By David Crary
Because we sell work order software to small, entrepreneurial service businesses, we’ve encountered some strange business models. One of the great things our software does is take your business billing rules, and systematically apply them, paperlessly, saving time and money in the process.
But that assumes you have rules that can be systematically applied.
As we found in one new customer, that wasn’t the case. Basically, their owner reviewed every single work order and determined what to bill. When we asked if there was any rhyme or reason to the amount he billed, the answer was basically “No. He takes a lot of factors into account. We don't know what they are.”
That’s the very definition of an owner-centric business. And it can be toxic to a business. In this case, what happens if the owner tries to sell? Any buyer would take one look at that “process” and say “No thanks.”
Look at it another way. Brett Favre is routinely called one of the top 5 QBs of all time. But he only won a single Super Bowl. That’s as many as Trent Dilfer. Just like one player isn’t going to win a Super Bowl without a great team around him, your business ultimately can’t be successful if it relies totally on you. Ultimately, you want to be able to take a two week vacation without worrying about how your business is going to run.
So here are some tips to help you turn your owner-centric business around:
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Delegate. You know what I’ve learned in more than three decades of business ownership? Employees like being responsible. If you give them more ownership of projects, most of them will enjoy their work more. They like having control almost as much as you do.
So do it. Learn to delegate tasks. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, or don't trust your employees, start small. Give them small parts of your daily work. See how they do. Communicate with them and set clear expectations and timelines. Check in often. Give them honest feedback. And empower them to do more for your business. -
Be a mentor. John Gagliardi of St. John's University in Minnesota is the winningest football coach in college football history with nearly 500 wins. But few people know he's also the winningest hockey coach in St. John's history, as well. And he'll readily admit he knew next to nothing about hockey. Never played it and never even watched it before he became the head hockey coach at St. John's. But what he lacked in hockey knowledge he made up for in leadership and mentorship skills.
After you've delegated your tasks and freed your plate a little, your next task is to focus your time on mentoring others and being a leader. Teach your team everything you know. Encourage them. Be transparent about your business. You'll be amazed at just how far some of your team members can come with just a little mentoring.
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Install Software. One way to create a less owner-centric business is to systematize your business and build repeatable processes. How does that help? Simple, if you begin to create systems and document your processes, the parts of your business become more interchangeable. And so do the people.
Software, like HindSite's field service software, can help you significantly. HindSite eliminates your paper processes and turns them into electronic ones. It systemizes your billing rules. It enforces a standard data capture process among your field personnel. With those standard processes in place, you become less reliant on you as the owner.
Trust me, I know it can be difficult giving up control of your business. But ultimately if you want your business to grow, you need to learn to trust your employees, put aside your ego, and learn how to lead instead of doing all the work yourself.
Want more tips on things you may be doing that are hurting your business? Check out our 33 Stupid Things Contractors Do (and How to Fix Them) today!
