The busy season is here, and contractors should be thinking of ways to maximize their time and money to drive the most business this time of year. From the planning phase of a project to onsite upselling, there are a variety of ways contractors can prep for this time of year to ensure they have a profitable busy season.

Training and Resources

A great way to maximize profits is to make sure that on-site time is spent working on the project instead of correcting mistakes made or taking extra time making calculations that could be done faster. Investing in training is key to assuring that the project stays on schedule. It might take additional time and cost money up front, but in the long run it can be very cost effective through decreasing mistakes later and saving time and money.

Outside resources can also be extremely beneficial for contractors. Save time by using online resources such as concrete calculators to handle calculations. Additionally, with the surge of augmented reality technology, contractors can use mobile applications to save time in the planning phase of a project as well.

Choosing the Right Product

When it comes to choosing the correct product for a project, the client’s budget is always very important to keep in mind; the numbers are crucial to determining next steps for the project. One way to maximize profits is by using less expensive materials that will still provide customers with the look and feel they were aiming for.

For patios, driveways and walkways, natural stone is the most expensive option as it has to be quarried and transported over long distances. As an alternative, consider pavers, a very popular material that offers design flexibility and cost effectiveness.

If the customer is set on a stone look, another alternative option to save money but still provide an impressive final project is pouring concrete. Poured concrete is less expensive than stone or concrete pavers and provides an even shorter installation time.

Design-savvy customers might believe that poured concrete will be too simple and not provide their project any design elements, but that’s far from the case. Concrete can be stamped, stenciled, colored or stained after curing in order to provide design elements and texture that can create the look and feel of pavers, brick or a completely unique aesthetic.

OnSite Upselling

Not all clients will know exactly what they want, presenting a major opportunity for contractors to use their industry expertise to upsell.

For example, customers might think a simple driveway update is all they need, but with years of experience, contractors can help their clients see the benefit of adding additional aspects to the project such as replacing a concrete slab with pavers, adding stone veneer, adding in a waste receptacle pad or enclosure or other small finishing touches to set their building apart.

Clients are also unsure of maintenance needed for certain projects. Though concrete is a highly durable material, it will still require maintenance. Contractors can offer to fill cracks in sidewalks or driveways or even do a full resurface of any concrete slab clients have around the building—a quick and relatively easy way to give a space a completely new look and setting up the potential for future projects.

It’s most important to have the right set of tools, products and know-how to tackle a wide range of projects, from big jobs such as pouring an entirely new patio to smaller ones such as patching cracked front steps. This versatility and ability to match solutions to each particular customer is the best way to build and protect a healthy line of business this summer and in the years to come.

Images: Sakrete