A 12-Step Program for Building Your Business

Many business owners complain that if they want something done right, they must do it themselves. They are a slave to their business. They want more than a job—they want a business that operates without them. 

Doing so requires many things. It requires employees (or subcontractors) who do the work properly. It requires sufficient leads to keep multiple crews busy. It requires sales skills to get the proper price. It requires procedures to communicate effectively and manage the business. 

Putting all of this into place can seem like a daunting task. While it is a lot of work, it is not an impossible. With the right tools, knowledge, and implementation you can create the type of business you want to own and operate. 

In this series of articles I will outline a 12-step program to turn your job into a business. You can progress through each step as quickly or as slowly as your time, ambition, and goals dictate.  The steps are:

1.             Developing a Plan– Before you start, you must first identify where you want to go.

2.             Managing your time– Efficient time management will help you focus on working on your business, rather than in your business.

3.             Production Procedures–Production procedures will ensure quality and customer satisfaction.

4.             Production Training–Production personnel must be trained in the procedures you develop.

5.             Production Compensation–The proper compensation system can increase productivity and quality.

6.             Marketing plan–A solid marketing plan will help generate sufficient leads.

7.             Tracking leads–Tracking leads is crucial to effective marketing.

8.             Two-step sales process–A two-step sales process will increase sales and profit margins.

9.             Differentiating your company–If you wish to charge more, you must offer more.

10.         Sales presentation–Develop a sales presentation that focuses on consumer education.

11.         Job Folders–Job folders are used to communicate to production personnel.

12.         Management–Work on your business, rather than in it.

Each article will outline specific goals and the actions necessary to achieve those goals. These steps are intended to provide a systematic process for bringing order to your business.  

Procedures will provide employees with guidelines for their work. It will provide mechanisms for quality control and customer satisfaction.  

A marketing plan, and method for tracking the effectiveness of your marketing, will help create a steady flow of leads. Differentiating your company and developing a consumer oriented sales process will help you sell more jobs at a higher profit margin.  

Finally, by improving communications with your production personnel you will be able to spend your time managing your business, rather than swinging a paint brush. By developing procedures for each part of your business, you can create the company you want to own.