Moving into the off season may feel like a bit of a break, but it’s actually a great time to get stuff done — particularly for those of you in the contracting industry. How can you make the best use of your time? Here are some suggestions for making the most of the off season.
Sharpen the Saw
Dr. Stephen R. Covey of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People fame says, “You must never become too busy sawing to take time to sharpen the saw.” That’s just as true for contractors, who use an actual saw, as any other highly effective person. The off season for contractors is a great time to invest in your own growth and development. Being sure to continue your education and hone your skills means you’re dedicated to the growth of your business and the quality of the product you produce. Your clients will notice.
So schedule some extra training on a technique you’ve never mastered or a piece of equipment you’ve never learned. Invest in your skills, so that you can set yourself and your business apart from the competition when the busy season rolls around again. Just like you wouldn’t use a dull saw to cut that precious timber, don’t rely on what you already know to carry you through. Always look for ways to grow and learn, and what better time than when business is a little slower anyway?
Plan Ahead
You can also use the off season to plan some marketing strategies for the future of your business. Do some research on what advertising strategies work well in your community. Consider things like merchandise that the general public might use that could sport your logo. Should you invest in a nice vinyl wrap for your work truck. How’s your social media presence doing? Each of these areas can help to increase awareness of your business; and therefore, increase your client acquisition. It may feel like a waste of time to spend the whole day on Facebook or Instagram, but it’s not when it’s a real part of your marketing strategy for the success of your contracting business.
Build Partnerships
The power of networking really can’t be underestimated. The off season is a great time to connect (or reconnect) with others in the construction or home improvement industry. You should constantly be seeking to build your network because you never know when you’ll need help from someone in the business or when they’ll need you. It pays to develop relationships.
The best relationship you can secure for your business is one with HFS Financial. You absolutely need to be offering the best contractor financing for your customers. And no where else in the world will you find options as easy and accessible as those from HFS Financial. There’s no stage funding, and all of our financing options fund 100% upfront, which means you can get your job done well and done on time.
If you’d like to take time to do your research, use the time you have in the off season to contact one of our experts. They can get you all of the information you need on how to offer financing as a contractor. We make it as simple and easy as possible.
Start the most important partnership for your contracting business today. With HFS Financial, “You Dream It, We Finance It.”