Grow Your Trade Business

When you’re a new company, figuring out how to grow your trade business is tough. The first step? Build your customer base. More customers mean more work, more income, and a stronger pipeline for the future – and trade expert, John Beasley, agrees. With over 8 years of experience running his own painting and decorating company, John knows what it takes to win work and keep it coming. In this guide, he covers 5 practical ways to attract new customers and keep them coming back. Once you have a solid customer list, focus on learning how to calculate a profit margin to stay competitive. Or, read our how to invoice article, which explains why this document will keep your business running smoothly.

Meet

John Beasley

I started my trade business in 2017 after working for my dad and brother straight from school. I specialise in painting and decorating, but joinery and carpentry projects are where my real passion lies. Running your own company is both rewarding and challenging, and I’ve learnt a lot along the way. Now I’m sharing the lessons I’ve learned with you – there’s no waffle, just real-world tips and advice.

17 years
experience
in the trade
8+ years
as a business owner
850
kitchens completed
Dry lining
expert

Growing a business isn’t just about filling your diary today – it’s about getting people to trust your name. In a survey by TradeBrain last year, nearly a quarter of the trade said they were struggling to win jobs and had fewer than one month’s work booked ahead of them. Luckily, there are simple ways to avoid this, and I’ll break them all down in my video. Look out for my tips as well – they have worked for me when building my business from the ground up.

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Get To Know Your Customer

Knowing who your customers are is important. Whether it’s site work, homeowners, landlords, or businesses, each type of customer is different. Get to know your niche and market to them directly.

Site Work

For me, this is a great starting point because the work is consistent and it allows you to develop new skills quickly. You'll also learn to problem-solve and find solutions on the job.

Homeowners

You’ll get a greater variety of work with homeowners – think kitchens, bedrooms, or joinery jobs. You can also specialise in certain tasks – that’s what I did, and now these projects make up 75% of my trade.

Landlords

This type of work can be harder because you’ll have to work with both tenants and property owners. But landlords often have many properties, so there are opportunities for repeat business.

Businesses

Working for a business can mean you take on larger projects, which means regular work and income. You might also be called out for emergencies where it’s fair to charge more.

Build A Strong Reputation

Word of mouth is still king – especially in the trade. So, make sure people are talking about your business for the right reasons. Be reliable, trustworthy, and do high-quality work. Encourage customers to leave reviews on trade referral websites, Trustpilot, and Google. These reviews build trust and a positive reputation before someone even picks up the phone to contact you. Here’s how each platform works:

Referral Websites

You may need a membership to set up a profile, but customers don't need one and they can leave reviews about the quality of your work for free. Make sure you ask your customers to review your work after every job.

Trustpilot

Set up a free business profile to collect reviews or go for paid plans to get more marketing features. Customers can leave a review for free if they’ve got their own profile. Trustpilot also offer demos to help you get started.

Google My Business

Most people search for businesses online first, so make sure you’re easy to find by creating a free Google Business profile. Add words about what you do and where you’re based so customers can find you faster. E.g. “Kitchen Fitters In Portsmouth.”

Social Media

All social media channels are free, but each platform has its benefits. A Facebook page makes your services easier to find, while Instagram and TikTok are great for showing off your fitting skills and finished projects.

John's trade tip

Always check back in with your customers to see if they are happy and ask for feedback. Share a review link to make it easy for them to leave feedback. Let them know it will only take a few minutes.

Use Social Media

Social media is basically your online portfolio. A lot of customers will want to see your work before they hire you, so knowing how to grow your social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok will help bring in more leads.

Choose One Platform

You don’t need to be on every platform – just pick one your customers use and stick with it. You also don’t need to spend a long time creating content. It can be as simple as taking a few photos, before-and-afters, or short clips of your finished projects.

Think About Seasonal Trends

Lots of people start home improvements in spring or want a new kitchen before Christmas. These are prime times to promote your business or offer deals on your socials. Let followers know your availability during these periods so they know you can take on work.

Network Effectively

Local networking opens doors to new work – whether it’s with suppliers, fellow trades, or customers. You’ve got to put yourself out there. Go to community events or builders' breakfasts to meet potential customers and partners. If you exchange numbers, they might give you a call for their next job.

Get friendly with local suppliers like Howdens. Their depot teams often support homeowners finding a tradesperson, so it’s worth making yourself known. Howdens have more than 850 depots nationwide, so chances are there’s one around the corner from you.

Go to community events. I’ve had people approach me because I’m wearing my work clothes, and because of that, I’ve made a new connection with a customer.

John Beasley

Provide Top Notch Customer Service

Service matters – not just the finish. Be reliable, professional, and communicate clearly. Customers will come back if you have great service, and some studies even show that they’re willing to pay more for it. Here’s how to nail it:

Be Professional

Deal with enquiries or estimates quickly — I go back to customers within 10 days. Be polite and tidy to leave a good impression.

Be Reliable

Turn up on time. If you’re running late, explain why and when is the earliest time you can start.

Communicate Clearly

Keep customers in the loop. That way, if any issues or concerns crop up, you can sort them out early.

Business Builder Series

Whether you're looking to start a new business or already have one, running a trade business can be tricky. To help you build something worthwhile, we cover the basics – from knowing how to invoice to getting savvy on social media. Each topic will advise on best practices and how to run things correctly to set you up for success.

HOW TO PRICE A JOB

GROW YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA

HOW AND WHEN TO INVOICE

Open A Trade Account

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