In this article, we’ll be talking about how to start a construction supply business and give you some concrete steps you can take to get your business off the ground.
Table of Contents
What is a Construction Supply?
Construction supply are not only a necessary part of every builder’s arsenal, but a lucrative investment for any entrepreneur looking for success. Construction supply are like an insurance policy: they’re not strictly necessary, but they can make the difference between winning and losing.
The supply business is also a great opportunity for those looking to create jobs in their communities; construction supply are used to make buildings, which create jobs. As more and more businesses move from brick-and-mortar retail to online sales, the supply industry becomes even more important in helping homeowners and builders source the items they need.
Startup Costs
Like all small businesses, startup costs will be a factor in determining whether or not you actually get your construction supply company off the ground.
If you’re looking to get into the business, the first thing you’ll want to do is figure out how much startup costs are going to cost you. Like most businesses, construction supply can be purchased wholesale and then sold for a profit. In order to do this, however, you’ll need some funds up front.
Here’s a list of some of the startup costs that will be involved with getting your construction supply business off the ground:
– Business License: $75 – $200.
– Business Permits: Varies.
– POS System: $1,000 – $3,000.
– Cash Register: $100 – $200.
– Inventory: $2,000 – $10,000.
As you can see, startup costs are not super expensive; if you want to get into the construction supply business you’ll need to take a few major steps before anyone is buying from you.
Checklist
Alright, enough talking about the business, now time to talk about the actual steps required to start a construction supply business. Here’s a checklist you can use to keep track of your progress:
– Determine what kind of inventory you want to start with. If you plan on starting with hardware, look for available space in your area that can store cheap and small inventory. If you plan on starting with paint, look for space that can hold large and expensive supply.
– Decide where you’ll be doing business from. If you’re going to start your business out of your home, look for a proper place to start your inventory. If you’re going to start a warehouse down the street from your home, make sure it’s within walking distance for deliveries.
– Figure out how much money you’ll need in order to get started. How much inventory do you need? How many employees will you need? What costs will be involved with getting your business off the ground?
– Once you have a solid idea of what kind of business you want to start, apply for permits. Building permits will be necessary if you plan on building a warehouse or an office space. If your company is going to be a home-based business, make sure your city allows this sort of thing.
– Put together a business plan. If you’re going to be starting a company that produces furniture, buy kits and make sure you have the space and tools necessary to start producing it. This will help if your business gets bigger over time; if you already own the building, it’s easier to start larger businesses over time.
– Figure out how your company is going to run itself. Once you have a solid business plan in place, start figuring out how to run your business. Heading to work every day can be a pain, so why not create a company that runs while you’re away? Business software will help you do this.
– Hire an accountant. It’s important to make sure that your company account is being managed properly by someone who knows what they are doing and who will help with taxes as well.
– Make sure your employees are happy. You can go to a lot of trouble getting your supply business off the ground, but if you have unhappy employees that may not be willing to do their jobs properly, your company will be short both time and money. Find qualified workers and make sure they know about your new job.
– Work on building up clientele. Once you’ve got all of the pieces in place, work on getting a good name based on quality work and good clientele.
– Practice patience. Building a successful business takes some time. If you’re serious about starting a construction supply company, you have to be willing to put in some serious work from the beginning.
– Make sure you stay up-to-date. Your competitors are never going to stop trying to beat you at your own game, so make sure that you’re just as interested in staying up-to-date with your industry in general. Many companies are launching new products and improving on old ones, so make sure you follow this as best you can.
– Make sure your customers are happy. If the work your company produces doesn’t meet the expectations of your customers, there’s a good chance they’ll start looking elsewhere. Focus on providing top quality service and you may soon find yourself becoming one of the busier businesses in town.
Finally, if you’ve got access to a lot of tools that will help with your business down the road, use them. Invest in a few things that will help you get your business off the ground as soon as possible, then continue saving money and investing in things that will help make it bigger.
The Bottom Line
There’s a lot more to building a successful construction supply company than meets the eye; if you put some work into building up your firm, you’ll be able to get more done with less time and less money.