How to Start a Home Remodeling Business 1-2-3
Remodeling Business Plan
Business planning is important for a remodeling business, especially since large amounts of money and
numerous people can be involved. Giving your remodeling business a direction to follow and steps to take to
make a profit will greatly increase your chance of success.
The first step in planning your business to select a remodeling niche that you want to specialize in. Will
you do the work yourself, or do you prefer to sub-contract the work out? Do you want to hire employees? Each
option will require different time and monetary investments.
Business planning doesn't have to be difficult or expense. Newer business plan software and templates enable
you to perform the writing yourself, without the cost - and much less work. It can also be helpful to see what
other remodeling business start-ups have written in their business plans.
Bplans.com is a website with hundreds of sample business plans. They have one specifically for starting a
remodeling business. You can see it here: remodeling business plan.
Steps to Start a Home Remodeling Company
- You'll need to get a business
license from your local city or county office (state-by-state listings here). If
you don't already have one, you'll need a contractor's license as well. Although not necessary, the
National Association of the Remodeling Industry also offers certification programs to professional remodeling contractors who work in the field
full-time.
- If you are not using your personal name as your business name, file your fictitious business name with
the county clerk. If you want to incorporate your business, you can review information online to see how
incorporating may benefit your remodeling company. Get a business tax ID from the IRS website. You can also get information at the website about business income tax, self-employment tax and estimated taxes.
- It's important to keep personal and business finances separate, especially come tax time. You can open
a business bank account with a FDIC insured bank in an afternoon for minimal cost.
It's a good idea to interview a few banks to compare services. There are many other benefits that a
business account can offer, so make sure to ask.
- Meet with an insurance agent to find out the exact insurance you are required to have and additional
options you may want. The IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) can help you find a
reputable agent in your area. You can also use insurance network websites to get business insurance quotes for free.
- In order to make the most of the tax benefits your remodeling business offers, set up a meeting with a
local tax accountant. This doesn't obligate you to use their services, but you can get a better
understanding of what tax and accounting tasks need to be done, and if you'd prefer to do them yourself. If
you decide to do your own business bookkeeping, pick up some business accounting software like Quickbooks
Pro. small business tax deductions.
- Give your customers a professional first impression of your business when they first contact you.
iTeleCenter gives you a
high-end phone system - features like private toll-free number, voice mail, multiple extensions,
send/receive faxes online, enhanced call forwarding, and music-on-hold (to name just a few) for a
fraction of the cost (starts at just $9.95). Setup is simple: no hardware to buy, nothing to
install.
- Get business cards and other promotional materials you'll need for your business like brochures or
postcards. Hand them out to people you know and include them in all correspondence. Business cards work
well as cheap advertising too. 250 Free Business Cards. See also: 30-50% off Postcards, Brochures and
more Design your own marketing materials online using professional templates. Designs provided,
printing done for you.
- Set up a website. A website can help you advertise your remodeling services by showing your previous
remodeling work, including photos, providing contact information, offering discounts and detailed
information that potential customers want. You can save money by creating your own website with simple online design programs, or outsource the job
to an affordable website designer.
"Remodeling Business" Start-up Guide
Starting a remodeling business doesn't require a large investment or even much overhead to operate, since
you can work from home. You'll need tools and a vehicle, and you can rent larger equipment until you can afford
to purchase them for the company (if you decide to).
The best thing you can do for your business is get guidance from an expert - a remodeling business expert.
Having a successful "blueprint" to follow will make your life much easier, and business more profitable.
Sometimes you can find a business start-up guide at your local library, and often at bookstores. Interviewing
an already-successful remodeling business owner can give you a wealth of knowledge on running your own
company.
With the Construction Business Start-up Guide,
you can get the expert guidance that will help you start your remodeling business.
- Follow a Step-by-Step Outline from a business expert, so you understand exactly what you need to
do to start your construction business.
- Where to Find Professional Resources you can contact and ways to save money on start-up and
operating costs.
- How to Get Customers Fast: Discover marketing and advertising strategies that will enable you
attract a continuous flow of customers and turn a profit faster.
- Download Now: Start a Construction Business
rated by customers
Marketing Your Remodeling Services
Get Free Publicity
Besides advertising in your local yellow pages and placing ads in newspapers and neighborhood mailers, you can
save money by writing a brief press release or "letter" to your local paper announcing your company's premier
opening.
Offer a special discount or free offer for first-time customers, and publications will find this more
newsworthy. This means that they're more likely to publish news about your company. Your press release doesn't
have to be long, and you can find press release samples here: How to Get Free Press.
Advertise your services, find clients online and bid on projects with contractor networks like The Online Contractor's Network
, BidClerk or Service Magic. See Also: How to Find Local Customers Online
Advertise your business when you drive your vehicle Free Car Door Custom Magnet
Print Brochures
Showing Your Services and Expertise
Don't just tell people about your remodeling business - show them! Pictures are worth a thousand words,
and brochures can present a professional company image - while selling your services to potential clients at
the same time.
You want to use quality materials and photos if you can, but company brochures don't have to be expensive.
You can use programs online to design your own brochures, and have them automatically
printed for you at a discounted price.
Postcard Marketing
Do a postcard mailing to introduce your remodeling service to potential customers (businesses and/or
individuals). Using low-cost online services makes this an easy marketing task. First, choose a special offer
thatyou want to announce to potential customers. Second, design your postcards online using professional
postcard templates with VistaPrint (you can get 50% off here). And
third, get targeted leads from a lead generation company like Resource Nation.
Home Remodeling Business Resources:
- Small Business Tax Deductions
Get informed of basic business tax laws, and you can save yourself lots of money. Find out 20 different
ways that tax deductions can increase your business profits, and how to complete your tax returns for
less.
- How to Incorporate in 3 Easy Steps
Is it preferable for you to form a C Corporation, an LLC or Partnership business? What are the differences
- and how do they affect you? See which is the best business structure for you - another smart way to
maximize your income.
- Do-it-Yourself Small Business Legal Forms
Instead of hiring a lawyer to draw up general documents, you can buy standardized legal documents that can
accomplish the same thing and save you lots of money. Do you need client remodeling contracts? Hiring
forms? Borrowing and lending paperwork? You'll find over 60 legal forms WITH Instructions!
- Business Insurance Quotes - for Free
Do you need business insurance? As you may already know, anything can happen in business, and you don't
want to find yourself unprotected. Find out exactly what kind of benefits you can get with a free quote
before you make a decision.
T I P : "How Do I Write a
Proposal?"
Use Professional Proposal Kits to create proposals, contracts and estimates. Proposal Kits make
your work easier - plus they protect your business, can get you more clients and create more
accurate quotes for you. |
Remodeling Business Associations:
- National Association of the Remodeling Industry
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only independent national association
dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. NARI's focus is on professional conduct, continuing education
and training, and fair and ethical treatment within the industry.
- Building Trades Association
The Building Trades Association is made up of thousands of companies involved in all phases of the building
and construction industries.
