If you have extensive contracting experience and skills, starting a contracting business can be a great step in your career. You can become your own boss, scale your company to generate revenue, and become one of the top providers in Columbus. To help you get started, here's a comprehensive guide on the steps to creating a successful contracting business. 

Develop a Business Plan

The first step to starting your contracting business in Columbus is to devise a business plan. A business plan is an exhaustive overview of your business. It contains the list of services you plan to offer, extensive market research, budget and financial projections, target market, and competitive analysis. 

As part of the business plan, establish your company's type of business structure, such as a sole proprietorship, S corporation, or limited liability company. Make sure you do the research to ensure you choose the most appropriate structure. For example, owners of S corporations can claim losses as tax deductions and enjoy self-employment tax savings. Doing the filing paperwork yourself or working with a formation service can help you avoid expensive lawyer fees. 

Register Your Business

The next step is to register your business. This can involve a lot of paperwork and research. First, come up with a business name and make sure it’s available in Columbus by searching the business entity listings at the Secretary of State's office. You'll also want to check with your state to see if you need to obtain licenses to start your contracting business. 

Hire Qualified Staff

In most cases, you'll probably need a team to help you with some jobs. Do thorough research on the candidates you hire by checking their credentials. It’s important to have employees who are reliable and qualified. Hiring qualified staff ensures you focus on the important tasks and avoid wasting time trying to juggle all aspects of your business. 

Purchase Software & Equipment

As you start your contracting business, you may want to invest in a few working tools, including office equipment, building equipment, and a truck or van to help transport equipment and materials to the job sites. 

In addition, consider purchasing different types of software to help you run the business. You may need design software, accounting software, and estimating software. For instance, roof estimating software can help you account for custom pricing and taxes, calculate materials or labor for complex dimensions, and email roofing estimates with your business logo to impress potential customers. 

Market Your Business

To scale your business to higher levels, you need to market it. One of the most effective ways to market your business is to promote it online by creating a website that lists your portfolio, fees, and services. You can create compelling product photos when you use a free image background remover to erase the background from your product photos. This allows customers to focus on the product and its details.   

Start Your Contracting Business With Confidence

The construction industry is expected to keep growing, so a contracting business in Columbus has a good chance for success. Start this business confidently and increase your sales by following the above tips. For help and guidance with digital marketing, visit Uplift Media today.

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