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David Klingenfuss is an electrical contractor in California and he was able to keep his business afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We interviewed Klingenfuss to ask him about his experience in his industry and the best practices he’s discovered over the years and implemented to keep his business running smoothly.
“Growing up my stepdad was a general contractor,” says Klingenfuss.
Klingenfuss has been on job sites since he was a teen, watching closely and gaining experience along the way.
“He taught me the value of hard work and all aspects of construction, says Klingenfuss.
But it wasn’t just the fact that Klingenfuss started working at a young age that allowed him to establish a strong work ethic and launch his own contracting business. It was careful observation and a solid understanding of what aspects of the trade he liked most.
Klingenfuss says that while working on the job site, he saw that the electricians had it the best.
“Most of the other trades laboured hard and the work was very dirty,” says Klingenfuss.
Of course, Klingenfuss had experience labouring, but he decided to pursue the contracting sector that interested him the most.
When Klingenfuss was 20-years-old, he decided to join Job Corps, a voluntary program run by the United States Department of Labour that offers free vocational training to young people.
“It was interesting. It was in a dorm setting and I learned a lot,” says Klingenfuss.
So how has Klingenfuss’ experience translated into sustainable business today?
Klingenfuss now runs his own successful company, has loyal customers and is able to make a living doing what he knows best.
“I’ve run my contracting business for over 30 years,” says Klingenfuss.
Here are Klingenfuss’ top rules for success in business after three decades of experience:
Always put your customers first. Your customers are the reason you’re in business, and while it isn’t always the easiest thing to do, it’s the right thing to do. Klingenfuss sets aside additional time to prepare his tools beforehand to ensure he’s always prepared and can best serve his customers. He says he knows his customers are satisfied when they give him positive referrals and reviews.
Do a good job and the money will follow. This was a saying Klingenfuss had been told in the past that resonated with him and has remained prominent in his mind until today. If you focus on doing the best job you possibly can, the money will follow. Oftentimes people are overly concerned about their revenue that they don’t focus on the task at hand and doing the best job they possibly can.
Implement a marketing strategy. Klingenfuss says it’s important to implement a marketing strategy to ensure business keeps coming in consistently. The investment in marketing is worth it in the long-run. He says to start small and begin working your way up. If it costs more than 25% for leads, then it’s not a good lead source.
Build your customer list. Klingenfuss emphasizes the importance of building relationships and with that, building a loyal customer list. A customer list is a great place to communicate with your clients, solicit feedback and ask for reviews. He recommends using companies such as Constant Contact to send emails and get jobs. It’s one of the most effective strategies that Klingenfuss has discovered to get more work.
Ask for referrals. Finally, Klingenfuss recommends asking for referrals. This is an important step that many contractors forget, but it pays off big time. Asking for referrals is a great way to score new business.
If you want to learn more about David Klingenfuss or gain insight from his tips and tricks around contracting, be sure to visit his website: www.davidklingenfuss.com
