Building A Better Business

Building your business is always possible, if you can stand out from the competition with something that other builders can not offer.

This does not mean cutting prices, which everyone can do. With margins already squeezed, this is only possible by cutting corners – and cowboys will still undercut you. The best way to grow is to work from within and create a better business. The Federation of Master Builders has more than 70 years’ experience of helping members to build their businesses. It starts with letting consumers know that builders have to pass independent inspection, in order to join, and then follow the FMB Code of Practice. If you are not a member yet, you may not realise that the FMB also offers a wealth of member services specifically aimed at helping you to become a better builder. Becoming a better builder begins with looking more professional and making a good impression. Some leads come to members through the FMB ‘Find A Builder’ service, but the FMB can also help members to attract more enquiries. Assistance encompasses all sorts of marketing, from special rates for Thomson print and online directories to help with outdoor and other advertising. Help also covers responding to leads professionally, with access to discounts on everything from letterheads and business cards to invoice books. Leads have to be converted, so build your business by making it easy for customers to say “Yes.” Offer something that will encourage them to award you the work: a guarantee. An FMB member can offer a Build Assure warranty on virtually any project. If you are asking a fair price, for quality work, a full warranty should seal the deal. Building a better business and getting an edge over the competition does not stop with looking more professional. Training has a fundamental role to play, with FMB courses available to boost performance throughout the company, from specific building skills to health and safety. Areas covered include management training to NVQ Level 5 and beyond. FMB members particularly appreciate the courses related to business topics: “A real eye opener, giving insight to areas requiring improvement,” says a member in Leeds, while another in London says that, “The training has given me more confidence in my ability as a manager.” Real business-building help comes in the form of full-day “Build & Grow” workshops: Business Analysis & Planning; Estimating & Cost Control; Business Finance, Planning & Control. The series of workshops is available to FMB members at an astonishingly low cost of just £98 for all three days. So, the FMB can help you to bring in the job enquiries, impress the customers and win the work. What else is there? Having won the pitch, the FMB can help you to decide whether you really want to do the work – because, every now and then, it can be better to turn a job away. When an FMB member has any doubts about a customer’s ability to pay, they can have a free credit check and public record search. In fact, they can have up to 50 free checks every year. If a creditworthy customer then proves reluctant to pay for their work, the FMB member can then call upon debt recovery services. It is much easier to focus on building your business if you do not have to spend time chasing payment. In fact, the whole point of the FMB is that it exists to help the professional builder in every area of their business. FMB helplines mean that, whatever the question, on any aspect of building or health and safety, an expert answer is never far away. A 24/7 business helpline means you an even get advice on employment law or contracts at time of day to suit you. If you are still not sure how the Federation of Master Builders could help you to build your business, then call and ask them.

For further information, visit www.fmb.org.uk/apply or call 0800 0965 765.