Thinking of starting a concrete business? Have confidence that you made a smart choice. Starting a new business can be immensely profitable with proper planning, execution, and effort. However, in order to be successful, it’s essential that you first learn how to start a concrete business properly!
The advantage of running your own construction business includes having total control of scheduling, salary, and clientele decisions. In the construction industry, starting a concrete business is a popular option because learning the fundamentals of concrete work takes only a few months.
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Understanding a specific business and its operations may help you grasp all the requirements to start one on your own. We’ve put together this blog with 11 easy steps explaining how to start a concrete business successfully.
How Profitable is Concrete Contractor Business
A concrete company is essentially a construction company that specializes in concrete work. This may involve mixing, pouring, and forming concrete into residential and commercial structures. Concrete contractors typically begin their careers as concrete laborers, where they learn how to mix, pour, and shape concrete and how the material functions.
The concrete business, essential in construction and infrastructure development, presents a vast scope for profit with the right strategies and execution. As global urbanization increases, concrete demand remains consistently high, creating an invaluable market for businesses operating within this field. One primary factor contributing to its lucrativeness lies within the construction industry; whether residential, commercial, or industrial projects are involved, concrete is an essential component. Such constant demand ensures customers ranging from individual contractors up to large-scale construction firms.
Recently, the concrete industry has experienced rapid expansion. By 2022, its global market size had reached USD 363.67 billion; by 2030 it is projected to have grown from USD 405.99 billion (in 2023) to an anticipated figure of 544.55 billion – showing compound annual growth rates of 4.3% during its predicted timeline. Evidently, it is a rapidly growing industry with immense potential. And naturally, the scope of making profits with this business also looks rather promising.
Furthermore, experts point out that the rising adoption of green cement to construct eco-friendly and sustainable buildings will promote market growth. As part of an effort to reduce the threat posed by emissions, the manufacturing process can be modified to reduce emissions substantially. This product uses a carbon-negative manufacturing technique that minimizes pollution during unit operations. It is a sustainable solution that addresses serious environmental concerns by reducing the carbon footprint during production. Therefore, if any concrete business owner decides to try and expand their business with green cement, they are more likely to leverage a better profit margin.
How to Start A Concrete Business
Typically, to start a concrete business, you need at least some experience in the concrete or construction industry, as well as business savvy, to help you organize your company effectively and manage daily operations. In today’s age of digital transformation, however, that task has become way easier than it was ever before. You can easily streamline your processes using a digital business tool such as a concrete business management software solution, also known as concrete software. No matter the convenience of doing business online these days, starting up one requires knowing some basics on how to start up one’s own enterprise first. There are technicalities and regulations you must abide by, as well as basic management strategies you should utilize when starting off your venture.
If this seems challenging, don’t panic – you can find everything that you require to start your own business here. Just follow these steps, and you will be ready to start a concrete business.
1. Conduct Market Research
Market research will tell you if there’s an opportunity to turn your idea into a successful business. It’s a way to gather information about potential customers and businesses already operating in your area. Use that information to establish a competitive edge for your business. Utilizing the research results, determine what specific line of concrete business you would like to start before creating your plan and hiring contractors for installation and setup services. Residential and commercial concrete construction share many similarities but also differ in a few key areas. Residential concrete work often involves smaller projects and less liability, which can mean fewer permits or licenses. Depending on your skill level and comfort working with concrete, residential work might be a good starting point. Research each option to determine startup costs, what kind of labor each kind of concrete work requires, and what materials and equipment you might need.
2. Write A Business Plan
As soon as you identify your niche or market, create your business plan. A business plan outlines your organization’s structure, functions, and operational details – both long-term goals for the venture as well as short-term considerations such as loans or investments needed for startup costs. A professional and organized plan may even help secure loans or investments necessary to get things underway! If it’s your first attempt, consulting an attorney might prove invaluable for crafting the perfect document!
Your business plan must encompass these sections:
- Executive Summary – This section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your concrete business.
- Company Overview – This section tells the reader about the history of your concrete business and what type of concrete business you operate. For example, are you a concrete pumping, concrete cutting, concrete grinding, shotcrete, or precast concrete business?
- Industry Analysis Here you will document key information about the concrete industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what trends are affecting it.
- Customer Analysis In this section, you will document who your ideal or target market is and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing products or services like the ones you will offer?
- Competitive Analysis Here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build a competitive advantage.
- Marketing Plan Your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: product, price, promotion, and place.
- Financial Plan: Finally, the financial plan answers questions, including the following:
- What start-up costs will you incur?
- How will your concrete business make money?
- What are your projected sales and expenses over the next five years?
- Is additional funding required to launch your business?
3. Choose A Name for Your Business
The first step to starting a concrete business is to choose your business name.
This is a very important choice since your company name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Assuming you want your name to be meaningful and memorable, here are a few suggestions on selecting one:
- Make sure the name is available: Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also, check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
- Keep it simple: The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce, and spell.
- Think about marketing: Think of a name that accurately represents your desired brand or focus of business.
4. Choose A Suitable Business Structure
Next, you need to choose a legal business structure for your new concrete business and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.
You may choose from the four standard business structures:
- Sole proprietorship
- Partnership
- Limited liability company
- Corporation
5. Register Your Business with the State
Once you’ve picked the perfect business name and structure, it’s time to make it legal and protect your brand. If you’re doing business under a name other than your own, you’ll need to register with the federal government and maybe your state government, too.
6. Obtain Necessary Licenses and Permits
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a concrete business. Here are the general permits necessary for starting up any operations:
- Register Your Business Name: To do this, work through the Small Business Association (SBA). They offer registration services which you can utilize in order to officially register your company name with them.
- Get your EIN: Your EIN is your Employer Identification Number. It’s like a Social Security Number (SSN) for your business. Your EIN provides you with multiple benefits, so get yours right away.
- Get your business license: Check with your state to secure your business license
- Achieve Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance: Review OSHA’s specific training requirements and ensure that you have fulfilled them all to maintain compliance.
7. Open A Business Bank Account and Credit Card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as “piercing your corporate veil.” Additionally, learning how to build business credit can help you get credit cards and other financing in your business’s name (instead of yours), better interest rates, higher lines of credit, and more.
8. Get Necessary Insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business insurance protects your company’s financial well-being in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with general liability insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business. Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is workers’ compensation insurance. If your business will have employees, there’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation coverage.
9. Set Up Your Marketing Strategy
Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your concrete business.
The key marketing materials you will need are as follows;
- Logo: Spend some time developing a good logo for your concrete business. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
- Website: Likewise, a professional concrete business website provides potential customers with information about the products and/or services you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
- Social Media Accounts: Establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media networks will help customers and others find and interact with your concrete business
10. Stock Up on the Right Equipment
To start a concrete business, you’ll need a few essential pieces of equipment. A mixer is necessary to blend the cement, sand, and water together. You’ll also need a wheelbarrow or a concrete truck to pour the concrete mixture into molds. Finally, you’ll need a saw to cut the concrete products to size.
Additional equipment that can be helpful includes a trowel for smoothing the concrete, a broom for cleaning up, and a wet saw for cutting precise angles. With the right equipment, you’ll be able to produce high-quality concrete products for your customers.
11. Invest in the Best Concrete Management Software
Just as essential as physical equipment is digital tools to facilitate business operations. And the single most useful asset you have available to your enterprise today -concrete management software solutions – should not be underestimated as part of this mix.
Simply stated, automation tools automate business processes to help streamline operations and increase efficiency in tasks such as scheduling and dispatching employees to appointments, monitoring time, time tracking activities for business analysis reports, and billing and invoicing tasks, among others. They even offer advanced features like GPS tracking of employees in real-time; cloud storage to manage databases remotely from anywhere; QuickBooks integration capabilities, etc. It can also serve as your concrete estimating software, thanks to its superior estimating features.
Concrete dispatching software will significantly boost productivity and profitability while streamlining workflow so you can focus on more important tasks – like expanding your business or finding new customers.
Checklist for Starting A Concrete Business
Going through the detailed discussion above, we hope you have gained a clear understanding of the various steps of starting a concrete business.
But when things start to roll and you need to act on your feet, it could be a little difficult to refer to an elaborate document and make sure you are doing everything right.
To help you further, here is a brief checklist that guides you through starting your new venture. You may keep it handy to check from time to time and even download it to share with your partners and stakeholders if need be.
Checklist for Starting a Concrete Business
- Market Research and Business Plan
- Conduct thorough market research to understand the local demand for concrete services.
- Develop a comprehensive business plan outlining your goals, target market, and financial projections.
- Legal Requirements
- Register your business and obtain the necessary licenses and permits.
- Comply with local building codes and regulations.
- Insurance
- Acquire insurance coverage for your concrete business, including liability and worker’s compensation insurance.
- Equipment and Supplies
- Identify and purchase the necessary equipment for mixing, transporting, and pouring concrete.
- Establish relationships with suppliers for concrete and other construction materials.
- Skilled Workforce
- Hire experienced concrete professionals, including mixers, finishers, and drivers.
- Ensure that your team is trained in safety protocols and best practices.
- Financial Management
- Set up a robust accounting system to track expenses, revenue, and profits.
- Establish relationships with banks and financial institutions for business loans or lines of credit if needed.
- Marketing and Branding
- Develop a strong brand identity for your concrete business.
- Create a marketing strategy to reach potential clients through online and traditional channels.
- Client Acquisition
- Network with local contractors, builders, and construction companies.
- Offer competitive pricing and promotions to attract initial clients.
- Safety Protocols
- Implement stringent safety protocols for your workforce and adhere to industry safety standards.
- Field Service Management Software
- Research and select a suitable field service management software tailored for construction and concrete businesses.
- Sign up for the chosen software to streamline scheduling, dispatching, and overall project management.
- Training for Software Use
- Provide training to your team on how to use the field service management software effectively.
- Ensure that everyone is proficient in utilizing the software for tasks such as job tracking, inventory management, and invoicing.
- Quality Control
- Establish quality control measures to ensure that your concrete meets industry standards.
- Regularly inspect and maintain your equipment to prevent downtime and maintain quality.
- Environmental Considerations
- Stay informed about eco-friendly concrete options to meet the growing demand for sustainable construction materials.
- Implement environmentally responsible practices in your operations.
- Customer Feedback and Improvement
- Collect feedback from clients to continually improve your services.
- Adapt to market trends and technological advancements to stay competitive.
- Scaling and Expansion
- Plan for the future growth and expansion of your concrete business.
- Consider diversifying your services or entering new geographic markets.
By following this step-by-step checklist, you can lay a solid foundation for your concrete business, from legal compliance and equipment acquisition to effective management through field service management software.
Wrapping Up
Today, automation is essential if you wish to run your business efficiently and productively. In today’s digital era, maximizing resources requires investing in some digital tools – automate or perish! In today’s market, you will have plenty of software solutions and mobile apps to achieve this goal. This includes accounting software, concrete estimate software, ERP software, measuring apps, planners, and so on. But the best software you can invest in for your concrete business is Field Promax. It provides all of the features on one single platform at the most affordable rate.
A little pro-tip here, start using concrete management software from the get-go if you want to make the most of your resources.
So, wait no more. Sign up for Field Promax Concrete Software today!
For more information contact Field Promax today.
