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Want to grow your building business? It’s no small feat. With the ever-changing landscape of the construction industry, finding the right path to success can feel overwhelming. And you can’t rush at growth either. You can easily come unstuck. It’s all about steady, manageable, sustainable growth. But fear not, we’re here to help you navigate the journey. On this page, you’ll find some suggestions for overcoming the barriers to growth and how embracing the right tools and strategies can propel your business. It’s all part of our Building Firm Foundations initiative. I hope you find it helpful.

So what does growth look like? And what do you need to do to achieve it? In the main growth is either doing more of the same, so maybe multiple teams doing loft conversions or small extensions at the same time. It could be focussing on larger projects that offer a higher profit margin. It could be expanding into new areas, like offering Design & Build. It could be simply pressing reset, and reviewing your business and rethinking what you charge, what your overheads are, and finding ways of improving the return on the work you do now.

Let’s go.

Don’t be scared of technology!

In today’s digital age, technology is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity. Yet, many builders are hesitant to adopt new tech, fearing it might be too complex or costly. However, technology can streamline operations, improve accuracy, and save time. Take HBXL’s EstimatorXpress, for example. We call it ‘Clever-Easy’. It’s great value for money, and is easy to use despite being able to do amazing things with hundreds of calculators. The software provides accurate, professional estimating, reducing the guesswork and ensuring you present precise quotes to your customers – especially as you go after larger projects. Think of the confidence you’ll instil in your customers when your estimates worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, are spot on! And if you’re nervous about leaving your comfort zone with larger projects to start off with – see below and our Estimating Service.

Balancing work and personal life is a struggle for many business owners. Long hours and constant stress can take a toll on your health and relationships. Taking advantage of technology like HBXL’s suite of software can significantly reduce your workload. Automating routine tasks and having accurate, reliable tools at your disposal means you can reclaim your evenings and weekends. Our Managing Director’s mantra is ‘activity breeds activity’ and if you can focus on the business, profitable jobs I’m sure will follow!

Stop complaining about the admin!

Paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork. Yes, it’s a common complaint – and if I’m honest, a poor excuse for not growing your building business. ‘I’ve got enough paperwork and red tape as it is’ is a common cry but it just doesn’t stand up in 2024. Meet BuildProjex, HBXL’s job management cloud-software and your new personal assistant. It sorts your projects, tasks, calendar, appointments, schedules, stores all your health & safety documents, your contracts, plans and more. It means you can easily take on more work, with all the project timelines visible individually and together.  Everything and everyone (yes your whole team can use BuildProjex with you) are all in the one place. You’ll never miss a deadline or overlook an important document again.

Managing payment and legal stuff isn’t so bad!

The law states that you have a legal duty to look after the health & safety of your customers, your team and the general public. It can feel daunting. I know it gives some builders sleepless nights. So why would you want to take on more jobs or bigger jobs? Well, we have the solution. Health & Safety Xpert. Tell it what you’re building. (If you have EstimatorXpress it will use your estimate file and you won’t have to say anything at all). The software selects the relevant projects and even tells you when to use them. I could go on but I’ll point you to the product page instead.

Then there’s the contract side. You might be doing work without any contracts currently. Maybe you’re writing your own. Perhaps you’ve been put off going after the bigger projects because there’s big money and stake. That’s why ContractsXpert is so popular. Tell it what you’re building. (Again, if you have EstimatorXpress, the software will talk to each other, nothing for you to do there). You can give your payment terms, final payment date, retention figure, interim or milestone stage payments. Importantly, the documents will make it clear what the customer has agreed to.

You can stay profitable!

Staying profitable while expanding is a tightrope walk. It’s essential to keep costs under control without compromising on quality. Using EstimatorXpress can help you price jobs correctly from the outset, avoiding the under- or over-charging situation. Accurate estimates mean you’re more likely to maintain healthy profit margins, even as your business grows. The award-winning software gives you the cost for every last nail and screw, all the labour hours, the plant, the wear and tear, wastage, inflation… Nothing is forgotten.

Increase your revenue with CAD

Every business wants to increase revenue, but finding ways to do it can be tricky. Diversifying your services can open up new revenue streams. With PlansXpress, you can offer not just estimates but also professional drawings. This added service can attract more clients looking for a one-stop-shop for their building needs. It would mean more potential income, and who doesn’t want that?

You can attract decent staff – and delegate!

Your team is your greatest asset. Skilled and reliable workers are hard to come by, and keeping them happy is crucial for your business’s success. They need to feel valued and trusted, and part of that is letting them into the projects.

Plus, if your business can’t function without you, growth will always be limited. Building a strong, autonomous team is crucial. By training your staff to use tools like PlansXpress, EstimatorXpress, and BuildProjex, you empower them to take on more responsibility. This not only frees you up to focus on strategic growth but also ensures your business can thrive even in your absence.

As for delegation, the BuildProjex job management app is perfect for this. You can assign tasks and monitor progress without hovering over their shoulders. It ensures everyone is on the same page and projects run smoothly, reducing the need for constant oversight. No more micro-management. And they don’t have to keep coming to you for information because it will all be there. They can access all the documents in one place.

Offering career development opportunities, such as learning how to use software like PlansXpress for creating drawings, can be a great incentive. It not only boosts their skill set but also shows that you value their growth and contribution to the company. The same goes for the role of Estimator and the use of EstimatorXpress. We offer Construction Skills Bootcamps in certain regions of the UK. The courses could be right for you, personally. There’s even a Business Management one. They are either free or 90% funded by the government. Why not take a quick look here.

Know when to outsource

Time is a business owner’s most precious resource. Between managing projects, liaising with customers, and handling admin, there’s hardly any time left for strategic planning and growth. Outsourcing some tasks can be a game-changer. I’ve talked about delegating to other team members, and that’s important. But there’s another option – outsourcing the estimating. Maybe it’s just while you start going after larger projects. Or when you have more opportunities than you can manage.  The HBXL Estimating Service allows you to outsource your estimates, freeing up time to focus on the business. Let our team handle the numbers while you concentrate on delivering high quality projects.

Avoid cash flow issues

Cash flow can make or break a building business. Delayed payments and unforeseen expenses can quickly lead to financial strain. Regularly updated, accurate estimates, courtesy of EstimatorXpress, can help you stay on top of your finances. Additionally, having professional drawings from PlansXpress can expedite planning permissions and client approvals, leading to faster project starts and quicker payments. And as I mentioned earlier there’s ContractsXpert to help you enforce staged payments. Plus BuildProjex keeps you on track so possible issues are caught early and jobs stay on track. You see where I’m going with this – growth needs a digital toolkit.

What next?

Growing your building business doesn’t have to be a Herculean task. By embracing technology and leveraging the right tools, you can overcome the common barriers to growth. HBXL’s EstimatorXpress, PlansXpress, BuildProjex, Health & Safety Xpert, ContractsXpert, and HBXL Estimating Service are designed to streamline your processes, improve accuracy, and save you time and money. Whether it’s managing admin, maintaining profitability, or achieving a better work/life balance, these tools can help you build a stronger, more successful business.

So, take a step back, evaluate your current processes, and consider how these solutions can fit into your business. With the right approach, you’ll not only grow your business the right way but also enjoy the journey. And we’re here to help you every step of the way. Happy growth!

Try our business-growing software tools for free – get your instant download here. Or call for a chat on 0117 916 7898 and let’s help you reach new heights.