4 ways to grow a construction business

As the owner of a small business, you’re always looking for ways to scale up while not allowing your expansion plans to compromise the quality of service you provide to each and every customer and the consideration you give to your employees’ health and safety. We look at how you can take your construction company to the next level.

You know the anecdote – a happy customer will tell one friend; an unhappy customer will tell several friends. And while this observation might not be based on scientific fact, it’s certainly worth bearing in mind when it comes to offering the best possible service. This means being easy to reach, for example offering a range of contact options such as mobile number, social media channels and an online call-back request form on your website, providing an estimate that’s easy-to-understand and conducting yourself in a professional manner at all times while on-site.

Good customer service doesn’t stop when a job is completed. Call or email each customer a few days later to check they are happy, and ask them to write a recommendation on a review platform like Yelp or Feefo as this will show prospective customers they can trust your service. Other ways to gain trust is to closely supervise each project, ensuring your employees have the equipment they need to perform tasks safely, and always using the right material for each job – even if it comes at a higher cost, people will appreciate your explanation that you are committed to quality.

Similarly, prospective customers who are about to embark on a construction project will want to know they have secured the very best person for the job. If you find you are receiving a lot of requests for a particular skill, make sure you employ someone who has that expertise or invest in an existing employee (or yourself) by sending them on a training course or apprenticeship. Make sure people can find you by clearly outlining your area of expertise on your website and talking about it using the relevant hashtags via your social media channels. In addition, take photos of successfully completed jobs to showcase your work – arriving to give a quote with evidence of your previous work is another way to boost people’s trust.

It’s essential that you make sure you are covered in the event of an injury, property damage or lawsuit, so spend time investigating which insurance policy is right for you. It’s equally important to take preventative measures wherever possible by closely following the safety advice for builders and construction workers that’s outlined by the Health and Safety Executive. Gaining a reputation for being a company that cares about its employees will not only help you attract some of the best talent, but also reassure customers that you are a conscientious employer.

4 ways to grow a construction business

1. Make customer service your number-one priority

1. Make customer service your number-one priority

2. Establish trust

2. Establish trust

3. Develop a specialisation

3. Develop a specialisation

4. Focus on health and safety

4. Focus on health and safety

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