Getting New Jobs When You First Start Out

CCSowner

Hello,
My name is Adam Forsythe I am a co-owner of a specialized painting company (Creative Covering Solutions) (We paint metal roof , concrete roof, Asphalt roof, polyurethane foam Roof, modified bitumen Roof, single-ply Roof, We also paint concrete slabs.) we also install tile. We just started this business about 2 months ago. I have been working with all kinds of different paint manufacturers trying to get lines of paint ready for my customers. I need to know what you guys did when you first started out. I am going to be getting construction data sheets so I can start bidding on jobs that way. I thought about doing online leads. Maby a little online advertising along with newspaper advertising. We started to put flyers up around the area towns. I am really good at just about anything business I know how to apply the paint and set the tile. I JUST NEED JOBS.
Thanks I have a few quotes coming in I am working for a local flooring company as a Sub for now. But I want to get away from that and do my own jobs.
Adam Forsythe

__________________
Adam Forsythe
Creative Covering solutions
"New England's Answer to Brick paving and Tile/Stone"
www.creativecoveringsolutions.com

cchipster

Great question my friend. We seem to be in the same boat. I have been trying everything from flyers, to buying these web based leads. Alot of wasting time and not nearly enoguh work...Id like to hear about the construction list or whatever you were refering to?

ruskent

Starting out you need to take the crapiest jobs out there to get established and build a profolio. I am finshing my third year in business now. The jobs i did my first year i would not even consider looking at now. But if i did not do those jobs then, i would not be where i am now.

dirt diggler

Adam -

yep, this is a tough 'hurdle." No doubt about it.


Start with people that you know. No ... not Aunt Theresa or Cousin Jimmy ... but how about Aunt Theresa's neighbors???

__________________
Thanks in advance!!!

kevjob

work on your SEO for website use craigslist, be wary though they are alot of how much for .... make sure you use yard signs when you get jobs, join affilitions related to your field, chamber of commerce, etc... good luck do great work and the money will come.

__________________
Kevin
Basement Finishing Highlands Ranch Colorado
Littleton Colorado, Basement Remodeling
Kitchen Remodeling Denver

cchipster

I always admire others in the construction field whom have made it over the tough years of business. (starting out) However, I have taken on alot of crapola jobs to treat people like kings and queens in the myth that "they will become customers for life". I havent found that to be true, except for a minute percentage of my past clients.

I have found now going into my second year of business, you must keep MARKETING-MARKETING-MARKETING and oh ya, MARKETING, to stay afloat! I thought I have an everlasting impression and word of mouth would spread like wild fire....UHH NO! My work is quality, I am clean cut, (maybe too affordable), well spoken and professional. Still, little repeat business.

My question is to you VETERANS making the BIG BUCKS OUT THERE, (come on, help the little guys out!): I am kinda skilled in all trades. I do it all. I learned everything on purpose, hoping to appeal to all customers and be busy ALL THE TIME! I keep myself busy with 100's of past clients, but Im hardly setting the world on fire, thats for sure!

How does one like me go after the BIG PROFIT JOBS? Do I need to meet fellow GC'S?

Here's What I've done so far this year in business:

-Craigs list to death (almost every other day) (I found out that these people are generally looking for CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP DEALS)

-Created Website, On search engines, no luck

-Local ads in cheap newspapers -little jobs here and there

-flyers and door-to-door campaigns -some-to-little luck

-signed up with service magic, reliable remodler, was good at first, now the leads i am paying for are garbage-no replies back from customers.

I am worried as I feel like I am working my A-- off here and stagnent as ever and losing money at times like now. (winter) PLEASE SHARE YOUR SECRETS WITH ME! EVERYONE NEEDS HELP! SOMEONE, SOMEHOW HELPED YOU GET WHERE YOU ARE NOW! THANKS!

dirt diggler

You guys in this thread are really tuggin at my heartstrings for some reason... so I'm gonna help.


ever read one of those self-help books on how to be successful??

ever notice how they all nearly say the SAME THING???

(i.e. have confidence in your abilities, learn and improve on what you don't know, associate yourself with successful people, set goals, etc)

now ... look at that for a minute. When you think about it ... it's pretty simple, huh?



"But Dirt, it's winter" or "Dirt, I just started my business" or "I keep getting lowballed by hacks"

Yeah, I know. STOP. Go back to the top of this post and read it again.


Success is a realistic thing. Guess what - there's very few things in this world that are unattainable. Financial wealth and success in business is NOT one of those things. Maybe not easy ... but certainly not impossible.

But while it's not "easy" ... the "ingredients" are quite simple.



Tenacity.

I'm very tenacious. I think it's one thing that's gotten me through alot of the hurdles in starting up. I refused to get knocked down. In fact, I almost in a sick way, kind of welcome it at times ... keeps me "hungry"




Again, I could go on ... but i won't. Hopefully I've made my point


and the point is - the answers are right in front of you. Just like in a self-help book ... it's all "right there" for you. The CATCH ... is that there's only ONE person who can act on those things - and that's you.


so, Chipster, I gotta ask - how do YOU plan to go after the "Big Profit Jobs"?? What's YOUR plan.

Once you have this ... then maybe we can get into more of the "juicy" details

__________________
Thanks in advance!!!

wackman

Something that works pretty well for me.

I use Craigslist but I set myself apart from 99% of the guys on there by having a decent website and the ads I put on there are based off of that. My ads just plain look way better than anything else I've found on there especially a text only post or a post with a few snap shots on it.

I've noticed things slowed way down in the past few months but in just this last week I have landed three jobs from Craigslist.

1. Master bed and bath addition $94k.
2. Bathroom dormer addition $42k.
3. Kitchen remodel $18k.

All of these will start after the new year and will keep us good into summer.

I think the key was my ads were professional, all the clients went to my website and liked it and our work. These clients were looking for a pro and weren't just looking for the cheap price. The cheap guys go past my ad because it doesn't look like we're cheap. I rarely get asked to do something small and I often hear "this little 10k job is probably too small for you".

I'm looking into much more advertising and marketing as well. There are some really knowledgeable guys on here so go to the search and look at all the info that has already been written on this subject.

Remember this is always the worst time of year, work yer butts off in the summer and cruise through this time of year enjoying the time off.

Good luck.

Wack

MVH

Yep, I worked on (gasp) trailer homes to build some credibility. I took jobs other turned their noses and now I'm putting together a proposal to build a custom home on a lot that is worth more than my house. Just keep at it and be honest and fair, to your customers and yourself.

on edit: just the lot goes for > $200K

Mike

__________________
Mont Vista Company, LLC
Alpine, Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, and Mesa, Arizona
Apache Junction Builder
Gold Canyon Builder

cchipster

Hey dirt- I read LOTS of these books as well. I guess I get discouraged when I get myself together and highly motivated upon reading success stories and go out knocking on doors and leaving flyers etc for example, and wait 2-weeks and ...nothing!

If I knew how to go after the big jobs, I wouldnt of asked for advice on how! (not being sarcastic) I guess maybe commercial jobs? But I wouldnt know how to begin landing those. And a little nervous of competition, because I am so small.

Wackman- I REALLY like what you wrote. Craigslist honestly has kept me in business through my first year. Yeah 75% are bare bone deals, but there jobs and pay the rent! I cant complain like I am in this forum, because I am sitting on my A-- not working !! LOL

I always admire those professional ads by guys on there...I am pretty computer saavy, how do I go about this? I already have a nice website. Thanks In advance! I look forward to getting more feedback and success stories! (Please give me IDEAS on how to create a BUSY business! Thanks!)!!

dirt diggler

well, regarding commercial - are you set up for that?? i'd love to get into commercial work ... but i don't have the manpower.. That, and I'd like to gain some more experience first




wouldn't fret about competition. it's always there... and they're just as worried about you as you are of them. Might not seem like it - but they are.




as for getting the work .... you're going door to door and that's not working, am i right?? and passin out flyers??


look at it this way ... maybe doing that is counterproductive & giving you the opposite kind of response.

maybe you're coming off as desperate ... and HOs are leary enough of contractors as it is ... much less ones that appear at their doorstep.

one thing ive never done is let on to ANYONE that i "needed" work. Always busy with something. It's the truth too - there' ALWAYS something that needs to be done.


speakin of which - i gotta finish this later ...

__________________
Thanks in advance!!!

wackman

yeah, even when things slow down and you might really need to get a job, my advice is to not show in any way. I think it just screams that you're either not very good, not very professional or that they can just beat the hell out of your price.

Never let them smell blood!

wackman

I'm not really sure. I just talked to my website guy. I noticed that a couple ads on Craigslist had pictures, but I couldn't find a way to post pics on there so I asked around and found out it had something to do with a website. My web guy made these and sent them to me where I saved them on my computer and I copy/paste it anytime I want to post.

They look like a web page but specifically for Craigslist.

I know you can do the same thing with something called photobucket.

painter jeff

Your right people do have answers that you are looking for....When you joined Contractors Talk you filled out your bio, on yourself and your company....But they are incomplete and no contact info on you people... The last thing we are going to do is give some one in our area and our state the info you are looking for.

My advice to you is go in and fix all of your bio info.....

You want advice from the big boy's, then stop acting like a ----------

Then we will contact you.......

Friends are Friends

Family is Family

But Business is Business

__________________
" Life is pain! anyone says differently, is selling something,"..." Life is like chess" by Ben Franklin

cchipster

Can a well established Handyman/All Around trade person answer me this?

Question:

What type of Customer/Person do I need to link up with as a new licensed contractor to get alot of STEADY business and really get my foot in the door? For example, Real estate agents, General Contractors ETC...and what method would i use to get them to allow me to work with them/bid jobs?

Thanks!

Teetorbilt

CCS, when I started out I was already well known throughout the community due to the time that my wife and I dedicated to it. You CAN make it on your own but it's much faster and easier if you are involved with your community. Join and PARTICPATE in your local builders assocn., Habitat for Humanity, Chamber of Commerce, Cancer Society, food bank, church,....... The more that you sow, the more you'll reap.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

cchipster

Great feedback there. I thank you. I've been thinkin of volunteering my time with cancer patients, primarily children. Not too familiar with the builders assn. and the chamber of commerce as far as what I could offer them? Anybody else out there got any ideas as well as far as getting my business ramped up?? Thanks!

turnkey

This is a cool site. this is my first time on it and all. I been laughing the whole time I've been reading this thread! All this self help and hard work talk makes me tired. I'm going to tell you straight, because you seem sincere.
No good deed goes unpunished! Write it down and read it every morning. Construction is all about apearance's. If you think your small, so will every one else. I started My Construction company a little over two years ago, my house had just burned down and I had $435 dollars in savings, not making this up buddy. I bought a $150 printer about 100 dollars of office supplies and cleaned the smoke and debris of a desk salvaged from the pile of burnt trash that used to be my home. I took the rest of the money and placed a small ad in the local newspaper. While I was waiting for calls to roll in I wrote up a contract, well I edited one I got off the internet. The next part I'm not esspesially proud off, but I believe it will illustrate an importaint point. Despart times and all, I downloaded construction pics off of google image search, put them on a disc and had the devolped into 4x6 prints. After which i then put into a book to illustrate the points I would be making to my future clients. I never said I did the jobs in the book, but I certainly could have, being as I was a good carpenter. A thin line maybe, but one I walked nonetheless. Anyway, about five days after I placed the ad I got my first call, thats five days to many when your sleeping on your buddies floor in a one bedroom apartment in the getto. It was a call from a bussiness down town, that I knew had lots of $$$. I set an appointment for two days from then, I let the CEO of the company know that I was really busy right now, but I could meet him in two days. The minute I hung up. I said to myself, you blew it, you told him you were busy, are you crazy. Two days later I met him in The best polo shirt I owned, and got a four thousand dollar job building a wall and repairing a ceiling which I did myself. I've never done that small a job since, and I've never done the work myself since. during the week it took me to do the job I bought a small cheap design program and learned how to use it at night during that week. I then did a design of the building I was working on at the time, one that was a complete remodel including stucco over the brick, parapit wall system, new windows, new doors, new everything! The bid was for 180,000 dollars. It's important to mention here that I had worked as a construction salesman for a year prior to this and could estimate. Anyway, I browwed my friends laptop that I had been using and went to see the SEO for my final check for $2000, 50% of the four thousand dollar job. He thanked me for a job well done and handed me the check. I said to him," It's been a pleasure working for you, by the way I have a few ideas about how you could make this building look amazing. Three days later I had a check for one fifth of 180,000. That first year I did $800,000 in total volume with a profit margin of between 35% - 45%, believe it or not. This year I did 1,400,000 total volume, same profit margin. I worked about 15 - 20 hours a week, mostly on sales and estimating. Don't get me wrong here, I've literaly made every mistake in the book. I've bought franchies for tons of money that never worked. I've spent rediculus amounts of money on rediculus advertizing. I've hired production managers that nearly bankrupted me. My secratary robbed my blind. The one mistake I never made was to panic. Never panic. You don't have to do the small crappy jobs, where you beg for the mercy of some cheap homeowner, and the crazy part is you think they will tell there freinds and family about you. Your the low ball guy, nobody thinks very highly of the low ball guy. All right maybe that is taking an extreme stand, but the point is true. People will see exactly what you show them. O.k cchipster here is the really practical stuff you've been begging for. When you get a call in for say a room addition, heres how it should go. They ask you if you can come out and give them an estimate, you say, May we take a few minutes to get familiar with your project so I can be prepared when I come out and see you? they say yes, You say Why do you need a sunroom. They answer, you say Why do you want a sunroom. They answer, You say When I come out and look at your project and assuming you have a comfort level with my company, and the price is in the budget you want to spend, when do you want to start? Does that seem bold Chip? Believe me when I tell you it's not. People will respond to your upfront approach. Anyway they answer, as soon as possible. I then let them know that I am at least 4-6 weeks out, and say " Is it a problem that I wouldn't be able to start right away. Everyone says I'm willing to wait for the right contractor. Now, Chip I don't have the time to tell you all the reasons why this approach I'm sharing works, but it does. Anyway, you say, What is your budget for this project. Women will tell you there budget about 70% of the time and men about 30%. This is all fine, you then tell them what it should cost roughly. Lets say it's a 15 by 15 room addition with two windows and an easy roof tie in. It's on pretty flat ground, by the way you need to ask them for these details. Look its a 300 square foot addition, easy peesy, cheesey. Take a few moments, you know like your thinking, and then ask if they want energy effiecnt widow, or a cieling fan, or gold trim, something. then you say these projects run between 30,000 and 40,000. you say, is this about what you wanted to invest in your home? They will either say that's about what I thought, or I was thinking more like 25,000. You say, Well that ball park is sight unseen. Now you know thier numbers and potentialy saved yourself a lot of time. Know your numbers, in my market I 105 - 110 a square foot gets my profit margin. Know your numbers for everything Chip. I never intended to write so much, I hope this helps Chip. I hope you don't mind I call you Chip, and sorry about the misspellingz.

turnkey

This is a cool site. this is my first time on it and all. I been laughing the whole time I've been reading this thread! All this self help and hard work talk makes me tired. I'm going to tell you straight, because you seem sincere.
No good deed goes unpunished! Write it down and read it every morning. Construction is all about apearance's. If you think your small, so will every one else. I started My Construction company a little over two years ago, my house had just burned down and I had $435 dollars in savings, not making this up buddy. I bought a $150 printer about 100 dollars of office supplies and cleaned the smoke and debris of a desk salvaged from the pile of burnt trash that used to be my home. I took the rest of the money and placed a small ad in the local newspaper. While I was waiting for calls to roll in I wrote up a contract, well I edited one I got off the internet. The next part I'm not esspesially proud off, but I believe it will illustrate an importaint point. Despart times and all, I downloaded construction pics off of google image search, put them on a disc and had the devolped into 4x6 prints. After which i then put into a book to illustrate the points I would be making to my future clients. I never said I did the jobs in the book, but I certainly could have, being as I was a good carpenter. A thin line maybe, but one I walked nonetheless. Anyway, about five days after I placed the ad I got my first call, thats five days to many when your sleeping on your buddies floor in a one bedroom apartment in the getto. It was a call from a bussiness down town, that I knew had lots of $$$. I set an appointment for two days from then, I let the CEO of the company know that I was really busy right now, but I could meet him in two days. The minute I hung up. I said to myself, you blew it, you told him you were busy, are you crazy. Two days later I met him in The best polo shirt I owned, and got a four thousand dollar job building a wall and repairing a ceiling which I did myself. I've never done that small a job since, and I've never done the work myself since. during the week it took me to do the job I bought a small cheap design program and learned how to use it at night during that week. I then did a design of the building I was working on at the time, one that was a complete remodel including stucco over the brick, parapit wall system, new windows, new doors, new everything! The bid was for 180,000 dollars. It's important to mention here that I had worked as a construction salesman for a year prior to this and could estimate. Anyway, I browwed my friends laptop that I had been using and went to see the SEO for my final check for $2000, 50% of the four thousand dollar job. He thanked me for a job well done and handed me the check. I said to him," It's been a pleasure working for you, by the way I have a few ideas about how you could make this building look amazing. Three days later I had a check for one fifth of 180,000. That first year I did $800,000 in total volume with a profit margin of between 35% - 45%, believe it or not. This year I did 1,400,000 total volume, same profit margin. I worked about 15 - 20 hours a week, mostly on sales and estimating. Don't get me wrong here, I've literaly made every mistake in the book. I've bought franchies for tons of money that never worked. I've spent rediculus amounts of money on rediculus advertizing. I've hired production managers that nearly bankrupted me. My secratary robbed my blind. The one mistake I never made was to panic. Never panic. You don't have to do the small crappy jobs, where you beg for the mercy of some cheap homeowner, and the crazy part is you think they will tell there freinds and family about you. Your the low ball guy, nobody thinks very highly of the low ball guy. All right maybe that is taking an extreme stand, but the point is true. People will see exactly what you show them. O.k cchipster here is the really practical stuff you've been begging for. When you get a call in for say a room addition, heres how it should go. They ask you if you can come out and give them an estimate, you say, May we take a few minutes to get familiar with your project so I can be prepared when I come out and see you? they say yes, You say Why do you need a sunroom. They answer, you say Why do you want a sunroom. They answer, You say When I come out and look at your project and assuming you have a comfort level with my company, and the price is in the budget you want to spend, when do you want to start? Does that seem bold Chip? Believe me when I tell you it's not. People will respond to your upfront approach. Anyway they answer, as soon as possible. I then let them know that I am at least 4-6 weeks out, and say " Is it a problem that I wouldn't be able to start right away. Everyone says I'm willing to wait for the right contractor. Now, Chip I don't have the time to tell you all the reasons why this approach I'm sharing works, but it does. Anyway, you say, What is your budget for this project. Women will tell you there budget about 70% of the time and men about 30%. This is all fine, you then tell them what it should cost roughly. Lets say it's a 15 by 15 room addition with two windows and an easy roof tie in. It's on pretty flat ground, by the way you need to ask them for these details. Look its a 300 square foot addition, easy peesy, cheesey. Take a few moments, you know like your thinking, and then ask if they want energy effiecnt widow, or a cieling fan, or gold trim, something. then you say these projects run between 30,000 and 40,000. you say, is this about what you wanted to invest in your home? They will either say that's about what I thought, or I was thinking more like 25,000. You say, Well that ball park is sight unseen. Now you know thier numbers and potentialy saved yourself a lot of time. Know your numbers, in my market I 105 - 110 a square foot gets my profit margin. Know your numbers for everything Chip. I never intended to write so much, I hope this helps Chip. I hope you don't mind I call you Chip, and sorry about the misspellingz.

CCSowner

Thanks for all the good info guys. I have a few people asking me and my business partners about doing jobs this spring. I am putting together a portfolio on my website and one that I will keep in the truck. I have been passing out flyer's, talking to a lot of people about it. I have a nice commercial job that I'm working on. I'll pretty much do any job (as long as everything is up to spec) to get my name out. I want to have a few job site signs made up when I have my truck and trailer lettered. I will be parking my trailer next to a busy road so I will get advertising that way.
Thanks
Adam

__________________
Adam Forsythe
Creative Covering solutions
"New England's Answer to Brick paving and Tile/Stone"
www.creativecoveringsolutions.com