The 5 big hurdles every tradesman will face this year

Posted by Site Owner
Last updated 2nd January 2021
reading time

It is true that almost any type of tradesman will face a number of obstacles in their business. Whether it means finding work locally or slowly growing their business, it takes time to start achieving a level of success. When a business has time to plan it's possible that they can take into account all of the expected dips throughout the season.

Some of the best businesses in the industry are able to account for some of the changes in their business and plan accordingly throughout the year to offer the same great services.

Have you just started your own business as a tradesman, or are growing at a faster rate than in year's prior? Are you interested in preparing to face some of the battles your company may experience head on? If yes, here are some of the tussles we see tradesmen across the world having to wrestle with.
1. Getting a good quantity and quality of local work

Appealing to a local audience in winning a good quantity of quality contracts in your community will take time. Choosing the correct advertising strategy and networking within your local area can yield variable results if you fail to put in place means of measuring your incoming inquiries as a result of your efforts. As much as you have skills, you may feel stuck finding regular contracts in your community.
2. Winning commercial contracts

Putting together a few commercial contracts can help to give you consistent work throughout the year. A few large commercial contracts as a tradesman can bolster your business and lead to consistent growth. The problem with winning these commercial contracts is your notoriety and competition. The idea of winning these projects can seem almost impossible in the early stages of your business.
3. Planning for busy and quiet periods

There are lean months for any contractor in the trades. Quite, unfortunately, a good number of contractors often find themselves stuck in their business when they experience some of the lean months. Preparing accordingly takes real practice and knowing when to schedule extra time for work and how to get your finances straight throughout the year, leads to real confusion.
4. Employing good resources at the right time

Knowing who to hire and when, or when you may need to start investing in new equipment can always be a huge barrier to success. Investing in business resources if you don't have a business background is a gamble in itself. As a professional tradesman, it's likely that you will have to continue investing in your company and employing people you trust in order to grow. The science is knowing when and how much you can invest.
5. Showing that you can deliver consistently

Being perceived as a cowboy builder or someone that simply throws projects together in order to satisfy clients can be a problem. Delivering consistent quality and offering realistic quotes on work will win you the right customers, and reduce the amount of time spent explaining unclear numbers.
Are you facing any of these problems?

If these are the types of problems that resonate well with your current situation or you have found yourself facing similar challenges, leave a comment below!

We want to hear from you and start a discussion on the hurdles your business faces year-to-year.

Be sure to check out our dedicated solutions page for tradesmen, as a viable answer that's quick and easy for you to apply as a tradesman sits in wait.