If you're thinking of becoming a subcontractor in 2022, there's no time like the present. Economic conditions are likely to improve during the year, and there are ample opportunities for subcontractors in many different sectors of the economy. However, you'll need to know how to network effectively, promote yourself online, and connect with general contractors in your area. You should also be familiar with the differences between general contractors and subcontractors.
How to Become a Subcontractor
The key to success as a subcontractor is being able to reliably find jobs. While landing the first one can be a challenge, it's certainly not an insurmountable one, and your next jobs will likely be easier to get than the first. While every subcontractor uses different strategies to find work, there are a few tried-and-true suggestions that can make it much easier to land a job. Here are a few things that experts recommend:
- Advertise your services on multiple online platforms, and attend in-person networking events.
- Always keep in touch with clients who you worked for in the past.
- Ask friends and family members if they know of any general contractors that could use your services.
- Create an online portfolio that showcases some of your best work.
How to Find Subcontracting Work: 9 Tips
As a subcontractor, being able to consistently find work is crucial. While this can be easier said than done, it's likely to be much easier if you follow these nine simple tips.
1. Look for government subcontracting opportunities
While many people who are just starting out as a subcontractor tend to focus on private companies in their area, it's also important to consider job opportunities with state and local governments. Keep in mind that you will not need a general contractor license for these positions.
Here are a few examples of situations where your state or local government may hire subcontractors:
- Local governments often hire subcontractors for major events, such as parades and fireworks displays.
- If there are any construction projects that state or local governments in your area are working on, this could be an excellent opportunity for subcontractors who work in the construction industry.
- State and local governments sometimes hire subcontractors for certain tasks related to infrastructure maintenance.
The GSA Subcontracting Directory for Small Business is a great place to start your search. They list large contractors who have federal contracts and who you can reach out to about work. Another helpful resource is Sam.gov. After setting up an account, you can search for contracts by ID number or keyword.
2. Reach out directly to general contractors in your area
Reaching out to general contractors can be a great way to find work as a subcontractor. However, it's important to tailor your approach to the unique needs of the general contractor(s) you're interested in working for. The following are a few recommendations that can help you tailor your approach to the job:
- Use a combination of online and offline strategies to advertise your services to general contractors. Promote your company through word of mouth, your website, and listings on online platforms that connect general contractors and subcontractors.
- Ensure that you pay close attention to your website's search rankings. This will help to make it more visible to general contractors who may be interested in hiring you.
- Use networking platforms, such as LinkedIn. This can make it easier to connect with general contractors in your area.
- Pay close attention to the local search rankings of your business. The best way to optimize your site's SEO strategy for local traffic is choosing keywords that contain the name of your region, city, or county.
3. Set alerts for online advertisements relevant to your services
If you set up alerts for job listings in your area, finding work could be far easier. Luckily, most networking sites and job boards make it easy to set up alerts, which will be delivered to you by email if a suitable job shows up.
You'll typically be asked about your skills, experience, and the rate of pay that you expect. This will allow the platform to filter out jobs that aren't suitable. Use these tips to effectively set up online alerts:
- Don't set up alerts for jobs that don't offer sufficient payment. This will make it easier to ensure that you only accept jobs that offer a fair rate of pay.
- Depending on the nature of your work, it may be best to set up alerts that are specific to certain general contractors in your area.
- You can consider setting up multiple types of alerts for jobs in your area. For instance, you may choose to have one type of notification for jobs that pay more than a certain predetermined amount and another alert based on location.
If you are able to work remotely, you don't need to restrict yourself to jobs in your geographical region. Luckily, it's possible to perform a wider range of tasks remotely than ever before, but this isn't true for every subcontractor. Not only do you need to consider the nature of the tasks that you'll perform, but it's also important to consider whether or not in-person communication is necessary for subcontractors in your industry.
4. Keep an updated website showcasing your capabilities
One of the most important parts of finding work as a subcontractor is effectively using your website to showcase your skills. So, you'll need to make sure that your website is SEO-friendly, well-organized, and reliable. This will help you find HVAC subcontracting jobs or employment in any other industry.
Keep the following suggestions in mind:
- Choose your keywords carefully. These are the terms that people will type into Google and other search engines to find your site. So, make sure that they're relevant to the services that you provide.
- Try to keep your keyword density between 1% and 3%. This will help to optimize your search rankings. However, if your site has a keyword density that exceeds 3%, your page could get pulled from the results. This is likely to result in a devastating loss of traffic.
- Rnsure that your site runs smoothly. Test it on multiple devices.
- Regularly add new content to your website's blog. Not only will this help to keep potential employers interested, but it also can play an important role in optimizing your site for search engines.
It's essential to ensure that your site is as mobile-friendly as possible, and this is more important than ever in 2022. This is true whether you're looking for HVAC subcontractor jobs or any other type of employment as a subcontractor. Here are a few tips that can help you optimize your site for mobile users:
- Consider the fact that mobile devices have a small screen size, so mobile users respond better to simple navigation and site designs.
- Understand that certain video scripts don't tend to work well on mobile devices. One example of a script to avoid is JavaScript.
- In many cases, it's a good idea to offer two versions of your site. One should be designed specifically for mobile users.
As you gain experience, it's important to make sure that your website showcases this effectively. So, you need to ensure that you keep an updated list of the jobs that you have completed and post them on your website. Also, you should consider posting reviews from satisfied clients. This is a great way to highlight your talents and attract work in any field.
5. Get a Google My Business profile
In order to get as much work as possible, it's critical to improve your online presence with an effective Google My Business page. Not only can this make it easier for contractors in your area to find you, but it also offers a great platform for them to leave reviews.
If you receive good reviews on Google from multiple clients, you're likely to find it far easier to get work. In addition, you'll want to ensure that your Google My Business portfolio is optimized for both local and general search rankings.
6. Focus on submitting the right proposals to the right jobs
In order to find work as a subcontractor, it's important to know which ones to apply to. Unfortunately, many subcontractors make the mistake of applying to every job that they come across. The following are a few things that you should always take into account when you're deciding whether or not to apply to a job:
- Calculate both the rate of pay and the number of hours you'll need to work.
- Determine that the company has a history of paying subcontractors on time.
- Consider whether or not there will be any expenses associated with taking the job.
In addition, it's essential to make sure that you tailor your applications to the specific job that you're applying to. You can do this by following these three golden rules:
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Mention any jobs that you have done for similar businesses.
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Use the services of a professional resume builder.
- Modify your list of references based on the unique requirements of each job.
7. Keep your workforce’s capacity in mind
As a subcontractor, it's important to be aware of the capacity of your workforce. If you take on too many tasks at once, it could be difficult to complete jobs on time, and this might make it harder to get work in the future. If you won't be able to complete all of your jobs on time with your current workforce, you have two options: hire new workers or turn down jobs.
8. Do plenty of networking
In order to succeed as a subcontractor, you'll need to successfully harness the power of networking. This means familiarizing yourself with the needs of contractors in your area. Also, you'll need to attend networking events, and you may want to consider joining a business association in your region.
If you're worried about attending events in person, plenty of networking events can be done online. Zoom and other teleconferencing software programs make it possible to talk with a wide range of professionals in your industry.
You'll want to make sure that you give out your information to anyone who is interested in hiring you as a subcontractor. This can be a little tricky for online events, but you can create a nice PDF with your contact information to distribute. Moreover, you can later convert PDF to JSON to make it more user-friendly
9. Join websites that help subcontractors find work
In addition to networking offline, it's often a good idea to use online platforms specifically for subcontractors. While there are many options to consider, these five sites are often considered to be among the best platforms for subcontractors:
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- LinkedIn ProFinder
- BidClerk
- GovernmentBids.com
Another great option for smaller subcontractors is Supplier Connection. This site was created by large contractors John Deere and CAT, and other large contractors check this site for subcontractors. Just register your company, and fill out your profile.
Takeaways: How to Work as a Subcontractor
As a subcontractor, a significant portion of your hours will be spent looking for work. While this can be time-consuming and a challenge, especially at first, it's likely to be far easier if you follow the nine simple tips that are laid out in this guide. This is especially true in 2022. Economic conditions are expected to be good for job seekers throughout the year, and this includes individuals who are looking for work as a subcontractor.
Furthermore, you'll need to have the right insurance coverage to protect your business. This is true for all subcontractors. It's essential to ensure that your policy provides at least 1 million dollars' worth of coverage. Additionally, you'll need to ensure that it's designed for subcontractors in your unique industry.
Luckily, you can count on us to offer comprehensive coverage, which will offer 1 million dollars of protection. You'll also be able to find a plan that's specifically tailored to subcontractors in your industry. Not only that, but our prices are affordable.
Give Us a Call Today!
If you're looking for business insurance as a subcontractor, you can count on our policies to offer exactly what you need, and our customer support team will be more than happy to answer any questions that you have. So, give us a call or contact us online today!