Entrepreneur Idea Guide
Starting a Handicap Accessible Building Modification Business
Ready to break into the entrepreneurial ranks? Start a handicap accessible building modification business. Our guide will take you through the process step-by-step.
Wondering how to start a handicap accessible building modification business? We take you step-by-step from start to success.
Business Overview
Handicap accessibility is a growing concern in business and residential architecture. All new commercial (and some residential) construction is designed to be fully accessible to people with disabilities. When it comes to existing construction, modifications and retrofits are often necessary for legal and/or functional purposes.
Since handicap accessible building modification is a niche market of the construction industry, entrepreneurs should have prior construction experience before launching their business. Even though handicap accessibility requirements aren't limited to urban environments, standalone handicap access modification companies are usually most successful in areas with a high concentration of commercial real estate.
Prospective business owners should familiarize themselves with both ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and local compliance mandates. The requirements for existing architecture are different than for new construction, so you'll need to be knowledgeable about regulatory nuances before you can adequately advise clients about compliance-related issues in your area.
It also helps to understand building access challenges from the perspective of disabled users. If you haven't had much exposure to people with disabilities, solicit input from the disabled community in order to gain firsthand perspective about specific building modifications and industry practices.
Market segments for handicap accessible modification business include both the commercial and residential sectors. If you have prior construction experience, tap into your industry connections to promote your business. If not, you will need to consider developing relationships with remodeling contractors that don't specialize in handicap accessibility and compliance issues.
Tips for Writing a Handicap Accessible Building Modification Company Business Plan
You know that a business plan is important. The only problem is that you don't have any idea how to write one.
Fortunately, you don't have to tackle your handicap accessible building modification company's business plan by yourself. There is a broad range of resources available for solo entrepreneurs who face the daunting task of writing a business plan from scratch.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a look at Gaebler's Business Plan Help section for a list of business plan writing resources.
Don't Ignore the Competition
Prior to launching a handicap accessible building modification business in your town, it's a smart move to find out how many competitors you have. Try our link below to find competitors in your city. Simply enter your city, state and zip code to get a list of handicap accessible building modification businesses in your town.
Gain a knowledge of how existing firms have positioned themselves in the marketplace, and then design your business in a way that sets you apart from the others.
Getting Advice from Experienced Entrepreneurs
After you've evaluated your local competitors, it's a wise move to talk to somebody who is already in the business. If you think your local competitors will give you advice, you're being overoptimistic. It'd be crazy for them to teach you the business.
However, an entrepreneur who owns a handicap accessible building modification business on the other side of the country may be willing to share their entrepreneurial wisdom with you, given that you don't compete with them in their area. In fact, they are often very willing to share startup advice with you. In my experience, you may have to call ten business owners in order to find one who is willing to share his wisdom with you.
How does one go about finding an owner of a handicap accessible building modification business in a different locale who can assist you?
Here's one way to do it. Just use our link below, find somebody and call them.
Pros & Cons of Buying a Handicap Accessible Building Modification Business
An acquisition can be a great way to enter handicap accessible building modification business ownership. But it's important to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of buying a business before you decide on either an acquisition or startup approach.
BENEFITS: Acquired handicap accessible building modification businesses should be profitable right out of the gate; they should also be capable of demonstrating a loyal customer base, brand identity and operational efficiencies.
DRAWBACKS: Acquired handicap accessible building modification businesses sometimes have entrenched processes and systems that run counter to your business objectives. If an acquisition target appears unmalleable, move on to another prospect.
Explore Franchising Options
Your chances of achieving the entrepreneurial goal of becoming a successful entrepreneur go up significantly if you purchase a franchise and benefit from the prior work of others and their lessons learned.
If your goal is to start a handicap accessible building modification business, you should assess whether purchasing a franchise might increase your chances of success.
The link below gives you access to our franchise directory so you can see if there's a franchise opportunity for you. You might even find something that points you in a completely different direction.
Related Articles on Starting a Company
These additional resources regarding getting started as an entrepreneur may be of interest to you.
Share this article
Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs