For many in the reconstruction and construction industries, it’s difficult to move from swinging a hammer, fixing pipes, or cleaning carpets to managing a business full-time. The need, the desire to be hands-on is always there.
At The Restoration Entrepreneur, we consistently help our clients go from just making a living to having $1.5 million in revenues in the first year. How we do that isn’t part of this blog, but how to make that transition effectively is.
Should you make the switch?
Once you’re making over $1 million in revenues, especially if you own several businesses, there’s a very good chance that you’re no longer going to be able to work on the job site every day.
There’s something, though, that you need to ask yourself: Are you cut out to be the big boss? Or should you let someone else run the show?
Sometimes, the best person on the job site isn’t the person who should be leading the crew. Take an honest look at your temperament. Can you keep track of the finances well? Do you like selling and bringing in new contracts? Do you enjoy working with clients? Do you like handling paperwork and dealing with officials?
If all of this makes you feel a little queasy, you might not be the right person for the top job. That’s okay. You can start the business and make sure that everything is getting done. Hire someone to drive the business end of things. You can even be the CEO but have a manager who handles all the executive stuff. You only step in when they can’t handle it; after all, you don’t have to ask anyone’s permission. You’d be the boss, but someone else runs the day-to-day.
There’s is nothing wrong with admitting that you aren’t cut out to sit in an office or handle paperwork all day. There are lots of exceptionally talented people who are. Hire one of them as soon as you’re making enough money to warrant it.
Keep the hammer
If you enjoy working with your crew, but you’re also good with being an executive, there’s nothing that says you can’t work one day a week on the site.
Maybe every Tuesday, go down to the job site and work alongside one of your crews. Swing a sledgehammer, solder pipes, or whatever needs to get done. Go there as a worker, not as the head honcho.
Your crew will appreciate it, and it’ll keep you in touch with that part of you that loves doing the manual labor.
Define your roles
The key factor in the success of every business is knowing your strengths and knowing what activities are worth your time.
It’s probably not worth your time sweeping floors. You can pay someone else to handle that. Answering phones, drafting emails, and even putting together proposals can all be done by someone else. It might be worth it for you to be the point of contact for the clients. It might be valuable for you to make major purchasing decisions or to train new forepeople.
Be honest with yourself about what you like, what you’re good at, and what can be done by someone else.
Then, when you need to guide your crews remotely, they’ll know that you’ve covered all the bases.
If you’re intersted in learning about starting a restoration franchise, check out our blog: Top 5 Restoration Franchises.