From small businesses to larger companies, there are similar themes that can help you be successful. Plumbing businesses are no exception. There are many business tips that are applicable and can help your plumbing business grow.

Business owners must wear many hats to be successful. One minute, you may have to find a solution to a plumbing problem and the next, you might have to be a salesperson to win the next job. Running a plumbing business can be a challenge, but here are a few tips that can help.

One job every business owner needs to do is finding more leads. You can make this easy on yourself. Sign up with CraftJack today to start receiving plumbing leads from homeowners in your area.

1. Always Have Up-To-Date License & Insurance

For plumbing pros in 44 states, you must have a license to do business. Here are the states that do not require a license:

• Kansas
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Wyoming

Regardless if your state requires a license, it’s important to have one. It demonstrates to potential customers that you are up-to-date on the knowledge you need to successfully do the job. Plumbing licenses and requirements vary by state, so if your business moves, double check the requirements to see what’s needed.

Similarly to licenses, some states also require plumbing contractors to carry insurance. General liability insurance is always an important thing for any contractor to have. But for plumbing business owners, a business policy will help take care of all your insurance needs.

2. Account For All Your Costs

Running a business means that you are now accountable for cash going in many directions. As great as it is to see profit from your success, you must accurately track and record every dollar spent. You’ll need to develop a bookkeeping system and determine how you’ll pay your employees. Some business owners choose to do this themselves.

Accounting software can help you keep track of your records. In some cases, business owners who might not be as financially savvy as an accountant who they can rely on to keep track of their revenue and expenditures. However, small business owners should be careful not to fall behind on their record keeping. This can lead to problems in paying employees or even mistakes in the budget.

3. Create A Schedule

From preparing estimates to oversee the completion of a job, plumbing pros are busy. Successful contractors must have a way of keeping track of all their to-do’s and creating a schedule. If you’re tech-savvy, programs such as Evernote or Wunderlist are apps you can download to keep your schedule on your phone or tablet. You can manage the status of multiple projects here and set reminders.

It’s also a good idea to schedule in regular time for tasks that improve your company. Set aside an hour each week for continuing education, social media marketing or other task that can’t be done on the job site. This short time you’ve set aside will have a long-term impact on your business.

4. Invest In Marketing

While many contractors rely on word-of-mouth and referrals for leads, you must invest both time and money to ensure that your name gets out there. Create a marketing plan to help direct your efforts and measure your success. With the latest technology, there are many opportunities that plumbing contractors have to invest in marketing to their customer. Here are a few:

Email Marketing

To get directly in front of current and potential customers, email marketing will bring your plumbing business straight to their inbox. It’s a great way to ask for reviews, referrals and share about your services. Services like MailChimp or Constant Contact are great ways to easily engage with customers via email and keep track of your email marketing success.

Social Media Marketing

For plumbing pros today, social media marketing is a must. A Facebook or Instagram page can be just what your business needs to help get the word out about your plumbing services. It can also help you easily communicate with customers, driving more leads your way. Additionally, social media sites often allow you to set an advertising budget if you choose, putting you in front of even more local homeowners.

5. Make Lead Generation Easy

For any contractor, finding the right leads can be a job within the job. While there are plenty of tactics you can try to generate leads for free, why not take this off your plate? Lead generation services, such as CraftJack, are here to help save you time and win more jobs. Qualified leads get sent directly to you, so you can put more effort into improving your business and customer service.

Lead generation is just one part of the puzzle, however. You want to win the job!

Conclusion

Plumbing contractors can wear many hats if you own a business. Utilize these tips to help you see success in your business.

Looking for more business tips? Read 7 Productivity Tips For Small Business Owners.