Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Running a small fire sprinkler contracting business is rewarding, but it can also be lonely. When you own or lead a small company you wear every hat there is. You build a team, chase work, watch your margins, and try new technology, all while still answering the phone when something goes wrong.
Sometimes the best resource isn’t another manual, class, or webinar. It’s a conversation with another contractor who understands what you’re dealing with.
That is what I have come to appreciate about the AFSA Small Contractors Collaborative Group. Once a month, small contractors from across the industry get together for an open conversation. There are no competitors in the room and no formal presentations. It’s contractors helping contractors.
We talk about what’s working and what isn’t. We share wins, challenges, resources, technology, business strategies, and lessons learned. One month, the topic might be finding and developing good people. The next it might be estimating, software, operations, profitability, or the changes reshaping our industry.
And sometimes someone just brings a problem to the group and says, “Here’s what I’m dealing with. What would you do?”
What I value most about this group is the honesty. We talk about what’s going well, but we also talk about what isn’t. There’s usually someone in the room who has been through it before.
Our companies may look different, but many of the challenges we face are surprisingly similar. There is a lot we can learn from each other.
If you are an AFSA small contractor looking for a place to ask questions, share what you’ve learned, and build real relationships with other contractors, check out the Small Contractors Collaborative Group. One good conversation really can change the way you run your business!
– Beckie Bortner, president, North American Fire Protection