I am a building contractor struggling to find clients?

how do i find more clients, my lads are good skilled workmen yet its difficult to find clients due to to foriegn workers saturating the industry

Then you must become more competitive, take smaller jobs or hire the foreigns TO WORK FOR YOU... Otherwise the foreign labor, which is quickly becoming a commodity world-wide.. will run you out of business, instead of running to your business...

legwork .....the most cost effective way of promoting a small business is leafleting . Dont waste your money on any of these talkin pages and fancy websites you wont get your money back. Local advertising can work but some of these freebie papers charge the earth for an advert .... I got one of my best customers from a Â£10 in the local church magazine... card in the papershop window will get you work sainsburys will let small businesses advertise for free.....If you are as good as you say you are word of mouth will get you business get loads of cards printed and dont feel embarassed about dishing them out it pays to be pushy

It's difficult - there are so many bandits out there that people just aren't willing to trust tradesmen anymore. If I want any work doing the men must be either recommended by someone who has already used them or a qualified trades person who is 'chartered' etc so i can check them out, it's expensive but at least I can check up on them and I know they will do a good job, it is not owrth the risk to look in the yellow pages or the local paper. I think you'd do well to offer a 'payment on completion' or full money back policy if the person is not happy with the work.

You have to advertise! also word of mouth goes a long way, but you know those anyway I'm guessing. As a lady looking for a builder, plumber and a joiner I can't understand why you can't get work. I have made several appointments with people to come and look at the jobs and they have all let me down.

As a potential client I want someone who will turn up when they say they will, do the job that's agreed for the price agreed and most importantly for people not to assume that I'm stupid or ignorant because i'm a woman.

There is definitely a gap in the market for honest tradesmen and mechanics to give females a fair price and some respect

Check in with your city of commerce. They can help you get your name out there and you can meet your local business owners. Look in your local newspaper under classifieds. Sometimes those in need of contractors will put in an advertisement looking for bids. If you are near a military installation ask them where you can throw your hat in the ring for job bidding. Advertise in your local papers, online with networking groups, and at local schools and churches. Mail them brochures/letters explaining your services. They are always needed. Best of Luck!
~Kristina

When I first started my business, I dropped off flyers in Church parking lots during services, at parking lots for grocery stores, home improvement stores, etc. I also did volunteer work with a lot of the advocacy programs here and since people met me and saw me as someone willing to sincerely help people I got a good reputation and they would send me clients. I dropped off flyers and business cards and spoke with the owners of all the local businesses. I also dropped off specialized flyers that are made so that they can hang off a doorknob in neighborhoods that I wanted to do business, etc. Also join whatever networking groups you can. I am in the Mid-Atlantic Region and here we have a group called BNI (Business Networking International) only one person from each industry can be represented in the group (i.e. one home improvement contractor, one commercial real estate agent, one residential real estate agent, one mortgage broker, one banker, one accountant, one property casualty insurance agent, one life agent, one group benefits agent, one commercial furniture sales person, one printer, one computer person, etc.). The group meets on a weekly basis to get to know each other, know each others businesses and give each other referrals. Look up BNI on the Internet, but if you don't have this type of group, I suggest you start one. This is a wonderful way to get real referrals not just leads and also make excellent business and social contacts. Also check into other business groups for networking such as your local chambers of commerce, etc. Do not waste too much money on advertising since it does not work as well as actual networking and the other methods I have mentioned.
â€¨â€¨The most important thing to remember is to treat each of your clients as if he or she is that million dollar account. If you do a good job with a client, he/she will remember and send you 2 or 3 others. If you do a bad job with a client, he/she will not only fire you but they will speak badly about you to 10 people! Reputation is everything in our business. Also institute a referral program--a good one is to offer a $10 gas card for each qualified referral that a client sends your way! I know that this program works because it gets the phone ringing and will result in many sales. Also make sure your employees are clean--many women love when workers wear booties to cover their feet inside the home, clean up after themselves, keep your commitments, i.e. if you say you will start at 8:00 am your workers should be there at 7:50 am. When you first meet with a prospect use a portfolio type book with pictures of work you have done, referral letters, a copy of your license, a copy of your insurance certificate, a copy of your bond. Try as much as possible to underpromise and over deliver. â€¨
â€¨After a while most of your clients will come from referrals but never stop doing your best and thanking your clients for each one of the referrals they give you. Remember that if you give great service there is never truly any competition.

Good Luck

Do your workers arrive each morning at 8am and work conscientiously until 4 or 5? Do they clean up after themselves? Are they polite to the client? Do they listen when things go wrong and do their best to put things right?

If you answered no to any of these, then perhaps you have a problem.

I am a contractor and haven't time to get everywhere I need to be.. It has taken 5 years and a lifetime in my area to network, but now I turn down more work than I can accept..

It seems that there is a piece of the puzzle missing for you, my friend.. I know you know what it is... Only you can make that change..

Where in the world are you located?

Market and advertise YOUR unique selling points. If you feel that one of those is that you do not employ foreign workers then advertise that fact! Spend on advertising, spend alot but spend wisely. Tie up with local estate agents, offer discounts to their customers (discounts that last). Make sure that you DO NOT enter a price war with immigrant labour.....enter a QUALITY war with them. DO NOT devalue your service, add value to it and put your prices UP!

Most of all though, as said above: Make sure you and your skilled workmen do the very very best job possible and that you care for the clients that you do get (however big or small the job they offer you is)!

Be the best or do something else! If it's all about the money you WILL fail, it has to be about the work that you do and the quality of what you offer.

Also, get over the perceived threat of immigrant labour and consider HIRING them yourself! If they do not come up to your new very high standards, let them go and tell YOUR customers WHY you don't employ them; On the other hand, if they do come up to 'scratch', you'll have the best workforce around and all the quality work tapped.

Never worry about loosing the crummy work, let others have that......You just need to BE THE BEST.

Have faith in what you are, what you do and what you have to offer. Keep your head, offer a good QUALITY service and keep your margins tight until you are established as the best!

Do what we all do and take the risk.....be the best!

I find clients by wearing a sailor suit and standing on the corner but im in a different line of work.

Have you tried craigslist?

know the feeling mate but when they have rinsed this country they will take the money home and live like kings and if i were in their position i would do the same the people at the top of the tree keep down wages by doing this more and more you have to beat these people at the same game how many will be around to honour any guarantee's on their cheap labour it's a false economy save your money for 2012 when people start throwing themselves out of windows if the depression takes that long to arrive

It depends on where you are and what type of building
projects you are targeting ie. residental/commercial.
Standard marketing practices, advertising and word of
mouth is the best way.
Internet is also a good choice (web site).

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