Not everyone is built for the stringent rules and the nine-to-five of the corporate world. That’s because some people prefer to make their own marks, be their own bosses, and see where life takes them. And there’s nothing wrong with that. If anything, they should be applauded for their courage to stray from the paths laid out for them.
If you belong to the population of people who would rather face challenges while running their own business every day than to be stuck at a dead-end job, then you’re in the right place. Besides, life is more exciting this way because you never know what hurdles you’ll need to jump over until you’re there.
Of course, before you can face the challenges that come with the day-to-day operations of running a business, you must first have to establish your purpose. There are plenty of businesses in the different niches in the construction industry, so your first goal is to identify your own.
Afterwards, you’ll need to accomplish these three general requirements below. Taking care of these requirements is the first step to establishing your business and potentially getting it off the ground. To lessen the possibilities of you being overwhelmed with the tasks at hand, you can start with these three:
Requirement #1: Get Licensed to Practice
Most professionals in the construction industry will need a license to practice before they can conduct business their business to assure that their work is up to code. This applies to several common trades such as general labourers, site operatives, joiners, painters, and bricklayers, to name a few.
Of course, those with further specializations will also require a license, especially if they practice their profession as a manager, supervisor, plumber, roofer, HVAC specialist, and highway or demolition crew. Specialists will need to undergo a more intensive test to prove their capability to perform the job.
So, if you were to establish a business under any of these niches, you will need to pass your Construction Skills Certification Scheme’s (CSCS) Health, Safety, and Awareness test or CSCS test. Fortunately, it’s easy to schedule your CSCS test online as long as you have a free calendar and can make the necessary payment on time.
After you secure your license, you will be free to gain entry or work in any construction site across the country because that means that your qualifications and experiences are enough to carry out whatever job you’re going to perform.
Requirement #2: Create a Business Plan
Once you have the practice to license, the next step you should take is to create a detailed plan for your business. Before you get down to the nitty-gritty of your business, you must first lay the foundation of your company — your mission, vision, values, and goals. Identifying these early on can help you grow your business in the right direction so that you won’t stray too far from the path you’ve created.
This is where your business partners or employees will enter the picture. It’s nearly impossible to run an entire business on your own, especially if you’re in the field of construction. It doesn’t matter if it’s doable; you don’t have to place everything on your plate because that might cause you to fail before you even start.
So, with the help of a team that you trust, you need to create a plan for your business that will tackle all its facets, such as the administrative, financial, human resources, marketing, and operations. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you lack in some departments; instead, look at them as an opportunity to grow and expand your skillset.
Requirement #3: Secure Your Funding
Arguably the most important thing that you must have to establish a business is money. That’s because, to make money, you need to spend money first. Businesses are long-term investment opportunities because you don’t reap the fruitful rewards after a few weeks. Sometimes, it can even last for a few months to a year before you can start generating a profit.
But that’s not a sign of giving up. If anything, that should encourage you and your team to do a better job because you have already put in all that hard work to keep the business operational. Running and managing a business can be exhausting at times, but it can also be very fulfilling.
This means that you need to secure ample funding to cover the costs of your office, equipment and supplies, employee expenses, and advertising or promotional fees, to name a few. It’s easy to overestimate your budget when it comes to these things. That’s why you have to make sure that you can take everything into account to not lose your cash flow.
No one ever said that choosing to start a business is easier than staying in a corporate role. But at least with the latter option, you can do something that you actually want to do and make a name for yourself. While it’s true that becoming an entrepreneur is harder, it can also be a worthwhile experience overall.
