“I invested in the Franklin Franchise and I have been pleased with the immediate growth and development of that operation, even in this challenging economy” said Carter, who lives in Marion County near Chattanooga. “I always knew RSU of Chattanooga was going to be a great opportunity.  RSU provides a proven process, a brand, training and on-going support.  Locating the right person to run the company in Chattanooga was the final step.”

Brad Wardlaw, a local contractor and businessman from nearby Hixson, joins the Company as the Operations Manager.

“RSU Contractors gives me established systems and procedures, technology and resources that I simply could never have developed on my own,” said Wardlaw.  “By joining forces with RSU, I can best utilize my knowledge and experience to really grow this operation.  As a contractor and with my experience in real estate I see the opportunities in Chattanooga.  I know and understand the market and I am excited to join the RSU Team.”

RSU Contractors specializes in all types of remodeling and renovations, including additions, accessory structures, kitchens, baths, whole-house remodels and commercial projects. The company also offers a comprehensive home maintenance program.   Training for the new Franchise begins January 23^rd inMurfreesboro,TN the Franchise headquarters.  RSU of Chattanooga opens for business in February.

“We have taken our 29 year business experience and developed a unique franchise opportunity,” said Mark Williams, president of Franchise Operations.  “Our focus is to deliver high quality work by qualified professionals.  At RSU we attract some of the best talent and the entire company is supported by a process driven software program called the CommandCenter.”

RSU Contractors currently has operations in Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro and serves parts of Davidson County.  “We are looking for quality minded professionals to open operations in other communities,” said Williams.

About RSU Contractors

RSU Contractors, founded in 1982 is a franchise organization specializing in remodeling and renovations for residential and commercial customers. The company, headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tenn., also offers a maintenance program for year-round repairs and inspections.  RSU has received numerous awards, including being named one of Remodeling Magazine’s Big 50 in 2008 and recognized as one of the Top 500 remodeling firms by Qualified Remodeler magazine.   Please visit www.RSUcontractors.com for more information.

Brad Wardlaw and Mark Williams during a recent meeting in Chattanooga.

All Businesses are supported by a Team.  Complex and large business have a multitude of Teams & departments.  Even a one-person business requires support.  An author may write but the rest of the team must edit, publish, print and deliver the book to market.

Unless you live and work off the grid somewhere there are others you must rely on.  The first step in Team Building is a complete understanding of your business’s process, systems and procedures then identification of the key Team members that make it happen.

Common Gaps in Small businesses

Every business is different and so are the owner/operator(s) business know-how, experience and talent.  More than anything people stay in their comfort zone and fail to take action in areas they do not like or understand.  Therefore a critical component of business becomes ignored which over times leads to failure.  This will always be seen in market corrections like the recent crash that affected so many small businesses.

First it takes an understanding of general business and your specifics.  Then you must have the desire, energy or resources to find the right TEAM member

• Operations Management – Most managers handle pieces of operations management well but making sure the whole business is ran smoothly is where over-tasked owners often times fail.  Warning if you are the main salesperson, production producer then this could be you….
• Marketing – It used to be easy – just get in the yellow pages and wait for the phone to ring.  Not anymore and not in this economy.  Most small business are not very good at marketing their business.  On the other end some business are good in marketing & sales but then fail in actual delivery.  90% of small businesses cannot accurately tell you their actual cost per lead….If you do not know this cost — then how do you know what’s effective???
• Accounting – Many small companies are nothing more than back-pocket operators.  If I got cash in the pocket then my accounting says I am profitable – at least for now?  This may work at infant stages but to build a proper business that will consistently show a profit you must follow acceptable accounting practices.  Not just tax returns but business reports must be produced and managed by someone.
• Administration – If you really want to grow a business you must track results and build resources of information and supporting documents.   Who connects with clients?  Do you have someone available to personally answer client inquiries and develop leads?  If clients do call you back for more work will you be able to find any records or useful information on the past job?  Who will know where the file is?
• Sales Process – A Professional Salesperson sets themselves apart from others.  Most people see sales as a slick-talking car salesmen.  At least car-salesman has a system and process to close sales and get results.  Most businesses require something (good or service) to be sold to someone else.  In competitive markets this doesn’t happen by accident it requires a well-defined process and someone focused on the results.
• Production – Who will actually be doing the work?
• Other – There are really a multitude of Team members of jobs to be done.  Keep asking yourself – Who will do this….

How Develop a Successful Team

• Define and understand your business and its core principles.  This defines the type people you want to attract.
• Identify all key areas and processes in your business
• Break it down by major categories and define their role
  • Internal TEAM – owners, partners and employees
    • Job Descriptions – Focus on key employee(s) you may need.
    • Personal Management & Training – You should have a Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual to define all key parts for each position in the company and have Training program.
• External TEAM – vendors, subs, suppliers, clients and other conditions
  • Agreements & Contracts
  • Business relationships
  • Team Building – Establish your systems and procedures with employees, sub-contractors, suppliers and most importantly your customers.  Good Leadership ties it all together…..

Doing it all by yourself is difficult!!!

If you are in business for yourself it can be very difficult to build an effective team unless you have the time and resources to accomplish business efficiencies by stages of development.  This requires a lot of discipline and a long-term commitment.  It can be frustrating because as soon as you get one TEAM member trained and in place they leave and you have to start over.

You might also consider a franchise like RSU Contractors. RSU has a proven Team Building process and is a complete business model that includes proven systems and procedures for each TEAM member.  A franchise is an investment and to be successful in your business you must invest in either an established model or invest in the time, energy and resources to develop your own.

All Business Operations are made up of a multitude of systems and procedures.  Complex and large business have thousands of systems and procedures.  Even a one-person business requires a system and process by which they produce a good or service and deliver it to a buyer.

Focus at the core then work out.

Step one is to define your core and what you really do.  To have success what must happen and what steps support the process.  Define your core principles or culture and make sure your system supports what you and your company stands for.

Good Business Habits

Systems and procedures when properly defined and implemented should become a good habit which should be the goal of this process.  If you know the steps required to succeed, and you and everyone in the company follow these steps without hesitation then your business will run like a well-oiled machine.

Along the same lines though Bad Habits are hard to break, but it’s easy to go broke in business…  No system or procedure in place is a sign of a poorly ran operation.  Bad habits creep in whenever there is a void in organization.  If you do not define the process then random and varying application will be used resulting in constant re-learning and total in-efficiencies.

Survival of the fittest

In this economy you must develop organizational efficiencies, especially if you are just starting or you wish to grow your business.  You are either advancing or falling back.

All business must have systems and procedures in place to achieve reasonable success.  Every business is different so it takes an understanding of general business and your specifics.  A failure in any of these can spell disaster.  Some suggestions:

• Operations Management
• Marketing
• Accounting
• Administration
• Sales Process
• Production & delivery
• Personnel or Team Development
• Quality & Safety
• Others

If you are not addressing all of your business basics it might be like driving a race-car with one bad tire.  You should be in the lead but instead you are constantly having to pull over and address problems….

Defining quantities and how you measure success

A key to this approach is determining how you quantify the system.  Accounting is an obvious one.  Do you apply job-costing procedures to every job?  At RSU Contractors we track every expense on every job.  Otherwise how do you know if any of the supporting pieces are accurate and effective?

If you lose money on a job you better adjust something before you continue to sale and produce more un-profitable jobs.  Even a bad salesmen can find work if you want to give things away.  Hey great news you just sold 10 jobs….Bad news is you are going to lose on almost everyone???

Also define resources especially scarce resources and how they will be used.  A typical work-day only has so many hours so when developing a system understand — Time is a limited Resource.

How develop efficient Systems and Procedures

We can spend hours here, but for now let’s look at the general ideas:

• Define and understand your business and its core principles
• Identify all Business Basics and their role in your business
• Break it down by major categories
• Define specifics of each category
• Focus on the key steps
• Develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)  — you can create a simple one-page guide on anything from how to make coffee, to how to perform a critical task
• Personal & Training – Now define all key parts for each position in the company and how to teach and train others
• Team Building – Establish your systems and procedures with employees, sub-contractors, suppliers and most importantly your customers.  Tie it all together…..

Doing it all by yourself is difficult!!!

If you are in business for yourself it can be very difficult to accomplish business efficiencies by yourself.  In some cases you can hire consultants or hire talented people to join your team.  You might also consider a franchise like RSU Contractors www.RSUfranchise.com.  A franchise package should include a complete business model that includes proven systems and procedures for your business.  A franchise is an investment and to be successful in your business you must invest in either an established model or invest in the time, energy and resources to develop systems and procedures that will make the business a success.  Keep in mind its more than the defining – to be proven it takes years of trail and errors.  An effective franchise operation should save you that time and should also pay for itself by helping to prevent errors.

Corporate Myth

Pink Floyd once sang “Get a good job with more pay and you’re okay.” That was it — go to work for a good company, work 30 years, and retire with full benefits and a pension. Sign me up and I can climb that ladder to success…. those days are long gone!

Small Businesses to the rescue

The future for Americans in this economy is through small business ownership. Locally owned businesses dedicated to providing VALUE for their goods and services. Most new jobs in the future will come from small businesses. At RSU Contractors, our newest franchise in Franklin, TN has already created 5 new jobs since May!

Natural Selection and Business Evolution

Go out to dinner on a Friday night. At good restaurants there will be crowds with extended waits, while other eateries are going out of business. It’s not just being in business, it is about being in the right business and doing things the right way. In a tight economy consumers will make selections based on market demand – their wants and needs.

The point is, you can no longer just open your door, put out your sign and expect customers to start pouring in. That day has come and gone. In business today you need to be professional, organized and have a complete business plan and model.

Control your own destiny

Credit restrictions and the ability to sell your home in this market have most consumers remaining in their home longer.  Many folks are now remodeling and they are investing in their quality of life.

Remodeling is a $300 billion industry and is poised to be a growth industry for the next ten years and beyond according to a recent Harvard University study. If you want to be part of a growth business, Remodeling is the place to be.

Currently there are over 130 million homes in America

• The older homes in the U.S. need to be updated in order to become or remain more livable and functional.  Many homes were poorly built and now need repairs and improvements.
• Newer homes built for size may not have been built for quality and now require remodeling to satisfy current trends and designs.

Remodeling serves to meet client’s basic wants and needs

• Remember Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs? People have to invest in their most basic need for shelter.  They also desire niceties within their shelter to improve the family’s quality of life.

Green Solutions

• Many consumers desire Green Solutions and want to adhere to energy & resource conservation and a move toward a better and simpler lifestyle.

Changes in the family drive the desire to remodel

• Senior care and stay at home rehabs to modify new and existing space capable of meeting the needs of the elderly or a family member that has become handicap.
• A growing family also requires more space and new functionality with kids and pets.
• Baby Boomers are not only getting older many are nesting, downsizing and others are still adding on or remodeling to enhance their lifestyles.
• Projects like offices, kitchens, baths, dens, screen porches, outdoor entertaining…

There is opportunity now in Remodeling

• The next Generation lacks tools and old-fashion know-how making remodeling a home service business for many generations.
• Many construction people from home building are waiting for the glory days to return?

Why wait?

• Remodeling is a very fragmented industry and so there is a great opportunity for a consolidated business venture to capture market share.
• Market share is almost unheard of in this industry.
• This rare market opportunity will not remain viable forever, as there are already signs of industry consolidation.

Not just Residential.

Every office and homeowner needs and wants a company that can update and maintain their structure.  As the market develops companies like RSU Contractors will target and build market share by focusing on the 90% employed and those that are still thriving in this economy.

Control your own destiny and look to build and grow a business NOW in this economy and think about positioning your business for the next ten years. Compare Remodeling to other Industries and Opportunities – what else has a future at a reasonable investment point?

Invest NOW – be in position with the next boom.  The next boom is not be the building suburbs, but renovating and maintaining existing structures.

If you are considering getting into the remodeling business you should consider a RSU Contractors Franchise.  RSU gives you a business model with systems and procedures designed to build your business.  For more information visit us online at www.RSUcontractors.com or watch this feature from WSMV Channel 4.