In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the questions you should be asking yourself if you’re choosing between setting up your contracting workshop at home or in another location. Whether you’re looking to become a general contractor or already are one and are setting up a new contracting business, the location of your workshop will be one of your top considerations.
At Contractor’s School, we’re here to help with these and numerous related areas for Utah contractors, from how to start a contractor business to assisting those who have existing businesses already in place. Here are some other basic areas to keep in mind while deciding on contractor workshop location, including how to evaluate your home layout to see if it’s got enough space and the right characteristics to serve as your workshop and save you some money.
Layout and Workspace Estimate
At the end of part one of our series, we went over some of the basic storage evaluations you should be making on your home space if you’re considering it for the workshop. If you determine that you have enough, the next step here is defining the actual layout and estimating your workspace needs.
For many, this involves actually starting a building concept for your home workshop. Think about whether you may have to purchase additional items, such as fencing or other protection, to block off the work area. Also determine exactly how much square footage you have available for the kinds of work you do, plus try different setups if you’re worried about space.
Seasonal Considerations
As a contractor, it will be easier to plan to do most of your work outside. At the same time, though, these locations need some protection from the weather – we all know it can snow significantly in Utah, and no one wants their projects impacted by the elements. If you don’t already have some kind of covering or shed setup, you’ll have to consider this area closely. You might have to build some kind of vertical protection yourself, though you’re a contractor, so this shouldn’t be an issue!
Staying Realistic
Ideally, if money were not a concern, you’d have a separate workshop that would leave your home completely free of your work life. But this isn’t the case for everyone, and financial strain is a real thing – if your home has the suitable characteristics and isn’t too far from your common jobs, setting your workshop up there is totally defensible. However, if it’s simply not realistic to do this, such as if your home doesn’t have adequate space or is too far away from major jobs, you’ll have to bite the bullet and consider off-site workshop setup.
For more on contractor workshop location, or to learn about getting a state contractor’s license or any of our other services, speak to the staff at Contractor’s School today.
