Starting a Business How to Guides
Starting a Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Business
Opening a kitchen and bathroom remodeling business is your ticket to owning a good, stable business as long as you separate yourself from the competition. We offer a friendly, comprehensive guide to improve your startup process.
Thinking about opening a kitchen and bathroom remodeling business? We tell you what you need to know to get started.
Whether you do the work or function as a general contractor, kitchen and bathroom remodeling can be a lucrative and satisfying entrepreneurial venture.
Becoming a Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Business Owner
In the remodeling industry, kitchen and bathroom projects are often performed by a single contractor, primarily because they involve similar structural features (e.g. plumbing, lighting, cabinetry, etc.). But since clients see a big difference between kitchen and bath remodels, aspiring entrepreneurs are advised to deliberately distinguish themselves in each category.
The shape and scope of your startup will primarily depend on whether you intend to complete the remodel internally or function as a general contractor who outsources construction tasks to sub-contractors. Both business models have the potential to be profitable - it's simply a matter of your personal business goals, skill set and available resources.
Operational Tips for Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Startups
As an entrepreneurial leader, you will be expected to build and develop your team of kitchen and bath professionals, regardless of whether they are subcontractors or direct employees. Role assignments, clear channels of communication and conflict resolution are all part of operating a successful kitchen & bath remodeling business.
Here a few other tips to keep in mind as you set up your kitchen and bath remodeling operation:
- Remodeling Design Software. The best kitchen and bath remodelers make liberal use of remodeling design software. Today's software products allow you to create 3D imaging of your customers' spaces, eliminating the potential for costly surprises at the end of the construction process.
- Product Awareness. Like most industries, the kitchen and bathroom remodeling sector is influenced by trends and developments. Your customers will expect you to be the expert in the latest kitchen and bath styles, so it's important to maintain close ties with vendors and to stay up-to-date with current architectural styles.
- Trade Associations. There are a couple of trade associations that are worthwhile for kitchen and bath remodelers. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is a large trade organization that keeps its member abreast of developments across the remodeling universe. The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), on the other hand, specializes in the needs and concerns of kitchen and bath professionals.
How to Write a Top Quality Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Company Business Plan
A business plan is the skeletal framework for your kitchen and bathroom remodeling business's mission, goals and strategic vision.
Since lenders and investors will use your plan to gauge risk, it needs to contain industry-specific benchmarks and a detailed marketing plan.
Early in the process, it's worth your time to learn how to write the market analysis section of a business plan. While a robust market analysis can be a selling point for a kitchen and bathroom remodeling business startup, weak market research is a sure giveaway for a business that hasn't invested adequate effort in planning.
Look Over Competitors
Well in advance of opening a kitchen and bathroom remodeling business in your area, it's essential to see what the competition looks like. Try our link below to get a list of local competitors nearby. Simply enter your city, state and zip code to get a list of kitchen and bathroom remodeling businesses in your town.
Is the local market large enough to support another kitchen and bathroom remodeling business? If not, you had better be sure that you are doing things much better than the competition.
Talk to People Who Are Already in the Business
As part of your due diligence on opening a kitchen and bathroom remodeling business, the next step is to have a conversation with someone who is in the business. If you think owners of nearby kitchen and bathroom remodeling businesses will give you advice, think again. Why would they want to educate a future competitor?
However, a fellow entrepreneur who has started a kitchen and bathroom remodeling business in a location that is not competitive to you may be willing to share their entrepreneurial wisdom with you, given that you don't compete with them in their area. In that case, the business owner may be more than happy to discuss the industry with you. It can take a while to find an entrepreneur who is willing to talk, but it's well worth the effort.
What's the best way to find an owner of a kitchen and bathroom remodeling business outside of your area who is willing to talk?
No problem! Just use the link below and try a random city/state or zipcode. Then start dialing for advice until you are successful.
Getting Started in Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Business Ownership
Would-be kitchen and bathroom remodeling business business owners can either launch a new business or acquire an existing operation.
Startup kitchen and bathroom remodeling businesses can be attractive because they allow the entrepreneur to have more control and greater influence. Yet startups are also more difficult to finance because their nature is inherently risky.
Acquired kitchen and bathroom remodeling businesses are known quantities - and are less risky for lenders. Although buying a business doesn't guarantee success, it substantially increases your odds of obtaining financing and achieving profitability.
Don't Rule Out Franchising
Even with planning and preparation, the failure rate of startup businesses is very high. One of the ways to mitigate the risk of a startup failure is to buy a kitchen and bathroom remodeling business franchise.
Our bath franchise directory (see link below) is full of kitchen and bathroom remodeling business franchise opportunities.
Like any business, starting a franchised business requires hard work and dedication. But for the right entrepreneurs, a franchise can offer a streamlined path to small business ownership.
Entrepreneur Interviews
These interviews should be of interest to you.
- Interview with Susan Serra, Founder of Susan Serra Associates
- Interview with Sharon Dillard, President of Get A Grip, Inc
- Interview with Stefano Cafiso, Founder of Cafiso Design
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