I own a hair salon. Typically, November is my busiest season. It has been SO quiet. A lot of my colleagues are also saying the same thing and have had to close up shop because of it - or get a second job.
People keep saying it will get better and the economy will bounce back but I don’t know. I am so close from just throwing in the towel, closing up shop and getting a corporate gig.
I have a property inspection business, and this has been our busiest year since starting in 2016. We actually got busier during covid due to insureds writing amd rewriting policies left and right. This line of work is very niche and it’s not well known, hence why it’s difficult to find people to do it. Our industry is constantly growing and changing, and there is always something to learn. It is NON STOP… My phone is going off with calls, texts and emails 16 hours a day. It is insanely frustrating on most days because of all the people we have to deal with, but alas a great problem to have.
The hardest part has been finding solid people who want to put in the time to generate their own business… We use subcontractors and provide them the leads to schedule inspections with insureds. So the issue isn’t the lack of clients. It’s lack of good resources and proper systems in place to ensure a smooth and automated operation. And, of course, establishing trust with said subcontractors.
Do you mind if I PM you? I’m looking to pivot or add to my commercial property management and maintenance business.
A very useful response. Im very interest in the streamlining of niche small operations. So satisfying
It is a pain in the ass when you aren’t a large company and aren’t cranking in insane amounts of revenue, but exercising creativity is a fun way to come up with solutions, and watching you business grow from it is satisfying.
Are these inspections done for the seller or the buyer? Are people selling more property than usual or buying it?
I have a niche business of working on satellite TV systems for major hotels. Because there are so few competent people who can do this we get paid to travel +200 miles sometimes to do a single job. We charge technical time and travel time to and from the job.
Been in business since 1978.
How does one become an inspector? Are there courses or is it an apprentice type thing? Genuinely curious why there’s a shortage of folks to do it.