Concrete leveling offers many opportunities for self-starters to create a successful business. Whether you form your business around this service or add it to your range of offerings, there are plenty of ways to drive business growth. Here, you can learn more about why you should start a business in this industry, what you need to get off the ground and how to be successful in concrete raising.
Why Should You Get Into the Concrete Raising Industry?
If you’re looking to start a business, you likely already anticipate benefits like making your own schedule, being your own boss and choosing how to complete operations. However, the concrete industry offers some unique advantages, as well. Starting a concrete business provides you with:
- Less labor-intensive work: Compared to many other outdoor trades and construction-focused roles, concrete raising is less labor-intensive. This service allows you to be hands-on while demanding less from you physically.
- New experiences: No two projects are exactly alike in the concrete industry. Every day is a new opportunity to engage with new people, try new methods and use different types of equipment.
- Job assurance: Concrete repair work is needed in numerous types of construction and building work. Starting a concrete business can give you lasting peace of mind over job assurance.
- Quick satisfaction: Another benefit of working in concrete raising is seeing your efforts make a difference with fast turnarounds. Compared to replacing concrete, methods like polyurethane foam raising allow you to complete projects in hours, not days or weeks. These turnarounds allow you to feel satisfaction over completed projects much quicker.
How to Start a Concrete Business
Starting a business requires a lot of forethought. You should understand the sector, what your growth might look like and the equipment you need to get started. Here’s what you need to know about the concrete industry:
Is Concrete Leveling a Profitable Business?
Concrete leveling can be a profitable business because these services are often in high demand but require low overhead costs. Exact profits will vary by business, and you can expect to see different numbers depending on factors like project scope, leveling methods, service location range and the number of customers you take within your operating hours.
Another interesting element to consider is possible changes to insurance requirements. Uneven concrete can pose a liability and safety risk, so many insurance companies may require home and business owners to address the problem. This increasing need could spike service requests, and shifts in the landscape could lead to additional profit gains.
How Much Money Do You Need to Start a Concrete Business?
The amount of money you need to start your business will vary. For example, someone with experience in the industry who already has equipment will likely need to spend less initially than someone working from the ground up. Equipment costs, training courses and other operational expenses will impact your startup requirements.
What Equipment Is Needed for a Concrete Business?
Depending on the methods you choose to use, you may need more or fewer specialized tools. Generally, the main equipment needed to start a concrete business includes:
- Trailer system: Trailer systems are vital for concrete-raising operations. For polyurethane options, lifting trailers ensure you have the material sets, heated hose extensions, electric drill, transfer pumps, and other equipment pieces to complete your job.
- Injection gun: An injection gun is crucial for polyurethane lifting. For example, the EliteONE Injection Gun operates with air pressure gauges, material pressure gauges and one-way check valves to save time and streamline operations.
- Mudjacking pumps: Different types of mudjacking pumps are available. You can find heavy-duty, high-powered machines to navigate rugged terrain with controlled versatility. There are also small, rugged pumps to suit smaller projects such as residential concrete raising.
- Paddle Grout Mixers: Mixers are essential tools for mudjacking work. More effective than a drum mixer, this equipment creates a mud slurry from locally source materials; typically, materials such as pond sand, fly ash, sandy loam, limestone, and topsoil are mixed with Portland cement and water to create a mud slurry. A paddle grout mixer should be on your list of mudjacking equipment.
- Rack systems: Rack systems allow you to store all mudjacking equipment in one convenient location. A quality rack system can save time during unloading processes and offer a convenient solution for businesses already operating with a truck.
- Hydraulic power packs: These power packs are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, allowing workers to achieve reliable and precise results during mudjacking operations. They provide the versatility and power necessary to stabilize soil or lift concrete slabs.
- Accessories: You can find a vast selection of accessories to improve polyurethane processes. From heated hoses extensions to conversion kits to transfer pumps, you can implement many accessories to save time and enhance precision and reliability.
- Safety gear: Every contractor should have proper safety gear, such as ear, eye and hand protection. Breathing masks, boots, rubber gloves and kneeboards can enhance safety and comfort during operations.
How to Become a Concrete Contractor
Once you’ve decided to commit to the concrete raising industry, it’s time to figure out the details. While the journey to owning a business can vary for everyone, there are some general steps you should follow.
- Create a business plan: Successful businesses begin with a plan. This initial stage requires a lot of consideration and planning. For instance, determine whether you need to obtain outside funding and how you can best acquire it. Define your business goals, outline your operations and document your progress and setbacks. Identify what makes your business stand out from competitors and evaluate your finances to inform your purchasing and pricing decisions.
- Obtain insurance and licenses: Most states require contractors to possess some kind of license or insurance. Research what your state and local governments require and ensure you can meet or exceed these requirements before beginning or advertising any operations.
- Develop your knowledge: Skill and knowledge are crucial in the concrete industry. Invest in quality training to discover best practices and expert advice. Training is crucial for your safety and project quality, so find a service provider that delivers ongoing support, uses industry-leading equipment and maintains a reputation of excellence.
- Promote your business: After you create a business, you begin the ongoing process of promoting it to drive growth. From making social media profiles to using paper ads around town to partnering with other contractors or businesses in your area, it’s important to get your name out. Determine how you can attract the most new customers, what aspects can ensure your repeat customers return regularly and how to encourage word-of-mouth.
Start Your Concrete Lifting Business With Help From HMI
Starting a concrete business can be rewarding, and partnering with the right teams can boost your success. HMI is your concrete lifting business partner. With over five decades of industry experience and comprehensive support, we can help you launch your startup.
We offer extensive financing options through third parties, help you access the right tools and guide you to your vision of success. We also offer training seminars so you can enhance your knowledge and equip yourself with industry best practices. Learn more and register today to begin your business venture.
