Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I have recently stumbled upon what I think is an unmet need. In my city and two other neighboring cities, there are hundreds of home improvement contractos (plumbers, roofers, electricians, painters, etc.) and hardly any of them have a website or even own the domain for their business name. I have found hundreds like this. The question I have is, do they not have a website because they feel they don`t need one or that they don`t know how to get one? I know I could ask them but I really would like some feedback here before I delve into asking the contractors. I thought about offering a domain buying service to at least help them secure a domain. I know my stepfather who is in the business didn`t have a website because he just didn`t have a clue how to get one. Now that he does he loves it.

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Get Out of Debt

This is an unmet need. You could either build a site which list many contractors (several of these exist) or set businesses up with a small brochure site so that people searching on the web can see why they ought to call that particular contractor.

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Cheers, Steve

I agree with Fusion. I have had many contractors as clients and it isn`t as much that they don`t know about websites;they use direct mail coupons, listing in the trade blue book, listing in newspapers under services--more local advertising.

However, if it is another region then the Los Angeles area,the scenario will be different.

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Leslie,your business doctor

Hi all,

 

Most cities have a local contractors association.  You could contact the association with an idea to list all the contractors under one web site.  Each contractor would pay to be listed.  Such a site exists that serve the Las Vegas area.  The site also has a form that potential customers fill out as far as the type of service they are looking for.  The site administrator then sorts the requests and sends them to prospective contractors to bid on the job.

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The older we get, the more excuses we make for not chasing after our dreams. But truth is, goals are attainable at any age.

I dunno...I haven`t heard much about conractors in real-world skill areas going broke, or even doing poorly. They may be having problems due to bad accounting, or with the IRS, but there doesn`t seem to be a lack of customers. If they have a good word-of-mouth, more often than not I hear stories about how difficult it is to even find a contractor. So why would they need or want a Web site?