How to Save Time and Money: 3 Basic Tips for Roofers
Running a successful roofing business is difficult. Not only do you have to contend with the physical demands of the job itself, but you also need to be an expert in code compliance, payroll, human resources, accounting, marketing and customer service. It's no wonder that so many small businesses fail within five years.
Of course, some management pitfalls are more common than others. We're going to examine three common ways contractors might drop the ball, and how to save time and money by avoiding these mistakes.
Automate
Every job is different, but many of the basic processes stay the same. Simple tasks such as creating invoices or sending notices to clients about commencing work can be tedious and bloat your overhead costs. Instead of constantly reinventing the wheel, automate basic procedures.
One of the best ways to automate your workflow is with Customer Relationship Management software (CRM). Essentially, a CRM is a tracking tool that allows you to follow jobs from initial lead to final invoicing. But the best versions let you automate tasks, freeing your crews to focus on installation and your sales team to focus on closing deals.
There's no shortage of CRM solutions — and each one has a different price point. Approach a CRM as if you were hiring a part-time worker to handle these tasks. At some point it pays for itself, though the exact balance of features and affordability will depend on the size of your company and the complexity of your jobs.
Jobnimbus is the most popular CRM among roofers in both the U.S. and Canada. It automatically syncs with online calendars and accounting systems, as well as Beacon Pro+.
Delegate
Business owners are high achieving individuals. Anyone with the courage and the vision to helm a roofing company probably has a strong belief in their ability to get the job done. But that confidence can sometimes result in taking on too many tasks.
When you're first starting out, doing it all yourself can make sense! But as your business grows, if you find yourself trying to do everything, you won't have time to do it right. Instead, delegate work.
It can be difficult to surrender control. But remember, if you can't take a week-long vacation without your business shutting down, then you aren't running your business — it's running you. Help your employees succeed by providing easy-to-use tools that streamline the process, such as online ordering with Beacon Pro+.
Notice that we're putting delegation after automation. That's no coincidence. Set up automation before delegating work, and you'll have a system that can scale to handle your growing team.
Communicate
Communication spans every aspect of roofing. Nothing will sabotage a sales pitch faster than failing to listen to a potential client's needs, and poor communication is a prime cause of inaccurate estimates and material orders. Communication on the job site is essential for safety, while the back office depends on communication to prevent everything from scheduling to invoicing from descending into chaos.
If you want to encourage internal communication, apps such as Slack allow workers to share information, ask questions and even go live for voice or video chats. Slack has a free version, and paid options start at less than seven dollars per month. Paid memberships allow unlimited message history and video/voice meetings. Open up communication with messaging solutions, and you'll encourage your team to share their know-how to save time and money.