Becoming an Entrepreneur
Starting a Concrete Sealing & Waterproofing Business
Opening a concrete sealing and waterproofing business is your ticket to owning a good, stable business if you do it right. We offer tips and advice that demystifies what it takes to be successful.
Thinking about opening a concrete sealing and waterproofing business? We tell you what you need to know to get started.
Concrete Maintenance Requirements
Concrete is one of the most ubiquitous building materials in the world. From buildings to highways, concrete is the backbone of the U.S. construction industry -- a $35 billion a year industry with both residential and commercial applications.
But all that concrete doesn't take care of itself. To remain in good working order, concrete needs to be sealed and waterproofed every 1 to 5 years. Although some homeowners prefer DIY sealing products for their driveways and garage floors, many outsource the job to professional concrete sealers.
As a concrete sealing & waterproofing startup, your company will be expected to provide a variety of sealants and cleaning services to your clients. Handling aging concrete requires a specialized skill set, so your team will need to be trained in the chemistry of sealants and concrete, and be capable of advising your clients about the best ways to prolong the life of their concrete surfaces.
Scope of Services for Concrete Sealing Startups
Concrete sealing customers expect providers to offer complete service solutions. In other words, your startup should be prepared to handle a variety of services in addition to the application of concrete sealants and waterproofing materials.
Some of the most common services offered by concrete sealing providers are concrete installations, power washing, deck cleaning/sealing and related activities. Depending on the nature of your facility, you may even want to consider selling retail concrete sealing and waterproofing products to tap into the DIY marketplace.
B2B or B2C Concrete Sealing Startup?
The prevalence of concrete in the exterior construction and landscaping industry means that startup concrete sealers will need to determine whether to launch a B2C, B2B or combined concrete sealing and waterproofing company.
Before you decide which approach is best for your startup, you need to understand that B2B and B2C have very different sales and marketing requirements. In B2B, you'll need to field a sales team that is adept at sales prospecting, while a B2C business can rely more heavily on traditional advertising venues.
Additionally, a B2B or commercial sealing business may require your startup to quickly scale up to accommodate the needs of larger clients. If resources are limited, you are probably better off starting a B2C operation and gradually expanding to a commercial client base as your company grows.
Best Practices: Business Plans for Concrete Sealing & Waterproofing Businesses
A great business plan will lay a strong foundation for growth in your startup concrete sealing and waterproofing business.
Business plans address a wide range of issues, including startup financials. Since investors and lenders rely heavily on your business plan's financial forecasts, fudged numbers and vague forecasting are a sure way to sabotage your funding efforts.
Subsequently, a thorough understanding of business plan financial basics is a prerequisite to effective business plan writing for concrete sealing and waterproofing businesses.
Consider Competitors
Prior to launching a concrete sealing and waterproofing business in your town, it's worthwhile to see what the competition looks like. Try our link below to get a list of local competitors in your area. Complete the form by entering your city, state and zip code to get a list of concrete sealing and waterproofing businesses that are close by.
How are you going to successfully complete with existing firms? It's important that you never underestimate the competition.
Find Good Remote Business Advice
As part of your due diligence on opening a concrete sealing and waterproofing business, it's a smart move to learn from folks who are already in business. It's very unlikely that the local competition will talk to you. What's in it for them?
On the other hand, an individual who has a concrete sealing and waterproofing business in a different city can be a great learning resource for you, given that you don't compete with them in their area. Many business owners are happy to give advice to new entrepreneurs If you are persistent, you can find a business mentor who is willing to help you out.
How do you go about finding a concrete sealing and waterproofing business founder in another city who you can speak with?
We can help. Follow the link below, try a few city/state combos or zipcodes, and then start calling!
Concrete Sealing & Waterproofing Business Acquisitions: Financial Considerations
Startup concrete sealing and waterproofing businesses carry a host of financial risks and concerns. Without an operational history, it's hard to predict how your startup will actually perform in the marketplace.
One of the ways to mitigate the financial risk of a startup is to modify your approach to tap into the financial benefits of buying an existing concrete sealing and waterproofing business. Many entrepreneurs buy an existing business for the sole purpose of tapping into the financial benefits of an established customer base.
Based on the acquisition target's financial records, you should be able to piece together a realistic forecast of your new company's financial picture for the first year and beyond. If you need assistance, we suggest talking to an accountant or professional business planning consultant.
Don't Forget About Franchising As an Option
Choosing to partner with a franchisor means you benefit from feedback and ideas that were developed by experienced entrepreneurs who know your industry inside and out.
If you are thinking about opening a concrete sealing and waterproofing business, it's worthwhile to assess whether purchasing a franchise 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.
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