4 Solutions to Common Contractor Problems

By JobNimbus.  

Follow this expert suggestion and advice to improve your business practices and get your company thriving. 

As a contractor, we know that you are always looking to improve your business, to grow and thrive. This drive to be better is why professionals like JobNimbus’s Jake Dempsey are so passionate about giving back to this industry. As someone who has gone from contractor to business owner to now a growth coach, Jake has not only helped plenty of companies identify problems and create pathways to success, but it has also taught him a lot about the importance of good team communication and about solutions to common issues contractors face.  

Changing company culture 

Company culture includes things like the employees’ behaviors and beliefs, and a faulty belief system is a common problem among businesses. “Many contractors believe that if the checks coming in are greater than the checks going out, they’re in good shape,” says Jake. “It’s important to do more than just tread water. If you can’t create a process around it, it will be hard to duplicate and scale.”  

Small changes in the company beliefs and culture make all the difference. If you find your contracting business falling into this category, consider setting some goals as a company. Sit down as a team and determine exactly what you want to achieve over the next few months. Once you understand that you have the ability to grow your success beyond what you’ve already achieved, you’re ready to begin incorporating solutions for individual problems.  

Implementing new processes 

Change isn’t easy. It’s the biggest challenge Jake says he faces when he meets with customers. Implementing a new process tends to be met with some pushback. “Different roles will struggle with change in different ways,” he says. “As soon as employees see that a process makes it easier for them to do their jobs, it tends to ease the blow.” For example, your company may organize your client information in file folders. When you switch your organization process to online software, you’ll have to transfer those clients into the system. Your employees might be resistant to the change at first, but they’ll appreciate how much faster and simpler it is to access that client information in one place.  

When it comes to initiating change with the office staff, Jake likes to start at the top. “It’s best to work directly with the office manager. They know exactly where the issues in their processes lie. If I can work directly with them, the change begins to trickle down through the staff. I’m not there to change what they do, I’m there to help make it easier.” Even if Jake isn’t in the office with you, take the time to sit down with your office manager. Determine where the issues lie within your back-end processes. Then, come up with a plan together. With the two of you on the same team, you’ll see that trickle-down effect and more easily bring about the positive change you’re after.  

Using the right software  

“Software is only as smart as the data you feed it,” says Jake. Often times, business owners expect software to solve all of their problems, without giving it the right information. Contractor management software can completely revamp a business, but only if you find one that is customizable for your company. The first step is asking questions and being willing to find the holes in your business. CRM and project management software such as JobNimbus can be the central area for your business to communicate better, speed up processes, and run more smoothly and efficiently. 

Team communication  

Using software features like checklists, notifications and automations will help your team become more efficient, but creating a workflow isn’t a one-and-done type of deal. It takes time to get everyone on the same page — which is key to the success of any business! In order for any transition to happen smoothly, the entire staff has to be on board. “When everyone in the company is using the same process, it’s easier to identify choke points and areas that need additional support.”  

Hold regular staff meetings and figure out ways to unify as a team. The culture and your software go hand-in-hand. Once you’ve connected those dots, keep the momentum going by listening to your employees and resolving issues quickly. Remember, this is a team effort, and everyone plays an important role.  

Whether you're trying to achieve the goal of an efficient team, better communication and implementing software, JobNimbus and employees like Jake are dedicated to helping companies find solutions.  

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