Having an appliance repair business is a risk, as is any new business venture, but there are some things you can do to give yourself a leg-up on your competition. These are actually tips that would work on many different types of small businesses. Far too many people believe that they can get a new phone numbers, a fancy sign, and a website, and the stacks of cash await them. Well, there are probably dozens of other individuals in the same area thinking the same thing, so the person that goes that extra mile is the one that will actually enjoy success.
Get Organized
Should be a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many people forget about the business aspect of the small business, meaning the endless paperwork that comes with running a one-person show. The best tip I can give any new business owner is to stay organized, keeping all of your files in order. If you are not keeping your own books, this will help ensure the accountant can enter data without making mistakes. If you are keeping your own books, make it a habit to do it daily because once you fall behind, it is very easy to go down the rabbit hole and let it all pile up.
Be Flexible
If you want to be successful, you are going to have to go that extra mile. Opening up your own business is not generally a 9-5 undertaking, especially in a repair business. If you are fixing people’s appliances, you have to be able to go to their homes when they are not working, which often means early evenings and yes, weekends. That face you are making right now is being made by dozens of other repairmen that do not want to work those hours, so guess who gets the business!
Personal Touch
As the owner of a repair business, you are going to have far more interaction with clients than you had when you were working for someone else. In all likelihood, you will be the one taking the calls, setting up billing, and doing the repairs. You are the face of the business and you want that face to be a kind one. Pay attention to what your customers are telling you when you are working and add that personal touch to keep them as loyal customers. For instance, if a customer is rambling on and mentions that a child is sick and this broken appliance could not have come at a worse time, imagine how far a personal email a day or two later will go inquiring about the health of the child.
Little things like that will go a long way to building customer loyalty, which means repeat customers and free referrals!
We will be back next Friday with more tips for our small business owners!
