Before you begin working on your deck-building plans, you’ll want to choose your company’s legal structure. A sole proprietorship is not advisable if you intend to scale your business. You’ll want to create a limited liability company or a corporation, which both have advantages in terms of liability protection and stock options for employees. A lawyer can also provide the necessary paperwork to open a business bank account. Knowing your target market is essential to your success. You may specialize in decks for high-end multi-level homes or simpler ones for middle-class families. You may want to research the local competition and see their offerings.
After establishing your business name and deciding on a location, you’ll need to determine what business structure to use. You’ll want to operate out of a warehouse or other similar building. However, you must consider that you’ll need a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) to work in your area legally. Obtaining a CO is typically the landlord’s responsibility. However, you should check with your landlord to ensure they’ve brought this document before signing a lease agreement. Many state governments also have licensing requirements, so check out your state’s requirements.
Another essential step in establishing your company name is ensuring you have an excellent local reputation and are active on reviews like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Customers will want to know who built their decks and will be happy to refer a trusted deck builder to their friends and family. You can use email marketing to stay in touch with your customers and remind them of your services.
Besides a good reputation in the community, a high-quality deck will increase your business’s profitability. Ensure that you use high-quality, efficient systems to complete your projects. You may also want to consider investing in some of these high-tech tools and software. This way, you’ll be able to build decks more efficiently and increase profits. Once you’ve established yourself as a deck builder, you’ll be able to hire more employees and expand your customer base.
Make sure you have a good understanding of the zoning regulations in your area. A site plan is a scaled outline of your property, viewed from an overhead perspective. You’ll need it to get a deck building permit and comply with zoning regulations. You can obtain a copy of the site plan from the realtor who sold you the house, or you can order one yourself. Lastly, ensure you’re aware of your responsibility for each process step.
Another critical aspect of building decks is knowledge of your target market. Make sure to learn about the demographics of your potential customers. Do you know which channels they prefer to listen to on the radio? What about social media? What are their hobbies and interests? Keeping track of these details will allow you to tailor your deck projects and increase profits. And when you have completed deck projects, you can charge your customers more than an individual homeowner.