Built for the Trades Dan Dowdy

Overview
Welcome to the channel. Today, we're diving into a crucial topic: How to navigate the off-season for trades businesses. Whether you're in plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or any other trade, we all face seasonal fluctuations. In this episode, I'll share a five-point checklist to help you make the most of slower periods and ensure your business thrives year-round. Remember, it's all about mindset—embracing the off-season as an opportunity rather than a setback. So, let's get started and turn downtime into a time for growth and preparation!

Discussions

Ensure all your marketing channels—website, phone numbers, and customer chat forms—are fully functional to avoid losing potential business due to simple technical issues.                                                                                                    
Prioritize and consistently follow up on unsold estimates, focusing on the highest value or the oldest ones first, to convert more leads into sales.                 
Regularly check in with your existing customers to show you care and to offer additional services, maintaining strong relationships and uncovering new business opportunities.                                                                                          
Use downtime to clean, organize, and maintain your shop, office, and tools, ensuring everything is in top condition for the busy season.                                 
Utilize slow periods to train and coach your team on new concepts, reinforce existing knowledge, and improve their skills, preparing them for increased efficiency when business picks up.                                                                        

Navigating the off-season with the right mindset and proactive strategies can significantly benefit your trades business. By checking your marketing, prioritizing follow-ups, engaging with customers, organizing your workspace, and training your team, you'll be well-prepared for the busy season. Remember, turning downtime into an opportunity for growth and preparation will lead to long-term success.

Overview
Welcome back to the channel! Starting a plumbing business on a shoestring budget requires strategic planning, resourcefulness, and a clear focus on essential activities to get your business off the ground. Many tradespeople start their own business to gain financial freedom and control but often find themselves overwhelmed and stressed without proper planning. Today, I will share detailed steps and strategies to help you successfully launch your plumbing business on a tight budget, ensuring you avoid common pitfalls and achieve long-term success.

Discussions

Plan Your Business: Develop a simple business plan outlining your services, target market, pricing strategy, and financial projections, while ensuring you have the necessary licenses and certifications and choose the appropriate legal structure.
Budgeting and Financing: Create a detailed budget covering startup costs and explore funding options such as personal savings, small loans, or microfinancing.
Essential Tools and Equipment: Invest in fundamental plumbing tools and reliable transportation, considering cost-effective options like purchasing quality used tools and vehicles.
Business Setup: Operate from a home office to reduce overhead costs and obtain general liability insurance to safeguard against potential damages or accidents.
Marketing and Networking: Establish a strong online presence with a simple website and social media platforms, and actively engage in networking activities to build relationships with potential clients and collaborators.
Operations and Customer Service: Utilize free or low-cost software for scheduling and invoicing while prioritizing excellent customer service to foster a positive reputation and encourage referrals.
Growth and Scaling: Encourage customer reviews and referrals, form partnerships with local businesses, and stay updated with industry advancements through continuous learning opportunities.

In summary, starting a plumbing business on a tight budget requires strategic planning, resourcefulness, and unwavering focus. By following these steps diligently, from initial planning to continuous learning, you can set the stage for success in the competitive trades market.

Overview
Welcome to the channel, where we'll explore essential tips for achieving success in your plumbing business, drawn from my experience at Built for the Trades. Despite the challenges, applying these steps—like providing exceptional service, developing core values, managing finances, investing in training, building relationships, utilizing technology, and focusing on marketing—can significantly boost your business. Stay tuned as we dive into these strategies, helping you transition from being skilled in the trade to thriving in the business.

Discussions

Establish core values that guide your business practices, prominently display them, and regularly discuss them with your team to reinforce their importance and influence.
Prioritize financial health by adopting the Profit First approach, which emphasizes budgeting and managing cash flow to ensure consistent profitability and financial stability.
Continuously update your skills and knowledge by investing in training and certifications, which not only improve your technical expertise but also enhance your professional credibility.
Foster positive relationships with suppliers, contractors, and industry professionals, as networking can lead to valuable partnerships, referrals, and resources that benefit your business.
Develop a strong brand identity and invest in marketing efforts using online platforms to showcase your expertise, share customer testimonials, and attract new clients, ensuring your business stands out in a crowded marketplace.

To achieve success in your plumbing business, establish and reinforce core values, manage cash flow effectively with the Profit First approach, and invest in ongoing training to enhance skills and credibility. Build strong industry relationships to leverage partnerships and resources, and embrace technology to streamline operations and improve efficiency. Focus on creating a strong brand identity and strategic marketing to attract and retain clients, positioning your business for long-term growth.

Overview
Today on the channel, we're addressing a critical issue for plumbing entrepreneurs: effective day management. Waking up to reactive actions like checking social media or email can lead to stress and burnout. By taking proactive steps, such as organizing tasks and revisiting priorities throughout the day, you can regain control, boost productivity, and sustain long-term success in your business.

Discussions

Starting your day with proactive tasks like checking your calendar and making a prioritized to-do list sets a positive tone and puts you in control.
Recognize that beginning the day reactively can increase stress and mental clutter, leading to burnout and unsustainable work habits over time.
Establish a morning routine that includes reviewing your schedule and setting clear priorities to ensure a focused and productive start to the day.
Continuously revisit your to-do list throughout the day, particularly at lunch and the end of the day, to stay on track and adjust priorities as needed.
Committing to proactive daily habits will lead to better business management, increased productivity, and improved personal well-being, ensuring sustainable success.

Managing your day effectively as a plumbing entrepreneur starts with replacing reactive habits with proactive actions, such as checking your calendar and prioritizing tasks. By understanding the negative impact of reactivity and implementing a structured morning routine, you can reduce stress and increase productivity. Regularly reassessing your tasks and maintaining proactive habits will lead to long-term success and improved personal well-being.

Overview
Welcome back to Built for the Trades. I'm Dan Dowdy, and today we're exploring a common question among plumbing business owners: how to determine an appropriate salary. Before we dive in, I'd like to introduce our sponsor, Project 2 Payment, an invoicing software for trades businesses. Use code BuiltForTheTrades for 3 months free. It's crucial for plumbing business owners to balance paying themselves fairly while maintaining their company's financial health.

Discussions
Let's break down the steps to help you figure out the right number for your paycheck.


Understand your personal finances inside and out. 
Understand your business finances inside and out. 35% labor
Start as low as you can afford and put the rest aside into a profit account. 
Review and adjust your salary regularly based on changes in your business and personal circumstances. As your company grows and becomes more profitable, you may be able to increase your salary accordingly.

Likewise, if your business hits a rough patch or you encounter unexpected expenses, be prepared to tighten your belt temporarily until things improve. Flexibility is key to maintaining financial stability as a business owner.

And there you have it, folks! Determining your salary as a plumbing business owner is all about finding the right balance between paying yourself fairly and ensuring the success of your company. I hope these tips help you navigate this important decision. As always, thanks for watching Built for the Trades. Until next time, stay safe and keep plumbing!

Overview
A fundamental aspect of effective leadership lies in establishing clear job expectations through a comprehensive position agreement, a document that eliminates ambiguity and fosters accountability. At Built for the Trades, we offer a sample position agreement to facilitate this crucial step. Furthermore, implementing a structured approach like the 3 strike rule for dismissals ensures fairness and transparency in managing team performance.

Discussions
Step 1: Ensure there's a signed position agreement outlining their role and responsibilities.

Step 2: If a team member isn't meeting expectations, have a private 1-on-1 discussion, referencing the position agreement. Issue a Performance Improvement Plan outlining areas for improvement. Both parties sign it, scheduling a follow-up to track progress.

Step 3: If performance issues persist, meet privately with a written warning form. Repeat step 2, but this time with a written warning. Both parties sign ittStep 4: If performance doesn't improve, issue a second and final written warning. Often, this serves as a wake-up call, prompting the individual to reconsider their position.

Step 5: If there's still no improvement, proceed with final termination.

Finally, don't forget to like and subscribe for more valuable insights.

With these steps, you can navigate dismissals with professionalism and clarity, ensuring the smooth functioning of your plumbing business.