How New Contractors and Business Owners Can Get Rich Faster
Starting a business as a contractor is tough—no way around it. You’ve got the tools, the trade, and the ambition. But if you want to get rich faster (and smarter), you’ve got to do more than just hustle. After 20+ years of working exclusively with home service pros with our contractor marketing program, we’ve seen what works—and what doesn't.
1. Lay the Right Foundation Early
You don’t need the fanciest logo or the flashiest truck wrap to succeed early on. What you do need? A professional online presence. We’re talking about a solid contractor website, a properly set up Google Business Profile, and a working phone number with someone actually answering it.
- Start with a basic but polished website—it builds trust instantly.
- Claim and optimize your local listings, especially Google Maps.
- Start collecting online reviews from day one.
- Set up a professional email address tied to your domain.
If you don’t look like a real business online, you won’t be treated like one.
2. Invest Time Before Money
In the beginning, your time is your most powerful currency. That means knocking doors, calling leads, and personally following up. You're building sweat equity—and that early effort sets the tone for your growth.
- Focus on conversations and connections, not just cold marketing.
- Understand what your customers care about most—it’s not always price.
- Learn how to handle leads the right way—even with a chatbot.
- Build repeatable systems as you go, even if it’s just a checklist for now.
3. …And Then Invest Your Money
Once you start earning, it’s tempting to treat your profits like a paycheck. But that money isn’t all yours—not yet. A big part of getting rich faster is knowing how to reinvest wisely.
- Think of your business as a partner—it needs to get paid, too.
- Put money into your website, CRM tools, and email marketing.
- Use early revenue to invest in lead generation—like Google Ads or Facebook Ads.
- Smart spending early means bigger, more stable returns later.
According to SCORE, businesses that reinvest in marketing and operations early are significantly more likely to survive beyond 5 years.
4. Outsource Strategically
Just because you *can* do everything doesn’t mean you should. Smart contractors grow faster by focusing on what they do best—and outsourcing the rest.
- Delegate admin tasks, marketing, or even answering calls when it makes sense.
- Use a home services business management platform to simplify operations.
- View outsourcing as an investment—not a cost.
- Buy back your time so you can take on more jobs or better clients.
Time is the only thing you can’t make more of—spend it wisely.
5. Know the Difference Between Work and Investment
Not all tasks are created equal. Some just keep the wheels spinning. Others move you forward. If you want to scale your business, you need to figure out which is which—fast.
- Filing paperwork? Necessary, but not growth-focused.
- Following up on an estimate? That’s revenue work.
- Writing job descriptions? An investment that pays off when you hire right.
- Spending 3 hours tweaking your logo? Not the best use of your time.
You don’t need to work more—you need to work on the right things.
Frequently Asked Questions
A good starting point is to reinvest 10–20% of your profits into marketing, tools, and strategic support—especially in the first 2–3 years.
Start with what takes the most time and delivers the least return—usually high-level marketing planning and admin tasks like scheduling or payment processing.
If the task grows your capacity, improves your systems, or creates future revenue—you're working on the business. Everything else is maintenance.
"Contractor Marketing Tips And Tricks" - The Footbridge Media Podcast
About Chris Lonergan
Chris Lonergan has over 12 years of contractor marketing experience with Footbridge Media. With a background in web design, print design, content creation, and online marketing, Chris is focused on providing quality marketing and business solutions in the construction and service industries - helping small business owners to more efficiently manage their companies and grow their operations.
Chris Lonergan has previously contributed to and/or been featured in PM Magazine (Plumbing & Mechanical | Contractors x Engineers), theNEWS (ACHR - Air Conditioning | Heating | Refrigeration), Turf Magazine (For Landscaping and Green Industry Professionals) Service Roundtable's blog, inPAINT Magazine, the SMB Marketing Agency Show, and the Green Industry Podcast. Chris is also a past SGI/CertainPath breakout session presenter.
