I'm in Colorado Springs and looking to venture off on my own with another carpenter. Nothing huge just to make some money. Looking for advice on licensing restrictions and also marketing and networking. Thanks so much
P.S doing this while getting real estate license
Answers
Since you also mentioned real estate license, I suggest you check out the following:
https://www.reiclub.com/real-estate-clubs/Colorado.html
These are clubs of other investors, and if you have some skills like that, these would be good places to network!
Go to the Small Business Development Center on your nearest local campus. They can provide lots of resources
1. Call your Sec of State's business listing Office and establish yourself.
2. Contact local chamber of commerce. Networking and find out about local licensing requirements.
3. Advertise and get some business.
Ditto re NextDoor!! Think about what your brand will be (i.e., how will others experience working with you?). Suggestions: be someone who returns phone calls within 2 (?) hours; be someone with a friendly, straightforward outgoing VM message; be someone who makes homeowners and renters feel good (NOT like they are uninformed & unprepared, which we often are :)); make suggestions about future work ("have you thought about repairing that fence in the future," or "be sure to get your door thresholds varnished once a year") that will be helpful, but not pushy. Go get 'em!
I don't know how it is in Colorado Springs but there is always huge demand for residential handyman work in my area. The best way to find work is through word of mouth--do good work and ask your clients to recommend you. One great avenue is via Next Door (www.nextdoor.com) which is like an electronic bulletin board. It is set up by neighborhood. Ask your clients if they are members (it's free). Then ask them to post a recommendation for you on Next Door. It is amazing how effective that can be. Further, join Next Door yourself and see how it works. You can post yourself, describing what you do and telling other members how to contact you.
Hi Daryl,
Thanks for your service. I agree with William that SCORE is a great program. I also encourage you to take a look at this Forbes article that is loaded with additional resources that might help you out:
Hope this helps,
Josh
Hi Daryl,
You should contact your local office of SCORE. This is an organization affliiated with the Small Buisness Administration, that assists small buisness owners with a variety of buisness issues. The service is free. It is a national organization staffed by volunteers with a variety of buisness backgrounds.
Best of luck
Bill Smith
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