Looking For A Reproducable Business System.

fathersonfab

I'm not exactly sure how to put into word what my question is, so hopefully some of you will understand.
I have always been a one man show. Had a custom woodshop for a few years, now doing handyman work). I'm ready to start a new remodeling company (licensed of course and just me at first).

Over the years and through trial and error, I've learned about what it takes to run a business like a business. The biggest problem with a one man show is, if I get sick or take a day off, I don't get paid. And in most cases, even companies with employees require the owner to be there, or the employees are lost and stand around picking their nose.

Here's my question. What kind of business systems are there for the construction and remodeling business? I want to develop a business model that can be teachable, trainable and reproduced over and over. The problem I keep coming back to is that most of what we do in the remodeling industry is so different one day to the next. How are you able to incorporate any kind of consistency into your business?

What type of systems do you have in place so you can trust any employee to run your company? How are you able to ensure your business is still going to make money if, God forbid, you get sick or injured or just want to go on a vacation?

Or the simple question is; How do you build a successful remodeling business that doesn't require your input 24/7 ?

Any input or criticism is appreciated. Thanks.

Grumpy

Find a franchise. That's what they do.

Every man has a job and knows what it is. That's the only way it can be. Then once each man in trained, I consider myself to be THEIR assistant. They are the bricks I am the mortar.

I can take a few days off, even a week, and the business will run fine. My production manager keeps the workers and suppliers in line. Each sub crew has their own specialty and does what they do. My sales guys sell. The book keeper comes in and does the accounting 2-3 nights a week. The only thing I am lacking is someone to work the office and all the administrative stuff since nobody checks the general email box other than myself. However that can be done by a $10 an hour assistant.

I am now looking into other home improvement businesses on the market for sale. I'm really just looking for curiousity to see how other businesses are structured, but don't get me wrong these businesses are for sale so their structures can't be all that rock solid. Perhaps one day I will buy one, perhaps not.

ruskent

Grumpy- Sounds like you are doing extremely well!!! Thats good to hear.

ProWallGuy

There is a member here by the name of Brian Phillips. He is a business system guru. Check out his website at www.outofthebucket.com

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Vinny

There is a guy out your way you should look up. His name is Charlie Gindele and he owns Dial One Windows

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If you say you cant, your a loser. If you say you wont, your a quiter. Which one do you want to be?

Grumpy

It's easy to spend money It's hard to keep the spending in check and control growth. Very hard.

I've got flaws like anyone else... but I am working hard to build my own system and working out the kinks as I go along. Some of my ideas were catastrophic failures and some were suprisingly successful.

It's funny when you think about it. Humans are creatures of habit. We find something that works and then we stick with it. Why reinvent the wheel right? Well anyways I consider myself to be ahead of the game in terms of technology and various other aspects of business. I try new things since I am "building my system" but at some point my system will be an antiquated dinosaur and I will be replaced by someone just like me: young, aggressive and willing to try new things.

fez-head

A while back there used to be an ad up top that said "Run it like a franchise" This may be what you are looking for (I know I am)

Does anyone remember who sponsored that or how to get to the web site? I have done the usual Google searches with no luck.

Thanks

Jesse

fez-head

I talked with Brian and signed up for his workshops.

Good stuff - thanks for recommending it.

Jesse

Mandrake

The franchise model is not perfect but makes sense in many respects.

I read a little book a while back that is part of the E-Myth system. Dealt with exactly what you are looking for, a way to "package" the remodeling business in a franchise type system. Do a search and see what you come up with.

mndrk

Heritage

I wrote a long response and erased it. For the sake of brevity I will just say that opening your own franchise would be nothing like most other franchises. There is enormous liability issues and very volatile. That's why most of the industry is broken down into small operations. There really is no "starbucks" or "sony" in the construction industry. There is no "when you think construction, think ABC contracting".

I've thought about this myself, there is a franchise company in my town that does radio spots and they seem to be pretty big.

My bottom line guess, is that if you got the $$ to make the move...do it and god bless you. If you don't, then stay small. To answer your question though I would say that your personal experience combined with management education should come together to custom build your own "system" for such a company based on what aspects of the industry you would want to cater to. I would first start by answering that question. My $.02

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