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The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house. People want a kitchen that works for them, their families, and their lifestyles, particularly if they are the type who loves to entertain. When buying a house, kitchens, along with baths, are the first two things that people look at and consider during the purchase.
Given the importance of kitchens, kitchen remodeling is one of the best niches in the home improvement industry. There is a constant demand for kitchen remodeling, particularly now that the economy is improving and home prices are increasing. They want to increase the size of their kitchens, improve their layout and workflow, add features such as a walk-in pantry or more storage solutions, or update the style.
Homeowners looking to sell their homes understand that kitchen remodeling is one of the best investments they can do in their homes. A kitchen remodel can return anywhere from 66% to 85% of its cost upon resale. People look more for a remodeled kitchen than a remodeled attic or brand-new swimming pool in the backyard!
Starting a Kitchen Remodeling Business
The kitchen remodeling business requires design and creativity, technical knowledge of architecture and construction, as well as product knowledge of kitchen appliances and cabinetry. To succeed in the business, you need to be strong in design and well-versed in aesthetics and space planning. You need to showcase deep practical technical knowledge such as how to install cabinets and what issues may arise during the renovation. You also need to know how plumbing, electric and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems work to start a kitchen remodeling business.
RELATED: How to Start a Handyman Business
Most of all, you need to be a people person; someone who honestly enjoys working and helping people. A kitchen remodeling business entails understanding the vision of the customers and translating it into the design. You need to know how to sell and have good presentation skills.
If you want to start a kitchen remodeling business, here are the steps to consider:
Identify your Target Market
The kitchen remodeling business is a local business where you will be operating in your geographic area (unless you can replicate the business and franchise it). The type of population in your target area will shape the services that you will offer.
Start by researching your target market. Here are some questions to help you jumpstart your research:
- What is the average single-family home price in the area? Single-family homes in the price range of $2-15 million will have different remodeling needs than homes in the $100,000-200,000 price range.
- What is the average age of the residents in the area? Generation X individuals have different remodeling needs compared to the mature market or even young families.
- How many new single-family homes are built annually? Major renovations are typically undertaken right after the home purchase.
- How many remodeling contractors operate in the area? Specifically, how many are kitchen remodeling contractors? It is important to understand the competition including the services they offer so you can determine how you can differentiate your business from them.
Based on the demographic characteristics of your chosen location, determine your ideal customers. If there are a significant number of high-priced single-family homes in your area, you can offer high-end kitchen renovation services. You can also target the middle market, whose kitchen renovation jobs cost anywhere from $5,000-$50,000. These are customers who want quality work and products but are looking for good value for their money.
You also need to choose whether you want to focus on commercial kitchens or private kitchens. Working on commercial kitchens that will serve 2,000 people is different from a residential kitchen for 4 people.
Identify the right target market, and then align your business in pursuit of that target market.
Find a niche for your business.
Niches allow you to better position and market your company. By specializing in a product or service, your business can have a competitive advantage over other players in the market. The goal is to find a smaller segment of the market where you can deliver the best quality product or service and dominate that niche. Better yet, find a niche in your market where there is no competition.
One example of a niche market is the environmentally sustainable kitchen project. Your business can focus on creating an eco-friendly kitchen, starting with green options for the best kitchen faucets, sinks, countertops, cabinets, tile backsplash, floors, cooktops, and other appliances.
Another possible niche is kitchen renovation for homes repossessed by banks. There are investors who buy and sell foreclosed and repossessed homes – and a key part of their strategy to sell the homes for a profit is to renovate the kitchen.
You can also choose to focus on multi-unit projects such as hospitals, hotels, or apartment complexes.
Get the necessary licenses and permits
The next thing that you need to think about is the license and permit for the kitchen remodeling business. Check with your city or local county government the types of licenses and permits you will need to operate. In some areas, you may be required to get a tradesman license or a contractor license.
In addition to the licenses, you may need to get business licenses or tax permits from your city or county clerk or revenue department. You may also be required to register for business tax, including income tax withholding, seller’s permit (sales and use tax), and unemployment insurance tax.
If your business will have its own office, you may be required to get a number of permits:
- building permit
- signage permit
- occupational permit
- alarm permit
- fire permit
- zoning permit
Set Up Your Business
Decide on the business structure as to how you will operate a business. Consult a lawyer as to the best structure for your business – whether you can start as a sole proprietor, LLC, partnership, or corporation. Learn the differences between each of these legal structures, particularly in terms of personal liability and tax implications.
If you plan to start a company, you would possibly need to hire workers. Thus, you should study the policy that deals with workers’ compensation, benefits, and other legal issues.
Develop a Business Plan
If you have plans of starting a kitchen remodeling business, you should come up with a business plan that would help you organize your ideas for this endeavor. You need to know the tools that are ideal for a successful remodeling business. Initially, the nature of your business should be appealing to you. Many business owners are motivated to exert their efforts when they find accomplishment and satisfaction in the business. Thus, you should have the right attitude and character that could be your foundation for a successful career.
When you want to attain success in your kitchen remodeling business, you should carefully plan the components that should make up your business. You might want to have an outline or a plan for your business. The business plan should include the nature, location, name, job positions, and financial aspect of your enterprise. If you have no background on how to start a business, you should consult a lawyer or a business advisor who could guide you on your plan for your business.
Be bonded and insured
You need to get insurance for your kitchen remodeling business. If you already have insurance for your home or your automobile, you might want to consult the insurance company for possible coverage that you could have for your business. You could inquire about the ideal policy that you need such as liability insurance. This insurance covers damages and accidents that might occur in your business. Once you have an idea about the different policies, you could choose the ones that you want to apply for your remodeling business.
RELATED: What You Need to Startup a Handyman Business
You will also need to get a surety bond for your business. Most states require contractors, including kitchen renovators, to get bonded as a prerequisite for getting a license. Read the article Benefits of Surety Bonds: How Being Bonded Helps Home Business Owners
Prepare your marketing plan
After you have completed the legal aspects of your kitchen remodeling business, you should think about the best way how you could inform the public about your business. You should have an excellent marketing strategy, as your company’s success depends on your customers. Your goal is to make the public choose you instead of your competitors in the business. Hence, you should come up with brilliant ways how to advertise the company.
You should consider using online and print advertisements as part of your marketing plan. Create a company website that features the services, company background, relevant photos, and contact details of your company. You could also contact your newspaper publication company, and request a spot in the newspaper column where you could have your business advertised.
Your business would be a big success, as long as you have exerted your efforts on how to make it prosper.
Become a Member of Industry Associations
Becoming a member of an industry association will lend more credibility to you and your business, as well as promote trust among your clients. It will also provide you with networking as well as educational opportunities. If you enter into industry awards through the associations and win, that could be a huge asset in your marketing strategies.
Some of the industry associations you should consider joining include:
- National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA)
- American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
- SEN Design Group (SEN)
- National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI)
- Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Think about how you will set up your business
There are a number of important issues that you need to do before starting your kitchen remodeling business:
- Decide whether you will need a showroom and whether you have the resources to do it. A showroom lets potential customers see samples of kitchen designs that you can do. You can also use the showroom as a place to allow customers to pick and choose the materials they want to use for their kitchen renovation project. However, note that a showroom will require a significant amount of capital investment.
- Prepare an administrative system that will help you to track accurately job costing. You need to set up procedures and systems that will allow you to track the costs of completing a job.
- Select software that can help you in designing the kitchen based on the client’s specification; as well as software to help in quotations and order processing.
- Find manpower with the necessary skills to help you in your business.
Next: How to Succeed in the Kitchen Remodeling Business
Recommended Books on How to Start a Kitchen Remodeling Business:
- Internet Marketing for Remodeling Contractors: Advertising Your Kitchen, Bath, or Home Remodeling Business Online Using a Website, Google, Facebook, YouTube, Angie’s List, LinkedIn, SEO, and More!
- Home Remodeling Success Secrets: Essential Tips Before You Buy, Sell or Remodel
- Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on a Penny-Pincher Budge
- Mastering the Business of Design Build Remodeling
- Mastering the Business of Remodeling, An Action Plan for Profit, Progress and Peace of Mind
- The Contractor’s Closing Success Blueprint: A Contractor’s Guide: Consistently Close More Profitable Jobs and Generate Higher Quality Leads
- How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorating, and Home Staging Business: With Companion CD-ROM
- 7 Secrets To Achieving Rapid Growth in Your Remodeling Business: And How You Can Crush It Online
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