This article is sponsored by AnswerForce.
Everyone needs more people. In 2023 hiring the best staff is the number one uncontested pain point for our industry. With added economic pressures, do you have a plan to deal with this extra challenge?
Labor shortages will hold back your business’s growth. You can’t take on extra work because you’re spread too thin managing other roles of your company. Trying to increase your working hours cuts into your relaxation and family time.
Why You’re Short of Labor
Employees are getting older.
Too many potential employees are retiring from the industry and younger generations aren’t there to replace them. The average age of a restoration technician is 40+ years old. That’s not only a problem for today, but also for years to come. Only 23% are aged 30-40, and 12% are 20-30 (Zippa).
As this talent pool shrinks you need to offer better wage incentives to attract the best in the business. This is where growing your business is essential. The more business you can take on, the better wages you can offer.
Changing working patterns.
Skilled technicians aren’t the only ones missing from the workforce. Everyone from project managers and back office staff is in demand. With the impact of Covid, working environments have changed forever. 50% of all job applicants want remote positions (World Economic Forum) and only 1% of restoration companies offer it to their staff. If you don’t have the abilities or tech to offer remote or flexible work schedules, your business won’t stand out to potential employees
You’re short on time.
The recruitment process of new staff can be fun, but also very time-consuming. Piles of resumes and round after round of interviews distract you from running your business. With an already packed schedule, many business owners haven’t got the time to even look at the current staff on offer. In the end, you’re left short.
Once you’ve hired someone there’s also training time to factor in. Depending on their skill set or previous experience this will further take you away from running and growing your business.
What this Means for Your Business in 2023
Growing your business never gets easier, but it is rewarding. To keep ahead of economic pressures you’ll want to take on extra staff to handle more business. It’s all about being on top of market conditions to keep your business successful. 2023 won’t be a time for standing still and enjoying the view.
The restoration industry is no stranger to hard work. You didn’t come here for an easy ride. But it’s important to make sure work doesn’t overwhelm you. Time off in 2023 will be important, but it can be difficult with labor shortages. This is where extra staff becomes so valuable.
While taking pride in what you do is great, it can take its toll. Burnout will affect 60% of people during their lifetime (Forbes). When you’re a small business or understaffed, burning out can have a crippling effect on your trade. Taking unplanned time off to recover means your customers go unserved. That’s why having an answering service on hand is useful in case the worst happens.
Grow with an Answering Service
Win your time back
Focus your time on jobs that grow your business and make you money. Without the interruption of calls or time-consuming appointment scheduling, you’ll be focused on restoring your customers’ homes.
The time to provide training for new employees will also become available. Having clear training plans and time to implement them will make you stand out to young apprentices. Through an answering service, you’ll be able to take your time skilling up young employees, while your business continues to provide an answer for customers.
Your customers will still get the immediate answers they need through a 24/7 answering service, even while you’re working. Your time is now better focused on growing your business and supporting new staff.
Get back to your family
When an answering service has got your back you’ll be able to enjoy more time with your family. After hours service answers all your customers during the evenings, weekends, and holidays. Your family will thank you for it when your phone is kept in your pocket during dinner.
Flexible plans
Your job is more than a 9-5. Huge influxes of business roll in with hurricanes and tornados or even just with the changing of seasons. When you need an extra pair of hands to cover your calls, an answering service makes it as easy as possible.
Through scalable plans, AnswerForce keeps pace with your business’s growth. So when the phone begins ringing off the hook in storm season, you’ll have it covered.
Using an answering service is a flexible way to answer your customers during busy periods. When business slows down a little, you can scale your plan back to a plan better suited to your needs.
Helping You Grow Your Business
An answering service is a vital tool for growing your restoration business. By answering more calls and chats you’ll be able to take on more work and grow your business. Your ability to serve more customers will increase and you’ll have the need and resources to take on extra staff.
Book a demo or call AnswerForce at (800) 461-8535 to find out how you can cover labor shortages.
Mandy Rewis
Mandy Rewis has been helping restoration businesses grow with AnswerForce for five years. Mandy understands the challenges small and medium-sized restoration business owners face on a daily basis and how 24/7 people-powered answering can help their businesses grow.
C&R Podcast - Answering the call - http://candrmagazine.com/
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