Entrepreneur Guidance
How to Start a Marble Contractors Business
Would you like to open a marble contractors business? Make sure you design your business with some sustainable competitive advantage in mind.
Wondering how to start a marble contractors business? We take you step-by-step from start to success.
Sourcing Product for Marble Construction
Marble contracting is an extremely competitive business. The popularity of marble and granite in home construction and remodeling has driven scores of entrepreneurs into the marketplace and made it harder than ever for qualified marble professionals to launch new companies.
In many cases, marble quality can be a point of differentiation for startups. Low quality marble products are a red flag to consumers and can generate negative word of mouth about your business right out of the gate.
So one of the first items on your startup to-do list should be to evaluate your competitors' marble sources and look for opportunities to outperform the local marketplace by securing higher quality or greater variation in your marble supply. You may even find it useful to create relationships with importers as a way to increase the uniqueness of the marble products you offer customers.
Service Essentials for Marble Contractors
Growth-minded marble contracting companies offer a variety of services to their customers including the fabrication and installation of countertops, vanities, surrounds and other applications.
It's common for contractors to work collaboratively with clients in the marble selection and project design processes. Although many entrepreneurs overlook its value as a service feature, clear lines of communication and collaborative, client-centered processes are service essentials that can be leveraged to attract new customers and quickly build your reputation in the community.
Sales Forecasting
Regardless of the size of your startup, sales forecasting is an important prerequisite for strategic and capacity planning. Without an accurate estimate of future sales, your marble contracting operation will be flying blind -- hiring, supply purchasing and other activities will be based on guesswork rather than informed business insights.
Industry-wide performance indicators are a good starting point in sales forecasting. However, you will also need to factor in other factors like your startup's market share, industry trends and seasonal cycles.
At a minimum, it's advisable to network with other contractors to determine local demand. Using frontline data gleaned from networking relationships, you can begin to formulate a sales forecast that has real value for your new company's planning initiatives.
Core Characteristics of Marble Contractors Company Business Plans
Every business plan is unique, yet the most effective plans share a handful of essential traits.
If your plan lacks required elements like an executive summary or marketing plan, it could jeopardize its potential to deliver real benefits to your startup.
To discuss the external factors that will influence your startup, consider dedicating a section of your business to a PEST (Political, Economic, Social & Technological) analysis.
Assess the Competition
Long before you open a marble contractors business within your community, it's a smart move to see how you will fit in the competitive landscape. We've provided the link below to help you find competitors in your city. Simply enter your city, state and zip code to get a list of marble contractors businesses in your town.
Prior to opening your doors for business, be sure you fully understand the competitive landscape and where your new business will fit in.
Turning Competitors Into Collaborators
After you've evaluated your local competitors, it's a wise move to learn as much as you can from somebody who is already in the business. If you think your local competitors will give you advice, you're being overoptimistic. What's in it for them?
Fortunately, somebody who runs a marble contractors business in a location that is not competitive to you may be willing to share their entrepreneurial wisdom with you, after they realize you reside far away from them and won't be stealing their local customers. Indeed, many experienced entrepreneurs enjoy offering advice to startup entrepreneurs. In my experience, you may have to call ten business owners in order to find one who is willing to share his wisdom with you.
What's the best way to find somebody who runs a marble contractors business in a different locale who can assist you?
Simply, try our helpful link below, type in a random city/state or zipcode, and start calling.
Advice for Acquiring a Marble Contractors Business
Many entrepreneurs elect to acquire a profitable marble contractors business instead of navigating the challenges of a business startup.
Yet for many entrepreneurs, financing represents a major hurdle to buying a marble contractors business. Business acquisitions are easier to finance than business startups, even though the financing process can still be exhausting.
To increase your approval odds, we suggest you take a look at Gaebler's Business Acquisition Financing Tips.
Franchising May Be a Better Way to Go
Your chances for achieving your top business goals are higher if you buy a franchise and leverage their successful brand and track record.
Before you consider starting a marble contractors business, you may want to investigate whether franchising might make sense for you.
The link below gives you access to our franchise directory so you can see if there's a franchise opportunity for you. You might even find something that points you in a completely different direction.
Related Articles on Starting a Company
These additional resources regarding getting started as an entrepreneur may be of interest to you.
Buying vs. Starting a Business
Coming Up With Good Business Ideas
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