While we’re not quite 100% post-COVID just yet, we’re in a much better position in New Zealand than a lot of other countries, so it’s important to make the most of it. Here are a couple of things to do for your tradie business now to prepare for the year ahead.

Worker smarter not harder

You might still be rolling with old school methods in your business, but if you really want to be more efficient, get on board with the latest systems and tech. Get accounting software that makes invoicing a breeze, and use the cloud to share the latest job info and updates with your team. During the COVID period, a lot of things have shifted into a digital space so make sure you keep up with this trend, especially if things go south again…

Put yourself out there

Like we said, a lot of things are going digital now, so it’s super important to have an online presence for your business. Make sure you’ve got a solid website with all of your important contact info and client testimonials. Being active on social media is also key to keeping your business front of mind for those potential clients – if you don’t have time to be posting regularly, find a scheduling tool that allows you to set your posts for the week all at once.

Keep up the communication

Although things have settled down, it’s still important to show your customers that you take safety seriously, particularly when it comes to COVID-19. Keep up the contact tracing and ensure your clients are regularly updated with your safety processes and what they can expect from you. If you are having delays with any supplies due to COVID, make sure you communicate this, and give your clients updates on realistic timeframes for job completion.

Have a back-up plan

When things really went belly-up last year, many of us were scrambling to figure out how to react and how to keep afloat. While we’re in a relatively stable period, it’s important to have a back-up plan should things go pear-shaped. What will you do if we go into lockdown again? Do you have a plan in place to keep your business going? We can only learn from the past, so make sure you have a think about risk mitigation while you can.