Many people think running a successful business is about scaling it, hiring many employees and managing lots of workers. But these conceptions are often false because as businesses grow in size, they often lose the personal touch that made them successful and profitable in the first place.
Sustainable business growth comes down to making as many customers as possible happy with your service. If a business grows too fast, sometimes the quality of service wanes and customers are left dissatisfied.
David Klingenfuss is the owner of an electrical contracting business in the Bay Area and he decided to keep his business a one-man shop for a variety of reasons. While David occasionally hires help, he runs the business himself and he interacts with customers directly.
We asked David why he decided to keep this business model and about the benefits of being an independent business owner. There’s no doubt that David is willing to work in the trenches to make his projects a success and to ensure his customers are happy every step of the way.
Here are David’s reasons for being the frontman of his business and remaining an independent business owner.
Low Overhead Costs
David says he has always been mindful about keeping his overhead costs as low as possible, and it’s easier to keep your costs down when you don’t have to worry about having many employees on payroll.
This strategy helped David during the coronavirus pandemic because when his volume of business was cut in half, he was still able to cover costs without going into the red.
By running a business with low overhead costs, your business remains afloat as long as you are willing to show up and put in the work, and David is always willing to work hard.
Easy Communication
David says one of the perks of being an independent business owner is that he can consistently put his customers first and interact with them one-on-one.
His customers feel like he provides a high level of service because he has decades of experience with electrical contracting, can pivot if things need to change and can give direct advice in a timely manner.
With over 30 years of experience, David knows his customers are always in the best hands when they interact with him.
David acknowledges that employees can help get the job done, but his customers appreciate being able to reach him easily and that’s why he is always happy to help.
He says when it comes to larger companies, it’s sometimes easy for communication to get lost in the mix.
Building Relationships
Since David is the main person his clients interact with, he is able to build relationships with his customers from the first phone call.
He is able to learn about their needs and preferences, and he is able to deliver excellent customer service for that reason too.
There is no middleman engaging with the customer, so David is able to build direct authentic relationships with them and learn about their unique traits.
Customers get his full attention, and for that reason, he is able to contact them again after a while to arrange new projects and to start new work.
Running a successful business isn’t about having as many customers and employees as possible. It’s about building a strong relationship with each and every customer, understanding their needs and delivering the best quality work possible.
To learn more tips from David Klingenfuss, you can visit his official website at www.davidklingenfuss.com
