Attention Contractors: What is Your Business Really Worth?

Starting and building your own business is not for the weak of heart. Being your own boss sounds like the dream, but what many don’t realize is that it comes with a tremendous amount of hard work, difficult decisions, and sleepless nights. The chances of success are slim, and the temptation to hold on to every facet of the business is strong. But the rewards of success are all worth it, right? One day you will be able to sell your business and sail off into the sunset to enjoy the proceeds of all your hard work. Or will you? All too often, contracting companies are not sold, they expire. The reasons for this typically lay in the fact that much of a business’ success lies in the head and hands of the owner and cannot be easily transferred to someone else. If you are the person who makes all the decisions and provides all the insight, removing you from the equation leaves a business that doesn’t have much value if you are gone.

JobProgress co-founder, David Buzzelli, sat down with industry expert, Patrick Carr, to discuss the importance of scaling your business. You can watch this conversation in the video above. And to get more insight on this, we talked to Patrick Dichter with AppleTree Business Services, an accounting firm that specializes in service-based companies. I’ve paraphrased our conversation below.

If an owner of a home remodeling company would like to eventually sell their business, what do they need to do now to ensure that selling is an option?

First, have clean bookkeeping. Second, increase your profitability. Third, have good systems in place to run the business efficiently. The biggest thing that attracts buyers is positive cash flow and the ease of transferring the company’s processes. If the owner must be involved at all steps of a job, it will not sell for much or maybe not even at all. There need to be defined processes for quoting work, managing projects, communicating with customers and others on the team, and running the company that can be turned over to the new owner seamlessly.

What are some ways to increase the value of a contracting business?

Typically, these types of businesses sell for 2-4 times the seller’s discretionary earnings. For example, let’s say an owner is running a $1 million business and pays himself $150,000 a year on average. Add to that other things that flow through the company like a truck payment, benefits, etc. and his personal income shakes out at $200,000. Multiply that amount by a multiple of 2-4 and you can likely sell for somewhere between $400,000 and $800,000. This assumes that the business is transferrable as mentioned earlier. If you want to sell for more than that, you can consider:

Increasing your cash flow by raising prices or decreasing your cost of goods.
If you are writing off every expense under the moon to reduce your tax liability, you may want to adjust that strategy for a while to show more value in the company.
Increasing your brand awareness in the market so the new owner knows they are taking over a recognized company.
Getting as many 5-star reviews on Google and other sites to make you stand out from your competitors.
Hiring a general manager or other key employee to make the buyer feel more comfortable that the company can sustain itself without you at the helm.

What are the top things that devalue a business or even make it un-sellable?

If a business has poor bookkeeping or inconsistent financial management, it makes it hard for a buyer to get underwriting on a bank loan to make the purchase. Banks want to see clean books and know that it is profitable and will continue to be so before they will lend money for a business purchase. Additionally, a potential buyer will want to know:

What is in your pipeline and where is your revenue is coming from? If you aren’t using a CRM (like JobProgress!) to track this information, it will make your business much harder to sell.
That you have key employees who will want to stick around. Only using subcontractors to deliver your work makes a company less attractive to a buyer.
That your revenue comes from a variety of sources. If more than 25% of your revenue comes from one customer, the buyer is taking a much larger risk in buying your company.
That you have year-round work. If 80% of your revenue comes during three months of the year, that will scare off potential buyers.

How far in advance of when you want to sell should the business owner start thinking about it and what should they be doing?

In most cases, the owner will need one to two years to get it ready to purchase. Even once you put it on the market or find a buyer, it will take at least six months to go through due diligence, legal, financial underwriting, and the transfer of ownership. Leading up to that point, you should make sure you have clean accounting, a documented process for your operations, and are current on all taxes. The process of due diligence and talking to potential buyers can be tiresome, but the cleaner your financials are, the less painful it will be. Think about it like buying a house. If it is a newer home, the inspection will be fairly straightforward. If it is an older house, the inspection can be messier. Basically, keep your house in order to make the process as easy as possible.

If you eventually want to sell your business, incorporating JobProgress into your workflow simply makes sense. By managing your workflow and pipeline this way, everyone contributes to the company’s operations, spreading the work across the company and taking it out of the owner’s head. This allows the business to function successfully regardless of who owns it and can even increase its value and help it sell faster too. Talk about a win-win scenario!

Roofers: Don’t Be Afraid of Solar! The tiptoe guide to getting into solar

How would you like an easy way to make more money, bring more value to your customers, and create lasting relationships with partners who can refer more work to you? Talk about a win-win-win, right?

Stick with me here. I’m not suggesting that you suddenly add installing solar panels to your game. Unless you want to, that is. We understand there is a lot that goes into this work, not to mention the insurance requirements and vast knowledge needed for the electrical side of the work. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from this rapidly growing – and high demand – business in a variety of ways.

At JobProgress, we are always looking for ways to expand what we offer to our users, make your lives easier, and help you grow your business. We have partnered with EagleView to offer incredibly thorough and easy-to-understand reports that you can share with your roofing clients to see if adding solar to their new roof would be valuable to them. Here’s how it works:

Open JobProgress and then open the job you are quoting.
Hit +, then measurements, then EagleView.
The tool we are building is simple and easy to use, but the data generated from the Eagleview report still takes several hours, on average, to complete and deliver to JP when the order is initiated. We don’t want to set the expectation that within 5 minutes from ordering an EV measurement, we can deliver it. Once the measurement has been delivered to JP, then the time to use the tool is quick.

If the homeowner is interested in what they see and wants a quote, simply send the report and their information to your friendly local solar provider who can take it from there.

I had a great conversation recently with Peter Cleveland, VP of Solar Business with EagleView and wanted to share some of his insight with you.

The solar market is growing 10-20% a year, bolstered by our political and economic climate as well as high customer demand.
By creating an easy way for roofing and solar companies to work together, we are not only better able to meet demand, but we are creating opportunities for both companies to grow.
No matter how badly a homeowner wants solar, it won’t work if they don’t have the right sun exposure. Our system accurately and precisely shows the solar potential of a roof (down to six inches), we do not currently include the ROI in the tool. This is powerful information for the homeowner to have so they are not sold a bill of goods by an unscrupulous solar company. And they will remember that you were the hero that shared this information with them, creating lasting loyalty.
In addition to reduced electricity costs, there is a 26% federal tax credit for solar right now, and depending on where you live, quite a few states have rebate programs too.
75% of roofs in the US are made with asphalt shingles and their average life is 15-20 years; the average life expectancy of a solar system is 25-30 years. In many cases, it makes sense to look at the two at the same time to make the smartest financial decision that will cause the least amount of disruption and generate the highest return on what the homeowner spends.

Are you sold on this idea yet? Here’s what we recommend you do to turn this free tool into a profitable opportunity.

Find solar installers in your area and set up meetings. Get to know them and create a relationship with those that you trust. Then simply set an agreed upon fee for referring interested parties to each other. You can help identify potential solar customers, and they will recognize when a homeowner interested in solar needs a new roof. This can be a great way to dip your toe into a rapidly growing market.
Want to go a bit deeper? Get to know your partner companies’ pricing model and sell the work for them along with your roofing services. By taking this task off their plates, you can often make a commission on their fees. Once your work is complete, they can come in and add solar panels to the brand-new roof you installed.
Are you the type of person who wants to dive in headfirst? Add solar to your current roofing services, hire people with expertise in this area, and do the installs yourself.

What do you have to lose? With increasing demand and available financial incentives, it simply makes sense to consider this expansion to what you currently do. And as the solar industry develops lower profile and higher performance panels, more and more people will want to add this money-saving feature to their homes.

With the EagleView reports just a few taps away in JobProgress, you already have the tools you need at your fingertips. Now get out there and make some friends in the solar industry!

Digital Marketing is Not a F*cking Spectator Sport

The benefits of digital marketing have been lauded for years, and a quick Google search will pull up literally thousands of articles with tips on how to do it well, ideas on how to rig the system and even stories of how companies have grown exponentially due to their efforts. Some of these are true, others are false, but there is plenty of evidence that creating a solid online presence for your business is a good overall marketing strategy.

On the flip side, I am willing to bet that you have received one, if not hundreds, of emails from random companies who promise to take this over for you and get you to the top of any search for <insert your home improvement specialty here> with no effort on your part. On this I am calling bullshit.

Let me explain why by using a comparison nearly all of us can relate to. Who hasn’t at some point in their life wanted to be more thin or fit? While there are plenty of fad diets and training programs that promise you the moon, we all know that if you don’t put in the work yourself, any results that do occur will be lackluster – and short lived – at best. While we all wish there was that magic pill that would make our fitness dreams come true, we also all know deep down that if we don’t make changes to our lifestyle, diet, and exercise patterns on a consistent basis, we won’t see lasting results. You know your body better than anyone, and if you don’t track your efforts and take responsibility yourself, don’t expect to meet your goals. Its that simple.

Yet, this is what I see ALL THE TIME when it comes to digital marketing strategy – or frankly marketing in general. Too many people are all sorts of gung-ho at the beginning (like a commitment to lose weight on January 1), but after a few weeks they lose interest (like sticking to a fitness plan after January 20). It is exciting to start something new; the hard part is doing the work, maintaining a level of enthusiasm, tracking the impact of your efforts, and following through.

Before I go too far down this rabbit hole, let me clearly state that digital marketing should be one of many variables in your overall marketing plan. It should also include myriad other things including your website, advertising, direct mail, trade shows, referrals, truck messaging, billboards, networking with local business owners and all of it should be built on a strong brand and company messaging. But unlike some of these efforts (say painting your logo on your trucks), digital marketing requires consistent review and participation from someone in your company, ideally someone who has a strong grasp of your growth goals and ideal target clients.

Unfortunately, it is frequently not well understood by your average business owner and rife with shysters who will happily take your money by promising the moon and delivering nothing. If you want to shovel your money into a fireplace with a “set it and forget it” digital marketing strategy, feel free. But if you want to take advantage of this powerful marketing opportunity, you must be in it for it to work. Make sure you answer questions like:

Who is my ideal client? (It often helps to create an ideal client profile so you and everyone on the team can literally picture who this person is.)
Where do they live? (Identify the areas where you prefer to work and consider hyper-targeted messaging to those that live there.)
What services/products do I want to sell the most? (Start by looking at which ones are most profitable, how many people you have on your team to deliver those services, which ones are least impacted by supply chain issues, etc.)
What messages will be the most compelling to this group of people? (Ideally, you can do what is called A/B testing to compare results of two different ads.)
Where are these clients most likely to see your digital advertising? (Should you spend your money on Google or social media ads? Have you optimized your website with keywords and phrases that your ideal audience is likely to use in a search? What information is out there about response rates that other construction companies have experienced?)

This is just scratching the surface, but you can quickly see that no outside firm can have a deep enough understanding of your business to answer any of these questions, let alone all of them and more. What they do know is how digital marketing works, so I am not saying that you don’t need an agency or outside person’s expertise. What I am saying is that you both bring certain knowledge and expertise to the table and that both are needed for it to work.

Once you do initiate a digital campaign, your work is just beginning. On at least a monthly basis, if not more often, you should sit down with your digital experts and review reports that answer questions like what is working, what is your cost per lead by platform, what is your return-on-investment month over month, which ads are getting more clicks that lead to business, and so much more. Over time you will see positive trends which will indicate where you will want to spend more of your money, and others that aren’t working as well where you may reduce your spend. But be involved so you know where your money is going and how effectively it is working!

I know about this as more than a user. We recently partnered with a digital marketing company and are offering this as an add on for Job Progress customers. We have nine different offerings so depending on your goals and company size, you can choose the one that is the best fit for you. We will not, however, work with any company that does not want to be involved on a strategic level and will not commit to review and discuss the results monthly. And anyone who says they will is selling you snake oil.

Follow this 7 POINT GUIDE to choose the BEST Contractor CRM for YOUR Business and make the most in 2022!

Do you wish you could burn every spreadsheet you have to deal with on a daily basis? Wish you had better insight into what your costs and margins really are on each job? Are you and your staff still using paper data sheets to track sales, contacts, orders etc? How about better insight into what your salespeople are doing and what is working best in terms of closing deals?

Admitting you have a problem is the first step, and it’s time for an online project/customer management solution. But before you dive into the deep end of the pool, take the time to look into your options so you choose the one that will be the best fit for your company today and as it grows too.

And while we are a bit biased and believe Job Progress is the bombdiggity/dope/GOAT, it may not be the best fit for every company out there. That’s why we encourage everyone who is ready to add a CRM and/or business management system to their business – or upgrade to a new one that is better than what they currently have – to take the time to follow the steps below to save a ton of time and potential frustration on the other side.

Here goes … (this is a BIG DECISION! Follow this guide to help you choose WISELY!)

Outline your company’s needs for the tool: Why are you looking into a system like this in the first place? What do you currently use for project management and what do you wish that system did that it doesn’t? Make a comprehensive list of your non-negotiable features and your nice-to-have ones as well. And don’t forget to get input from each department that will be using the software. What may be perfect for your office manager could be a royal pain for your salespeople, so don’t rely on one person or department to provide all the input.
Create a list of options to evaluate: Once you know what you need the tool to do, it’s time to put together a list of your options. It is rare that you find a tool that perfectly meets each and every one of your needs, so you will probably need to look at a few options to see which one comes the closest to what you want. Online research is a good place to start, but also ask your friends and colleagues in similar businesses what they use.
Go on a few test drives: Once you have determined the best options to consider, do a side-by-side comparison of each vendor’s features first. (I recommend really geeking out here and creating a chart where you rank each one of the features that are important to you.) How well does each one meet the needs you initially identified? Does it have all your non-negotiables and most of your nice-to-haves too? Don’t stop here; take your top app choices on a test drive. Have team members from different areas of your company give each one a spin to see what they think. How well will each software meet the needs of everyone that will be depending on this system daily? Is it easy to use? Can you quickly access the information you need? Once you are done, update your chart with hands-on comments about functionality, user interface and ease of collaboration.
Evaluate the reputation of the software company: Outside of how well the tool will meet your needs, it is important to look at the reputation of the vendor too. Look at user reviews to see what others have to say about the company’s responsiveness, quality, and knowledge of the construction industry. Spend a bit of time on review sites and in online forums to see if there are common complaints that will frustrate you as well. Or even better, talk to a user in a company similar to yours to learn what they like and dislike about the software. And don’t stop there! Ask the following questions too:
- If the system will be cloud hosted, what security protocols, back-up/recovery systems and uptime guarantee does the vendor have in place?
- How long has the company been in business and how well are they performing? You don’t want to make a commitment to a vendor who is not going to be around for much longer.
- How are they in terms of making regular updates, fixing bugs, and adding features?
- How will they work with you if you decide to change systems in a few years? Are there extra fees for gaining access to your information or additional time needed for format conversation to make a switch?
Look at the costs for each option you are considering: I intentionally put this toward the end since you want to find the best solution for your company, and cost is only one of the factors to consider. Once you get here, though, make sure you are comparing apples to apples when looking at pricing. Is the solution priced by user? Are there initial set-up fees? Are there additional fees that you need to budget for? If the one you want is priced too high, is there an option to negotiate a lower price for an introductory period? Is the additional cost worth the functionality and ROI you will get? Cost should certainly be a consideration, but it is one of many to consider in a decision like this. Don’t cheap out and regret it in a few months.
Define the steps involved in implementation: Before you plunk down any money, make sure you have determined what is involved in making the software work, and by work, I mean WORK FOR YOU. Who will need to be on the implementation team and in what roles? How long will it take? Will there be downtime to manage? Trust us, you want to do this right the first time so you get the most value possible from your time and money investment. Don’t get caught in a “garbage in/garbage out” situation; take the time to do it right! And don’t forget to include communication and training as part of implementation too.
Customer Service: You may find the perfect product, but if they have poor customer service, it may not be the best solution for you. Will you have a person in charge of your account that you can email or call directly with issues? Do they provide training during set-up and as you add new people? What is their reputation in terms of responsiveness and accessibility? Do some research online and ask other users about their experience since you want to know you are in good hands once you make a commitment.

I realize this sounds like a lot of time and effort, but the revenue growth, saved time, insight into your costs and margins, and even fewer headaches will pay off in spades! Hell, you may even be able to take that vacation you’ve been putting off for the last few years.

To get you started, we created an evaluation chart for you below with our opinion on each of these competitors. For our chart we consider 1 to be lowest rank ie highest cost, lowest ability to scale etc. Yes, we think Job Progress is outstanding, but we also realize we may not be the perfect fit for every Contractor company out there. And if you want to talk to us about what we offer, reach out, request a JobProgress free demo and see what you think.

	Job Nimbus	Contractors’ Cloud	Acculynx	MarketSharp	JobProgress
Cost to Use	5	6	3	6	7
Scalability	7	5	2	5	9
Ease of Use	7	2	5	7	8
Ability to Customize	5	3	2	5	10
Customer Service	2	7	4	3	10
Responsiveness	10	10	10	10	10
Contractor Trades Specialty	8	9	4	7	10
Best Overall	44	42	31	43	64 = WINNER

JP’s Tough Takes: The “No BS” Blog for Home Services Industry

Who the Hell Is Going to Do All This Work?

We’ve all heard the term, “The Great Resignation,” enough times now that we are getting downright sick of it. As much as we’d like to ignore it, the fact that many construction companies have more work (or potential work) than they can find people to do it proves you can’t bury your head in the sand or drown your sorrows at the local pub at this point.

What is Causing It?

It is easy to simply say that people just don’t want to work. And sure, there are some out there that don’t. But far more have other reasons too. Here are just a few of the reasons why finding and keeping good home remodeling employees is hard.

An Aging Profession: According to a 2019 survey by the National Association of Home Builders, the average age of construction workers is 41. While that isn’t all that old, if you consider that half of construction workers are older than 41, you can quickly see that the profession as a whole is simply not attracting younger workers.
New Insight from Pandemic: The emotional and physical roller coaster that we all endured (are enduring?) from early 2020 until now cannot be underestimated. From early on, we just weren’t sure what this would mean long-term, and quite a few people took stock of what is important in their lives during this time. This led many people to decide that working for a company that requires long hours, low pay and little reward simply isn’t worth taking the time away from their families.
Career Options Expand: With the additional unemployment benefits released during the pandemic, and the “taking stock of their lives” listed above, quite a few Gen Z folks were able to return to school to pursue a career that gave them the flexibility they were craving. And with construction ranking near the bottom of the list in careers Gen Z high school and college students want to pursue, the pickings of new employees went from slim to even scrawny.
Industry Perception: Whether we like it or not, the construction industry has a bit of a branding problem. Your average Gen Z-er has no idea that they can make a nice living doing this type of work and enjoy a sense of satisfaction at building something real with their hands. Media hasn’t helped by often portraying construction workers as the guys catcalling women that walk by.

What Can Be Done?

So, before you throw up your hands and quote Roy Kent, there are things we can do immediately and over the long term to help solve the issues too. Buckle up!

Remote Work: Yes, I realize only a portion of your staff can take advantage of this, but for those that can this is a game-changer. If your office staff, salespeople and other desk jockeys want to work from home, let them! Accountability always falls on individual and if the job gets done, that is all that matters. Slackers are gonna slack regardless of location just like hard workers are gonna perform in the office and at home.
Educate the Next Generation: If younger workers are going to learn about construction as a career path, company owners and managers need to get involved in local schools. This can involve things like attending career fairs, speaking to kids of all ages about the great things they can do in the industry, attending events at local community colleges and even participating on school boards. Invite classrooms to go on a field trip to one of your job sites and show kids how different tools work at a young age to make an impression on them as they start thinking about what they want to be when they grow up.
Create an Inclusive Environment: According to Pew Research Center, and the recently released census data, the next wave of workers is more racially and ethnically diverse. This may mean that your team will look quite a bit different than it has historically. It may also mean that you must consider doing some diversity training and call people out when they make inappropriate jokes too. Be open to workers from all walks of life, including women, and do all you can to make everyone feel welcome and appreciated for the work they do.
Flexible Work Hours: Many companies have started offering the option to workpart-time or on certain days of the week to accommodate employees’ other commitments. Frankly, having a great worker part-time beats having an average one full time in my book. It can lead to scheduling challenges, but if it means you can do the work and meet customer needs, it is well worth that extra time and effort.
Address Issues Immediately: If something goes wrong, or co-workers have a dispute, do not put off dealing with it. People want to know where they stand with their management, so nipping issues in the bud allows you to avoid a lot of much larger issues down the road.
Enjoy Your Work: No one will dispute that you and everyone at your company are there to do a job – or a lot of jobs. But there is no reason that you can’t do what you can to create a culture that encourages camaraderie and fun too. Take the team out for drinks or have a company dinner here and there. Give on-the-spot bonuses for a job well done. Reward those that go the extra mile. Define a clear path for advancement. This will help you create a company where people want to work rather than one where people have to work.

I know, I know, some of this is easier said than done. But there is no reason you can’t tackle some of these improvements and initiatives, especially if you want to differentiate your company from the others out there looking to hire good people. While today’s workers have a lot of demands, they are also the first ones to sing your praises far and wide and tell their friends about what a great place your company is to work. You scratch their back, and they will scratch yours, for sure.

What have you done that has worked in terms of keeping and attracting new workers?

Handyman.Guide – JobProgress Review

The JobProgress business management app is straightforward to manage, and it includes many different options for a better user experience. It is the safest and most secure cloud-based business platform for contractors. It widely accessible on Android, iPhone/iPad, and the web, so you should have no problems installing the app and getting started.

The platform equips roofers with a user-friendly tool that produces incomparable results by giving you the power to control, organize, and manage your business for any situation you may encounter. It is referred to as simple yet powerful at promoting teamwork and efficiency while reducing busywork, and it’s hard to disagree with such a sentiment.

If you ever feel like to do not understand something, there are various training options such as in person, webinars, live online sessions, and documentation. You need only select your method of learning and prepare to be educated. The training sessions are very informative, and the interaction with a real person is welcome and well-done.

The app has been featured in Top 20 HVAC Software (2020) and Top 20 Field Service Management Software (2020) listings, which gives you an idea of the kind of success it has achieved. It is best known for residential/commercial services that contractors and tradespeople use.

Features of JobProgress

Roofing

This feature covers aerial measurement, billing and invoicing, CRM, checklists, inspections, dispatch management, photo capture, quotes/estimates, scheduling, and work order management. This is to ensure you never have to worry about making calculations yourself and potentially making errors. The system uses primary inputs to generate a lot of the information you need to get through transactions. Additionally, it keeps an excellent record, which can be very beneficial in the future.

Construction CRM

The activated features here are client tracking, contract management, project management, quotes/proposals, sales pipeline management, and scheduling. All your administrative duties fall here and are made easy where customers are concerned.

Managing customer relationships is a crucial ingredient in any successful venture. You don’t have the time or capacity to track down bits of information related to the same customer. The construction CRM feature keeps everything in a single location, which gives you the freedom to focus on the other functional areas of your business.

Construction Estimating

This includes the accounting integration, customizable templates, electrical estimating, HVAC estimating, Historical database, plumbing estimating, project management, reporting /analytics, subcontractor management, takeoff, and what-it analysis. Conducting feasibility studies is a big part of determining how viable a project is. The analytical tools here make that a breeze.

Construction Management

These features entail contract management, mobile access, estimating, contractors, subcontractor management, budget tracking/job costing, and order changes. Being able to manage all this at a high level enables a smoother process flow in the field.

Contractor Management

The components here include budgeting, compliance management, job management, safety management, qualification tracking, and time tracking. You have a comprehensive view of each contractor, which allows you to manage load efficiency and some of the employee’s human aspects.

Remodeling Estimating

Bid management, customer management, and quote management are the options under remodeling estimating, and this is where all the proposals and monitored, quotes are generated, and customer details and maintained. The best part is that you can always return to your estimate to make comparisons and informed decisions.

Benefits of JobProgress

The features of JobProgress are beneficial as they are so comprehensive and well-designed. However, the information below consists of several benefits that come about because of the feature set and design of the application.

Seamless Teamwork

JobProgress ensures more successful outcomes and helps your team consistently deliver greater customer satisfaction by ensuring that information is always available.

Easy to use Mobile App

It offers mobility as it allows contractors to have smart devices to help them perform many functions needed to operate the business smoothly in the field. No more having to wait until they return to the office to make simple entries.

The Potential to Earn More

The complexity and effort it usually takes to operate a home improvement business have now been reduced. Additionally, you can focus more on functional areas and new opportunities, which improves your earning potential.

Amazed Customers

This is always the goal. The app increases the satisfaction metric, as customers can witness the approach and execution of jobs. Many of the gaps are reduced, and the workflow improves.

JobProgress is easy to use, yields a good value for money, has a reliable customer support team to address problems, and it’s all wrapped up in great functionality. It has been compared to other popular software such as Buildertrend, STACK, Marketing 360, QuickBooks Online Advanced, and Jobber, and it does well in every comparison.

Process/Feature Quotations

With the customizable templates available that include branding, JobProgress allows you to draft up quick quotations with discounts, required deposits, and terms and conditions, which allow for quick sending to clients. The ability to just sign, view, edit and accept a proposal with a click of a button is highly convenient.

Schedule work

The JobProgress software system makes it easy to choose a job and assign it to the team members.

Track Progress

The option of capturing picture or video documentation showing each project’s progress is available and allows for a systematic tracking process.

Review Your Employees

The tracking system makes it possible to measure your employees’ performance by assessing their work and progress throughout the day, week, and month. The reports are easily accessible, and you can even see how salesperson on the team are performing. This helps in planning, setting new targets, and addressing areas in which a sale boost is needed.

Work Smart

The app provides you with all the tools needed to run a successful contracting business at your fingertips while increasing your scope, productivity, and income. There are smart solutions for over 60+ trade types, such as painting, plumbing, electrical contracting, and roofers.

Pricing Overview

The price for JobProgress starts at $25 monthly per user. A free demo is also included, and it provides a detailed breakdown of all the features, such as professional proposals and contracts.

Article was written by https://handyman.guide/

5 Benefits of Joining the Concrete Industry

The industry for cement and concrete has many opportunities for work for people who are new to the field. Major construction projects and renovations almost always need concrete to go smoothly and on-schedule. That’s why there’s no shortage of work needed from contractors and laborers with industry skills in concrete.

There’s a high demand for more innovation in concrete projects as things like sustainability become more important. And the industry’s ability to weather economic downfalls will help it deliver those innovations. These exciting construction projects using concrete can benefit people on a wide scale as the industry advances.

The benefits to enter the concrete industry, as well as the benefits it offers people globally, are many. THat’s we’ve laid out 5 great benefits that you can enjoy when joining the concrete industry. Whether you’ve been studying the field for a while or are completely new, this article will give you the information you need to start your career in concrete.

Concrete Builds A Sustainable Future

The concrete and cement industry plays a vital role in creating a sustainable future for people living in urban areas. Carbon dioxide is the main culprit brought up in environmental debates, especially when they’re focused on construction. Concrete can make it so there is less of an environmental impact by increasing energy efficiency.

Getting into the concrete industry allows the opportunity to build low-energy, sustainable projects. Evidence suggests that concrete scores well in how its ecological footprint compares to alternative methods for construction. There’s a large incentive for people new to the industry to learn more about innovative designs that can contribute to large-scale, sustainable urban developments.

Markets for Concrete Aren’t Set in Stone

The markets for concrete services are always expanding and changing. There’s so much different labor that requires concrete, that the volume of concrete services demand is always on the rise. That’s why it’s so important that you pick a market of clients that fits your company and services.

Once you’ve figured out which demographic suits your business’ needs, decide on which materials and tools you’ll need to provide your services. This can be a great way what kinds of masonry work are available for companies like yours. Your greatest path to success starts with laying a foundation for your services.

As a new entry to the concrete industry, you can have a lot of freedom by exploring the different markets for concrete services. These markets will continue to shift with innovations in construction designs that use concrete services, so you can reap many benefits from flexibility in the services you can learn to provide.

Specialization is Rewarded

If your concrete business already has a specialization set in stone, then your chances of thriving are much higher. But even if you are new to the field and have no idea where to start, you can enjoy the fact that specialization in concrete services is the pathway forward success. The concrete industry places a lot of emphasis on specialized services since the general demand for concrete is much lower in value.

It’s not too late to pick up a specialization before you plan on getting into the concrete industry. Filling gutters and pumping concrete are just a few of the specialized areas you can fill with your services. Once your specialization is known to your clients, you’ll have a much easier time getting repeat business and standing out from the competition.

Repeat business is another key part of getting into and succeeding in the concrete business. Specialization is one of the best ways to reach that level. But aside from that, focusing on diversifying your client portfolio and being able to fill many gaps is one of the most rewarding parts of entering the industry.

Business People Get to Shine

You’re already in a great position to succeed in the concrete industry if you’re a natural salesman or own your own business. You need to continually diversify your client base as a concrete services provider, so you need to understand your client’s pain points and where they want to go with their projects. The best way to do that is by getting to know them and introducing all the services you have to offer.

Marketing in the concrete industry is made much simpler once you have a specialization and can start finding some partnerships that value your skills. Your flow of customers will naturally come without marketing if you make your services known to partner contractors and interested clients and subcontractors. Since there’s never a shortage of concrete services to perform, you can expect to have a steady line of available partners and subcontractors to stimulate your business’ growth and increase your industry authority as you continue on your career.

Partnerships and a healthy network of business connections are some of the biggest rewards that natural salespeople can reap in the concrete industry. Marketing-savvy business owners and roll-up-your-sleeves entrepreneurs can expect massive benefits in the industry if they properly sell their services to prospective clients.

Certifications Can Help You Succeed

The concrete industry has a wide range of professional certifications for people interested in entering the workforce. There is a lot of encouragement from different accrediting institutions to obtain a certification as a new entry to the concrete industry. These certifications will establish you as a professional ready to succeed on projects.

Picking a certification can give significant credibility to your industry specialization. That’s why you need to choose a program that suits your long-term personal and business goals. Certifications for tracks like craftsmanship, project supervisors, and specialized filling are just some of the paths you can take to jumpstart your career in the concrete industry.

Choosing a certification to fill in the concrete industry is also a great gateway to working on specialized projects. Different certifications can sometimes be prerequisites to winning work on a project. You will be able to enjoy a much higher rate of continued success and lucrative work after you complete the certification for the track of your choice.

9 Things a Customer looks for in a Home Improvement Contractor

Working as a home improvement contractor can sometimes make us wonder – how the customers see us, and what matters the most to them? Being in the home improvement industry, the most important thing that home contractors should consider would be finishing the renovation job that they promised their customers and making it satisfying at least. Many home improvement contractors are also trying to impress their customers by going on the extra mile.

However, the customers are not only looking with the finished product, because there are some factors that they also consider when it comes to working with a home improvement contractor. Fair price, professional demeanor, and the quality of work are among the top factors that customers are looking for when they consider a home improvement contractor.

As a home improvement contractor, it is important that we should be aware of some of the traits that our customers are looking for whenever they are working with us. It is crucial to our business, and displaying these positive contractor traits would help us attract more potential customers. The way we present ourselves can also become beneficial, especially if our customers have a wide range of contacts that they can refer back to our business.

Home improvement contractors should always remember that they need to work on the following traits to make them more successful in the industry: timeliness, the quality of their work, responsiveness, expertise and experience, honesty, friendliness towards the client, cost of services, proximity, and online reviews.

Timeliness

Home improvement contractors would always get a new lead, and to encourage the customer to work with them, they should prove that they are reliable and immediately establish contact. Contacting the customer as soon as possible would also give a home improvement contractor an edge, increasing their chances of being chosen for the project.

Experienced companies stated that a home improvement contractor should consider timeliness as an important factor to success because, without this positive trait, many customers would have a hard time looking for the best contractor that can create the projects that they wanted to see.

Home improvement contractors should also consider showing up whenever the customer wanted to speak with them in person, and they should adhere to the schedule specified by the customer to give them an impression about the company’s professionalism.

Quality of Work

Another positive trait that home improvement contractors should work on would be the quality of their work. Nobody would want to see a failed representation of the idea that they have in mind, and as a home improvement contractor, we should respect what our customers wanted. We also need to deliver the quality that they are looking for and try to use the top materials for the project.

Some home improvement contractors consider their quality of work as an issue when it comes to the decreasing number of their customers. Whenever a customer disliked the job done on their property, there is a huge chance that they would refuse to work with a home improvement contractor again. Home improvement contractors should start observing how their projects look and think about the reaction of their customers once they see the finished project.

Responsiveness

Another important trait that home improvement contractors should have is responsiveness. It simply means that whenever a customer inquires about the products and services offered by the firm, the home improvement contractor should answer their questions through different means. It could be through their email address or contact number.

A quick response to a customer inquiry is important to project the firm as an establishment that is responsive and welcoming to all questions. It can also result in more customers especially if the company was referred to other people.

Expertise and Experience

Professional home improvement contractors gained a lot of knowledge through experiences. They can develop their expertise, and they can also share their skills with others. As a home improvement contractor, we should learn how to share our expertise and experiences with our customers, especially when they started to think curiously about their homes.

We can also provide the customers with advice on how they can fix a simple problem happening inside their homes. Connecting with the customers on a personal level would improve your chances of securing new clients for your projects.

A home improvement contractor that has years of experiences is also more preferred compared to the newcomers. Those who are working in the industry should start looking for a client that they can work with to improve their experience in renovation and construction work. The majority of customers are looking at the number of years that a home improvement contractor operates. Firms that have been in the industry for decades are more preferred by the customers, because of the notion that older firms are more experienced, and will deliver more satisfying results.

Honesty

Be honest about the project, and tell the customers everything that they need to know about the project. As a home improvement contractor, we also need to list down all of the expenses for the project and break it down up to the tiniest material needed for the renovation. It would be easier to work with trustworthy people, and customers would like to work continuously with people who have shown honesty throughout their careers.

Friendliness

Make your customers feel comfortable with you, and respect them with their decisions. As a home improvement contractor, you should develop an effective connection with your clients. The customers wanted to feel safe whenever they are working with home improvement contractors, and it would be your responsibility to show them that you care about their decisions and their requests.

Who would want to work with a company that has a bad attitude? One of the most important things that customers consider when it comes to choosing their home improvement contractors is if they are friendly enough to work with. Customers do not want to work with companies that are showing them a negative attitude from the beginning. Home improvement contractors like us should avoid raising our voices when speaking with a customer. Being sarcastic is also a red flag, and try to avoid doing it at all times.

Customers are looking for home improvement contractors with a positive work ethic. Home improvement contractors should start becoming friendlier towards their customers and build trust to create a lasting business relationship.

Cost

Customers are also looking at the cost of the renovation, and they are more likely to work with home improvement contractors that have an affordable price tag. Home improvement contractors should be reasonable when charging their customers, and avoid putting a high price for the services because it might result in an increase in the number of customers working with their firm. To reduce your cost and increase your productivity, you can use JobProgress, a software built for contractors.

Proximity

The proximity of a home improvement contractor to the property that they will be working on is also important. Home improvement contractors would hesitate to work with a property that is located far away because it would not be cost-effective to visit the property and perform the renovation.

Online Reviews

Home improvement contractors should also find a solution on how they can improve their reviews online. The majority of the reviews posted online are made by people who have dealt with home improvement contractors in the past.

If we wanted to get a good recommendation from our customers, we need to do our best and show them that we deserve to be promoted to other interested individuals who would like to work with home improvement contractors.

Conclusion

As a home improvement contractor, you need to make sure that the customer sees your positive traits. Any prospective customer who had a good time working with professional home improvement contractors are more likely to get their services again in future projects.

Author Bio – James Thomas is a woodworking expert sharing his reviews of the tools he uses at Thetoolsquare.com

Check out his latest piece here

Success Story: “JobProgress Helped Us Grow From a Little Guy to One of the Big Players in this Industry.”

We got a testimonial from Carnie Fryfogle of C3 American Exteriors in Hanover PA.

I’m proud to be able to work with Carnie. He’s worked hard to build his business. He’s got 5 Star Reviews on Google and Facebook, a professional Facebook Page, and a first-class operation.

He’s put the effort in to build a solid company. I’m happy we’ve been able to play a small role in his success.

Here’s a highlight of some of the things he had to say about JobProgress:

JobProgress has been a huge help for the growth that we’ve had over the last year and a half. We went from a little guy to now we’re one of the big players in this industry.
JobProgress makes everything one big seamless process. We document everything in their system. They’re our lifeline. Everything is in there so everyone can do their job properly.
With JobProgress, I can get everything signed on our Ipad or Iphone with Esign Contracts.
We use JobProgress as a selling tool. It makes us stand out from our competitors.
JobProgress integrates with all the software we use, such as Eagleview and Hover.
They make it easy to send contracts to customers to sign later. Sometimes I’ll check my phone at night and get a notification that a customer just signed a contract.
I could not point to one product or one service that has made our life so much easier as a company than JobProgress.

Here’s a full transcript of the Testimonial Video:

Carnie Fryfogle, C3 American Exteriors. Just want to give a big shout out to our guys over at JobProgress.

They’ve been a huge reason and a huge help for the growth that we’ve had over the last year and a half. We went from a little guy to now we’re one of the big players in this industry.

They help us with everything. I mean they’re our CRM they’re our go to. They’re our lifeline. We put everything in there. The more documentation we have the better off we are.

The conversations that we have with customers we document everything in there. If someone has a satellite dish that needs to be detached and reset or thrown away; we have all that information.

The more information that we store on this platform the better off we are. Our people in-house, our accounting. We do a lot of insurance work so the people that rewrite our estimates to deal with our supplements.

Everything is in there, so everyone can do their job properly. All our contracts they’re all Esigned. So we come in with our Ipads very professional. Everything gets signed on on an Ipad or on an iPhone.

And if it doesn’t turn into a transaction… there’s often times where there’s not a transaction… we email the contract or the scope of work over to the customer and we’ll be hanging out with the kids… doing whatever we do later on in the evening and boom… we’ll look on our phone and we just got a signed contract from a customer. It’s that easy.

It integrates with all the software that we use. All the satellite imagery with Eagle view. Now we’re linked up with Hover. It just makes for one big seamless process and it makes us stand out from the rest.

We use it as a selling tool. And in my opinion, it’s been probably the biggest tool that our company has had as far as software and everything else goes.

I could not point to one product or one service that has made our life so much easier as a company.

And, they’re willing to adapt with us. The best thing about them compared to their competitors – because we have their competitors reach out to us all the time. The thing that we’ve noticed that we really like is they treat us like family.

There are guys over there that I haven’t even met and the day to day conversations that I have with some of the reps. They’re super helpful. Our specific rep, he’s my right-hand man. I talk to him just like I would talk to a brother.

So the attention that they give us is perfect. They are a younger company. But in my opinion, I like that… because instead of these older companies just try to prove how long they’ve been around and how great their system is… they’re willing to work with us.

They’re willing to adapt to us if there’s something that we feel could be tweaked a little bit something that on our end it’s a little bit more efficient or like we’re the ones that are dealing with it. We’re the ones that are doing the day to day in and out.

We see the way the projects go and we’re trying to make the technology work for us. If we find something that works a little bit better… and we bring it to their attention… and they feel that it’s something that everyone could benefit from or it could tune their system up and make it a little bit better… they start working on it right away.

So for me to work with a company that yeah they may not have been in the industry as long as some of these other some of their other competitors. But their willingness to work and adapt and make the system perfect for me or my trade or other people among our industry.

That’s the type of people that I want on my team. So like I said shout out to JobProgress and all the guys over there make us feel like family. Happy to be a part of it.

And if you have any questions in your head or any doubts as to whether or not this is the CRM for you… I can promise you, you will not be disappointed.

Would you like more information on JobProgress?

Then go here to schedule a Live Demo. I’ll walk you thru the software and show you exactly how it works.

Increase Profitable Sales With Contractor CRM Platforms

With smartphones, tablets and internet, home improvement contractors have the ability to track all their business activity and service calls more efficiently, but do they have the right platform to do it? Our JobProgress Contractor Platform places all of the data at your fingertips, so you can have more profitable sales with less effort. Deliver a higher level of service with the JobProgress Platform.

What Did You Fix Last Visit? Yesterday? Five Minutes Ago?…

Home improvement, roofing, HVAC and plumbing contractors need to stay up-to-date with the latest customer service technology and expectations of their customer base. The World Wide Web has increased customer and homeowner expectations. Customers expect you to instantly remember the last job you completed, what needs fixing now and what needs to be fixed in the future. You and your team also need to remember subcontractor, worker and customer data. It can quickly be overwhelming to remind what you did a just a few minutes ago!

While you cannot possibly remember all of that information, our JobProgress Contractor Platform can. Our cloud-based CRM platform allows you to add easily notes to service reports, track multiple jobs per customer, automate work estimates and compile financial reports on your mobile device. Reduce mistakes with more accurate information and by automating unnecessary data-entry and administrative tasks. Your workers and sales staff will be better organized, responding with superior information.

How Long Has it Been Since the Last Repair? How Can You Improve the Customer Relationship?

Your customer only needs to remember one contractor: YOU. “When did your worker complete the last repair?” Our platform allows you to communicate better to optimize contractor business management. Reduce mistakes, respond faster and increase business productivity. Our CRM is like an assistant
“whispering answers in your ears” or simply sending automating emails and tasks for you. You can shorten your sales process, view a history of past customer purchases and build a lasting relationship with the Homeowner using the JobProgress CRM Platform.

Control the Controllables and Let JobProgress Empower Your Company.

The inefficient contractor will ask the same questions time-and-time again. With our contractor business platform, you don’t need to waste any time. Your workers can skip the irrelevant questions, when they have all of the customer notes at their fingertips. Your sales staff also can use our JobProgress CRM to avoid unnecessary redundancy and work more efficiently. Sales staff can “cut to the chase” for more profitable sales with JobProgress Contractor Customer Relationship Management platform. Gain better control over your jobs, customer data and sales with our all-in-one
cloud-based JobProgress Customer Relationship Management software. Our easy-to-use app enables you to get data while on location. It is easy to get
started now, just schedule a demo and take a test drive. Enjoy higher profits with the CRM platform made for contractors by contractors.