Why is there a belief tradies can’t run a successful business?
Let’s call bullshit on that firstly…
Tradies are problem solvers, resourceful, and outcome focused. It usually plays out: A tradie starts his or her own business after working for someone else and a few years on-top of completing their apprenticeship of their trade. Mostly because you believed you can provide the same or better value and experience to customers for more of your own freedom and return and thought
“If my boss can do it, so can I”.
The training in your apprenticeship taught you the technical skills to perform quality work in your trade, not to juggle the many hats you must wear.
As a business owner, you’re suddenly responsible for:
- Keeping your team motivated and paid
- Providing great service to customers
- Paying suppliers on time
- Managing cash flow, sales, marketing, admin and customer service
It’s a lot and you are accountable. The initial thought of “If my boss can do it, so can I” is quickly turns into a harsh reality of working for your business rather than in it. It can be high risk and little return.
Sounds pretty shit, doesn’t it?
Well, the truth is tradies can absolutely run a successful business, you just need the right mindset, tools and strategy to build something profitable and rewarding, so let’s break it down into some building blocks.
What are the Building Blocks?
The Building Blocks of a successful business:
- Mindset
Running a business isn’t about doing all the work yourself—it’s about creating a structure and a team that delivers value to your customers. Think long-term: build a business that’s sustainable, profitable, and works for you, not the other way around.
- Map out your idea
Before you get started, map out your business idea using a Business Plan Canvas. It’s a simple one-pager plan that covers the essentials.
- Know your strengths and weaknesses
Every tradie has strengths and areas to improve. A simple SWOT Analysis is a great way to figure this out, it helps you identify Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
If you’re not sure how to start, check out my blog on SWOT Analysis and grab my free SWOT tool—it’s simple and built for tradies.
- Create a Business Plan
Once you have mapped out the basics, it's time to create a business plan.
Like Winston Churchill said,
“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
Your business plan doesn’t have to be complicated and should cover:
- Your Vision, Mission and Value statements – Where do you want to be, and what is the guiding star to keep it aligned.
- Your Strategy – A CRM, how will you manage leads and sales. How will you organise your processes and people from ordering, scheduling resources and invoicing. How will you market your business and generate leads and website traffic.
- Your Numbers - What’s your pricing, costs, and expected income? Always know your costs and move your margin.
Summary
Tradies absolutely can run successful businesses. It’s not about being perfect at everything—it’s about working smarter, not harder. By shifting your mindset, mapping out your idea, and building a simple plan, you can create a business that’s profitable, rewarding, and gives you the freedom you were chasing in the first place.
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