Sarah Bates ⋅ Fallbrook, CA Palomar Community College ⋅ 25 years experience

All of the responses to your question thus far are on target. As an example, here is what I did recently to find a local maintenance man for our homeowner association needs. I first visited a local, and heavily-used hardware store. I then asked if they had a bulletin board with business cards pinned on it. They did not, instead an employee at the register opened a drawer, pulled out a stack of cards and asked what I needed. When I told the person, she flipped through the cards and handed me one of several that were alike. "This man shops here often and is well-respected in the community", she said. I called him within ten minutes. He answered the phone and after I told him what I needed, he asked if he could by to get more information to prepare an estimate. He arrived on time, that same afternoon. The next morning, the estimate appeared in my e-mail inbox. Since then he has done work for us, and has begun work for a resident of our homeowner association as well. I saw him by chance on one of the days he was in the development, and he greeted me by name. This man is licensed, bonded and has a good reputation in town. He is 25 years old. Do you think he is a good businessman? I do. Good luck with your new business. Excellent craftsmen are hard to find.

James Kademan ⋅ Sun Prairie, WI Draw In Customers ⋅ 14 years experience

In my opinion, you need 3 things to be a great service business:
1) Excellent Communication
2) Excellent Demeanor
3) Excellent Skills for the job at hand
Many of your competitors may be great at #3, few will excel at 1 and 2.
Take care of 1 and 2 and you will leave the rest of your competition in the dust.

As far as getting the business going, you need contacts that trust you. Talk to your dad's people and any other person you know or meet in any construction trade of any kind. Trustworthy subcontractors are tough to find. When they are found, the loyalty is enormous. It is all about who knows you.

If you want regular, routine business from consumers, get found with a website online and answer your phone. Would it surprise you that 72% of your competitors are not doing this?

Good luck!

Raymond Harris ⋅ Atlanta, GA AT&T ⋅ 33 years experience

Christhian, You already have the basic requirement - you know how to install floor coverings. What you really need to develop is the network of retail outlets that will either provide a reference or actually hire you to install their sales. Get out there and talk to them - make a list of all the retail outlets and visit every one. This is the best advertisement - yourself. Have a busines card that is straight forward to leave everywhere you go. Don't forget places like Lowe's and Home Depot - but they will require you obtain surity bonds. You can get that cvoverage from any reputable insurance company. The IRS holds workshops for individuals entering the business market to help you learn what records you must keep and what rules you must follow. The local and state governments will also sponsor sessions that will cover things like business licenses.