Business advice from many sources can be useful, but who better to emulate than someone who’s been in your shoes?
As I edited the profiles for this issue, I realized both contractors were great examples of how focusing on what’s right for their customers was putting them on the path to success.
I think you can learn a lot from these two. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Listen to someone who’s out there doing the same work you’re doing and building a rewarding career in the process.
Don’t shy away from a challenge
The profile on Jason Koran’s business, Pipe Masters, begins with the company’s running joke: The best way to get his team to solve a problem is to tell them they can’t do it.
Koran says his team always comes through. “We’re always up for a challenge and we don’t leave a job until we find a way to repair it. That’s one thing that separates us from our competitors — we do not tell customers no.”
Have the necessary tools to do any job
Chris Sbrocco, owner of Pro Service Plumbing, says owning the right equipment is a big reason why the company has amassed a large customer base.
“You do customers a service by staying up to date on new technology that can provide solutions that save them money because you can do jobs faster and not create more work.
“We pride ourselves in determining the issue and providing a custom solution — with no callbacks.”
Good team members are incredibly valuable
The main ingredient in Koran’s success is his team, particularly his three lead field technicians.
“They’re the tripod on which this company stands,” Koran says. “I wouldn’t be anywhere without these guys. “You can invest in all the good equipment you want, but at the end of the day, it comes down to the technicians who operate it.”
Sbrocco agrees. He wants to expand but is working on hiring and cross training his technicians in order to keep the quality of their work a top priority.
Growth will come as they gain experience,” Sbrocco says. “The work definitely is out there, so the more guys we have, the better. But they have to be able to do anything and everything so we can keep providing value for customers.”
It’s always the goal of Cleaner to provide value for you, and be a resource as you grow your own business. If you have specific topics you’d like to see us cover, or want to suggest a company that’s doing good work (your own or someone else’s) for a profile, drop me a line at editor@cleaner.com.
