Jun 12, 2015
Patrick Ingram is an experienced contractor and a highly skilled marketing specialist who truly understands the challenges you face as a construction contractor in developing and executing a marketing plan for your construction company in this highly competitive environment.
The Following Is An Outline From Patrick Ingram's Guest
Appearance On The Contractors Success M.A.P. Podcast which you can
listen to below. It is on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Pocket Casts and
all popular podcast directories.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Editor’s
Note: I have known Patrick Ingram for many years, I
trust him and find him to be very knowledgeable and capable on the
subject construction and mentoring emerging contractors as well as
helping contractors who are facing current challenges to turn
around their construction companies and put them back on the road
to growth an profits.
I Highly Recommend all contractors spend some time on his website
www.constructionaccountingandconsulting.biz and get to know
him/her. He/she is a valuable resource to all contractors, not just
remodel contractors. Please be sure to let him/her know Randal DeHart, The Contractors Accountant,
recommended you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Patrick, Please
Start By Telling Us A Little Bit About Yourself
I have forty plus years experience in construction contracting from
preparing the start up plan, to raising capital, to writing
business policies for: safety, operations, hiring and training
personnel, to finally selling the company. Businesses included:
electrical contracting, solar contracting, and general contracting.
Industries served were commercial tenant improvement (strip malls
and high rise office towers) and residential remodel (multifamily,
condos, and single family).
My specific duties included managing companies; create and execute
marketing plans; bidder design/estimating of construction costs;
cost accounting and financial analysis
Retired Corps of Engineer officer from the US Army after 20 years
active and reserve service.
Currently own and manage a Residential Property management company
and a Construction Consulting and Education Company
Please Tell Us About Your
Background And How Your Came To Be Where You Are
Now
I was a third generation electrical contractor. I started working
for my father as an electrical apprentice on new homes when I was
14 years old. Through high school I worked part-time as an
electrical apprentice.
I then went on to active duty in the military. When I returned home
I re-joined the family business and went to college at the same
time studying business management and marketing. I also continued
on as a reserve member of the Army Corps of Engineers eventually
retiring after 20 years.
Eventually I left the family business and branched out on my own
and formed various electrical specialty companies to meet the
market demand (fire alarm, security, data/voice cabling, and
commercial wiring). I saw the upcoming opportunity in solar so I
formed Solar Builders inc. and marketed residential home design and
the different solar heating systems until the market changed.
I then went into commercial tenant improvement as a general
contractor. During this time I formed a partnership with another
successful contractor friend of mine and we took over an existing
electrical contracting firm and grew it to over 1.5 million in
sales. Again the market changed in 1992 so we decided to form
separate electrical contracting companies and decided to joint
venture when appropriate to compete for larger jobs.
This new company was organized to compete in electrical commercial
tenant improvement and residential remodel and continued doing this
until I sold it in 2011. Since then I have formed and continue to
manage a residential property management company and a business
consulting firm working with construction contractors.
What Are Some Differences
Between You And Your Competitors?
We recognize the time constraints and tight budgets contractors
face we were contractors. This is why our consulting business is
organized to get them quick results. We believe they want skilled
advisers just like themselves who can actually deliver what they
say they can do.
This is accomplished by bringing years of experience from being
general and sub contractors. We bring expertise as former staff
members of large contractors and as hands on contractors who have
operated successful general and electrical contracting firms. This
coupled with ongoing research into current marketing and management
trends means our systems have a track record of success.
We can say this because our systems have been field tested and are
historically proven effective marketing tools that will help you to
reach your target markets and close more deals. Finally we are
flexible. We offer personal or group coaching using face to face,
Skype, email, phone, and an online coaching / education using our E
Learning contractor marketing system. Plus we give you the
convenience of meeting either in your office or other convenient
locations and we will meet at a time that is convenient for you
What Problem Or Issue Does
Your Service Solve?
Our experience has been that most contractors need more qualified
leads so they can present their contracting services to more
buyers. Then they need to determine how to close the sale at a
price that is profitable and gives the client what wanted. Our
system addresses these critical areas of contracting
What Three Things Should A
Contractor Consider When Hiring Your Services?
#1 - Our experience in running different contracting companies in
expanding and slowing economies
#2 - Our willingness to do the work for you or guide you through
the steps so you can carry out your own marketing plan independent
of us. We can also be a trusted source you can use as a second
opinion.
#3 - Our ongoing research into understanding what are the most
effective construction marketing techniques
How can you tell if someone
is a good fit for your company?
We work with individuals who are willing to embrace the marketing
techniques that will grow their company or turnaround it around if
they are not meeting their financial goals. They typically are open
minded and willing to look at the different options we have to grow
the business in line with their marketing budget.
What types of advice do you
give a contractor?
Our first advice is that we want to look at the four step Sales
Conversion Equation formula with them. That is: interrupt (identify
a problem), engage (promise to educate & find a solution), educate
(build the case why we have the solution), and offer (risk reversal
or ethical bribe).
We show them how we interrupt their target audience with a known
problem the customers are experiencing. We then offer the customer
hope that there is a solution to the problem by engaging the
customer and educating them as to the different possibilities for
solving the problem.
Finally we teach them how we will make a guaranteed offer to solve
the problem. An example might be for a plumber who offers emergency
drain cleaning services. The interrupt would be discovering the
drain is plugged prior to a family holiday dinner. We would then
let them know we have the tools and expertise to quickly correct
the problem and the offer is we are willing to come out even if it
is a holiday – guaranteed the problem will be solved.
How Can Listeners Contact You
And Learn More About Your Program?
Our services include business management coaching with particular
attention to developing the marketing plan and how to execute it.
We offer a couple of choices:
#1 An online self study Contractor Marketing Academy System that
includes our weekly one hour training modules:
> Monday is the Business Strategy videos with downloadable and
printable workbooks to follow along.
> Tuesday is the Coaches Call covering Marketing Strategies
using a webinar in which the audio can be downloaded to an MP3 file
for use at a later time
> Wednesday we offer the Ask the Expert Call for those
contractors who need help executing their marketing plans but don’t
need one on one guidance
> Thursday is the Self Development PDF document covering areas
such as time management and goal setting.
> While enrolled in the academy the contractor has access to our
Quick Start Marketing program which covers areas such as developing
your elevator pitch, business cards,
signature block, post card ads, website design, brochures, and
guidance on how to write attention grabbing headlines and
blogs.
#2 We also offer a mix of one on one coaching and the E Learning
Contractor Marketing Academy System:
> The contractor goes through the Quick Start program and/or the
weekly video series and we work with them to develop their specific
marketing plan.
#3 We can prepare the marketing plan for the contractor so they can
continue contracting while we develop the plan and work with them
to execute it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I trust this podcast helps you understand that outsourcing your contractors bookkeeping services to us is about more than just “doing the bookkeeping”; it is about taking holistic approach to your entire construction company and helping support you as a contractor and as a person.
We understand the good, bad and the ugly about owning and operating construction companies because we have had several of them and we sincerely care about you and your construction company!
That is all I have for now and if you have listened this far please do me the honor of commenting and rating podcast www.FastEasyAccounting.com/podcast Tell me what you liked, did not like, tell it as you see it because your feedback is crucial and I thank you in advance.
I trust this will be of value to you and your feedback is always welcome at www.FastEasyAccounting.com/podcast
This is one more example of how Fast Easy Accounting is helping construction company owners across the USA including Alaska and Hawaii put more money in the bank to operate and grow your construction company. Construction accounting is not rocket science; it is a lot harder than that and a lot more valuable to construction contractors like you so stop missing out and call Sharie 206-361-3950 or email sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com
Thinking About Outsourcing Your Contractors Bookkeeping Services?
Click On The Link Below:
Need Help Now?
Call Sharie 206-361-3950
In closing, I want to caution you that we may or may not be a good fit for your contracting company. This guide will help you learn what to look for in outsourced construction accounting.
Thank you very much and I hope you understand we really do care
about you and all contractors regardless of whether or not you ever
hire our services.
Bye for now until our next episode here on the Contractors Success
MAP Podcast.
Warm Regards,
Randal DeHart | Contractors Accountant