.
Ask my team about review plugins Click Here .
Here are 8 great tips to help you market your building company effectively: Promoting your business is crucial to attract new customers and grow your business.
The construction world is super competitive, so it’s important to research your competitors in the local area. Examine their websites and online presence. Identify what you can offer that others don’t. This will help you differentiate your business and attract more customers.
Ask people in the local area what service they would like to see. Are they having trouble getting a good bricks and mortar builder or do they need more tilers and plumbers?
Create a great company and domain name for your website
Choose a name that is related to you and your business and is memorable for your potential customers. Remember to steer well clear of similar sounding names so confusion does not occur with other companies. Our Company Name Search Tool will help you stay out of trouble!
Company Name Search
Try it!
We can quickly and easily help you get the ball rolling with this, registering your company and domain name and even providing you with fully featured business email boxes making your business look more professional, adding credibility when you are approaching new customers. So instead of emailing from an @yahoo or @hotmail address you can be emailing from @mycompanyname. Doesn´t that look better?
You will then have to register a domain name for your website. We all know websites are crucial nowadays so make sure you get yours registered as soon as you have chosen your trade name. Take a look at our Domain Name FAQs which will explain why a domain name is so important to getting your business up and running. domain checker and let´s get you onto the world wide web!!
Protect your Company Domain Name
Use our domain name search tool to find available names for your business.
Search engine optimisation is the art of getting your building company’s website to the top of the search results on Google and the other search engines so that you have the best chance of getting their business.
If you’re new to running a website it’s easy to get caught out with a low cost SEO service that just doesn’t work.
We can help put together an affordable SEO package and we’ll always tell you what we are going to do and what results you might expect to achieve.
The site must also give lots more information about the services you offer, the area you cover and if relevant, any fixed rates you offer. They are also essential for contact purposes, online bookings and enquiries.
Here you can introduce yourself and give your customers a little background info.
A little information about yourself can make the business more personal and boost customer confidence.
Your website is a great place to showcase your skills. Plenty of before and after photos and videos will give a potential customer a feel for your work standards.
And don’t forget to add all reviews and comments to your website – I can’t stress highly enough how important reviews are.
We all rely on those Google reviews and recommendations when we need a service, product or trade, so make sure they are clearly visible on your site.
Unsure where to start with a website? Just ask us. We can help you create a website that will attract new customers and boost your local marketability .
A lot of your business will come from clients recommendations. Make sure these reviews are on your website and monitored frequently.
We have already mentioned this (a lot!) but it is vitally important.
Always ask for References and Reviews on your website and apps, this will boost your online presence rating.
Start with your friends and family if you have worked for them.
It’s very common to work with other professionals in the building industry. Do you have links already to plasterers, painters/decorators and electricians? If you aren´t qualified to tackle a certain aspect of a project make sure you have high quality, reliable subcontractors you can work with.
How about contacting local estate agents! House buyers always want to put their stamp on a new house.
These are all important mutually beneficial relationships.
Ask if you can leave your cards or leaflets in bars, supermarkets, DIY and hardware stores etc.
Make sure you have any additional services mentioned on them.
How about creating a marketing material for local businesses! For example, you can create beer mats that can be placed on bar tops. Potential customers will surely have a look, and you might end up building a bar in a garden!
If you start to employ more builders, collect customer feedback. Customer engagement and customer retention really matters, get in touch with your customer and listen to their views. This will also really help you to create trust among the customers.
Trade fairs such as UK Construction Week, the UK’s largest construction trade event are perfect places to network.
Design an eye-catching logo
Your logo is an important aspect of your brand identity, so it’s essential to design a logo that represents you and your business and can be used everywhere, including your workwear, vehicle, business cards and leaflets.
Have you thought about adding QR codes to your marketing material?
With a click of their mobile phone, customers can fill out a request form or write a review by using a QR code.
Add a QR code to your works vehicle, magnetic signs are perfect for this. Potential consumers passing by can immediately scan for further information about your services.
QR codes are perfect for business cards, giving website links, tips on maintenance or basic DIY. They are also an easy way to get that all-important customer feedback and can be added to invoices and receipts that go directly to your review page.
Why would a building company use social media?
Social media platforms such as Facebook , Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTok can be powerful marketing tools for your building company.
Shout out loud what makes your business unique! Whether it´s using eco-friendly materials or having a 24 hours emergency service.
Whatever if it is, make sure you are getting the word out there.
Join local business Facebook groups or similar platforms to promote your business and connect with potential customers. You will have to be active to beat off the competition from the construction giants out there.
You can also create social media pages for your business and post regular updates, photos and promotions to attract more customers.
Running competitions on social media is a great way to create more business. Remember to make it simple and quick to enter. Maybe vouchers for a local DIY store?
Remember not everyone uses social media, so stay visual in your area with leaflets and posters too.
Also join online directories, many people rely on them for finding tradespeople.
There are many apps available that can help you manage your business more efficiently. They can be used for booking, saving customer details and receiving payment.
Project management software will be vital especially as your business starts to grow. Companies such as Asana, Clickup, Monday.com and Zoho all offer good packages that will help you take control of your business and keep those projects running smoothly.
By implementing these marketing strategies, you can attract more customers, improve your brand identity, and grow your construction business.
There are other formalities that you will need to complete before you can start trading successfully.
Health and Safety There is no other industry that performs the majority of its projects in public places and exposes its employees and the public to the dangers such as falling objects, transportation accidents, lifting operations etc.
There are basic Health and Safety standards that apply to all companies and industries (including construction), but there is additional legislation focused especially at the building sector.
It is vital that both you and any employees you work with are fully aware of the construction health and safety regulations.
Some of the most important regulations are the
Working at height regulations The lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations The control of noise at work regulations
Many short courses are available throughout the country, so make sure you and your staff are up to date on training.
For more information see the government HSE website Contractors: roles and responsibilities
Building Regulations and Planning Permission Building Regulations apply to the vast majority of building projects in England and Wales, as well as many renovations to existing buildings, whether for residential, business, or industrial purposes. This is required by law.
Changes have taken place recently to help the UK deliver net zero by 2050.
Under the new regulations, CO2 emissions from new build homes must be around 30% lower than current standards and emissions from other new buildings, including offices and shops, must be reduced by 27%.
Make sure you have a good understanding of the current building regulations. Many training companies offer CPD (Continuing Professional Development) training on the Building Regulations.
To find out if your project will need planning permission, contact your local planning authority ( LPA ) through your local council .
Open a bank account You need a separate business bank account for your business whether it’s a sole trader or limited company.
Keeping your personal and business finances separate is crucial for several reasons. It simplifies accounting and bookkeeping , making it easier to track business expenses, income, and tax obligations. It also helps demonstrate financial transparency , which can be important for legal and tax purposes.
How about a contactless card payment machine? No carrying lots of change around with you all day. There are plenty on the market now and easy for you and your customers to use.
You will need Insurance. There are lots of companies offering their services so have a good look around and take their advice.
Public liability insurance is crucial to protect yourself and your customers, providing cover against injury or accidental damage to their property .
If you employ someone Employers’ liability insurance is essential to cover any injury and illness sustained whilst whilst being employed by you,
Then there is insurance for your equipment and tools, protecting you from theft, damage and loss. Construction sites are regularly targeted, a Chartered Institute of Building survey reported that 92% of construction companies claimed they are directly affected by petty crime and 21% revealing that their sites are robbed on a weekly basis.
Make sure your insurance company knows your vehicle is a works vehicle. Theft of tools from vans averages out at 20,000 cases being reported to police each year so make sure you´re covered. Your eye-catching logo and your contact details must are prominently displayed!
Some of your work may require a highway or pavement licence, these are available from the local council in the area you are working in. Always apply for your licence well in advance of the work start date and make sure all licence requirements are met before you start.
Do your homework and contact your local council and government websites for more details on other required licences.
Stay Safe Belonging to a trade association or union is always an excellent way to show your professionalism. Make sure this is shown on ALL your marketing materials.
Gaining a trade certification from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is invaluable showing clients your standard of work. All potential members must complete an evaluation and inspection procedure before they can show the FMB badge.
Other organisations such as the National Federation of Builders (NFB) and The Construction Industry Council (CIC) also give kudos to your business.
Other industry bodies include the Guild of Master Craftsmen, National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers, The Cavity Wall Insulation Self Certification, National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation and many, many more.
Starting your own building company can be a lucrative and rewarding venture. It is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, stay fit and active and meet new people. With property development continuing to grow, it is full of opportunities, you can keep it as a small enterprise or expand with time.
You do need to have knowledge and experience, as construction work is a specialist business. It can be a very technical job with high health and safety risks so adequate training is required for all employees involved in the business.
The construction industry has seen many advancements in technology, such as improved safety features and digital tools for project management and inventory control. Make sure you stay up to date with these new technologies as they can enhance your efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness. Continually educate yourself and your employees.
As you embark on this entrepreneurial journey, it’s essential to remember that running a building company comes with its challenges and requires a combination of industry expertise, strategic planning, effective management and a strong commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
However, with passion, hard work and a commitment to excellence, the rewards can far outweigh the difficulties, making it a highly rewarding endeavour.
Who knows what you´ll build next! Find out more today and let´s get your new business off to the best start!
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