Business success involves more than having a balance sheet in the black and a roster of happy clients. The items on the checklist here aren’t always top of mind, but they’ll advance your construction company in both tangible and intangible ways. And although they aren’t about boosting profits instantly, you might find that they do just that in the long run.

1. Empower Your Team

If you hire employees and call it a day, you’re missing an opportunity. Instead, empower your workers through ongoing training and development. This has three big benefits:

1. Enhances job performance, which leads to better-quality results and client satisfaction
2. Increases job satisfaction and the feeling of being valued, which builds loyalty and reduces employee turnover
3. Boosts productivity and efficiency

Whether you offer to reimburse your employees for external training sessions or take on the task of mentoring them yourself, it sends a strong message to your employees that you care about them and their professional development, not just about the job at hand. It also can benefit you on a personal level.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m a life coach to some of my employees,” remodeler Mike Biestek says, “which is actually beneficial to me because it makes me feel good about what I’m doing — to hold somebody’s hand and teach them something that they just weren’t taught.”

Providing or facilitating ongoing training and development will give your team the tools, knowledge and skills to adapt to industry changes, such as tech advancements and updated best practices. Also consider encouraging employees to earn industry certifications on their own time. Obtaining a certification in a single area of construction typically takes less time than a full educational program, yet it’s still a point of pride on a résumé for an employee in addition to increasing that employee’s value to your business.

While there may be an initial financial outlay for offering training and certifications, consider it an investment that will pay out over the long haul. For instance, you might be able to then charge more for your services or take on projects in new areas.

2. Build Vendor and Client Relationships

Creating great connections with clients is a well-known way to get great reviews, referrals and repeat business. But connecting with vendors is essential too. When you build those relationships, you are better able to guarantee quality materials, services and products. And in turn, vendors might refer you to their own clients who might be looking for the services your construction company provides.

Start by making a list of all the suppliers, subcontractors and service providers you already work with, then add the ones you’d like to work with. Make notes not just on what they offer but anything more personal that can create a real relationship, such as whether they have children or grandchildren; attended the same school, conference or trade show as you; or even if they like the same sports team. Knowing those kinds of personal details might give you common ground and will show that you care about them on a human level.

Then reach out! If it’s someone you don’t know yet, you can introduce yourself and mention a recent project or product of theirs that you admire. If it’s someone you already know, you can do the same or drop them a “thinking of you” note and inquire how they’re doing. Schedule time in your calendar to reach out regularly, as the phenomenon known as the familiarity effect will make them trust you more and keep you top of mind.

See more ideas for building great relationships with clients and vendors

3. Revisit Safety Practices

You already know the importance of having safety protocols to protect your workers, to help prevent accidents that can affect both a project and the worker’s personal well-being. But how often do you hold safety meetings, update best practices and conduct safety inspections on job-sites? Do you regularly check new government legislation to see if any policies have changed? If it’s been quite some time since you’ve done any of the above, it’s a good idea to recommit to a safety plan.

Ensuring safety standards doesn’t just protect workers and project progress. It also:

• Creates a positive work environment
• Minimizes jobsite errors
• Builds team loyalty
• Increases employee satisfaction
• Builds client trust
• Protects job profits

In fact, the financial benefit extends beyond protecting job profits. Investors might take strong safety protocols into account when they’re measuring risk and deciding whether or not your business or a particular project is a good investment. By demonstrating your commitment to safety, you can differentiate yourself from competitors and attract new clients who value a safe and responsible approach.

4. Let Software Lend a Hand

One of the main challenges in the construction industry is staying up to date with the latest technologies. Yet it’s crucial for improving efficiency, reducing costs and delivering high-quality projects, plus it can reduce both human errors and overall stress. And it can be easier than you might think!

If you’re still organizing information by hand using spreadsheets, you’re losing time to tasks that can be handled by all-in-one software like Houzz Pro. By leveraging construction and client management software in your business you improve project efficiency, reduce delays and be better able to deliver projects within the budget. 

Houzz Pro can you level-up your construction business by

• Creating accurate takeoffs and estimates to help you win projects quickly
• Building floor plans, using 3D visualization tools to impress your clients
• Managing projects to stay on track
• Collaborating with your team and clients to keep your workflow smooth
• Sending invoices and getting paid on time
• Managing leads and client communications to gain repeat business

Still hesitant to adopt software to help you run your business? Consider what Dave Spetrino of PBC Design + Build has to say about Houzz Pro: “In short, it makes my life easier and that is invaluable. You want to know how to make a successful person or a person who has a busy life happy? You make their life easier. I think that's why Houzz Pro from day one really became the silent partner of what we do, and then introducing our clients to Houzz and available tools gives them just enough information to give them confidence.” Also check out what other pros say about the benefits of the all-in-one software they use.