Turnkey Countertop Fabrication and Installation Business

SBA Pre-Qualified (including real estate) Founded in 1986, the business was founded by the current owner, who comes from a long line of countertop contractors and has continued the family legacy for quality craftsmanship. With a background in carpentry and home improvement, the current owner was able to leverage his existing contacts to build out a base of customers in the Sacramento Valley, many of whom are still customers to this day. The business fabricates and installs countertops for residential kitchens and bathrooms. Each project begins with an estimate, where one of the business' employees will measure the surface, consult with the customer to understand their preferences, and provide an estimate for the materials and labor that will be needed. The current owner, who runs the business full-time, provides estimates using a basic pricing model for the size of the counter top, materials used, and labor needed. The business has long-standing relationships with many local home builders and contractors, who contract out their kitchen and bathroom countertop projects to the business. The business sets itself apart from its competitors by virtue of its reputation. Having been in business for 35+ years, the firm is well known in the local community for quality craftsmanship and its ability to exceed customer expectations. In addition, the business is one of the only countertop businesses in Redding that offers all four countertop materials: Granite, Formica, Corian, and Quartz. By offering a wide range of materials, which are sourced from several key suppliers, the business caters to all customer preferences and budgets. While there are a few businesses that offer a similar mix of products and services, the business stands apart because it is professionally managed and offers customers the ability to view a showroom of different countertops and designs. The showroom is a component of the 5,600 square foot office space that is owned by the current owner and is for sale with the business for an additional $500,000. The business’ strong reputation for quality and value has allowed it to land preferred projects in the area with a schedule backlog. Investing in technology and streamlining operations has allowed the business to pivot and scale efficiently while maintaining its reputation for quality. Location: San Francisco County, California Year Established: 1986 Number of Employees: 3 Facilities: The business operates out of an 5,600 square foot office alongside a major throughway in the Sacramento Valley. This location is central to the many surrounding towns in a 30 mile radius, which make up the business’ core customer base. The office sits alongside several other businesses in a well-kept industrial park. The office space includes a professional showroom with different material types and designs available for customers to view. The space also has desks for the owner and office manager. Out back, there is an accompanying workspace and parking lot where materials and equipment are stored. In addition, this is where the stone is cut to size for a project. Unlike its competitors, the business has a professional showroom and workspace, which are key assets for the business. The property is for sale with the business, although the current owner is willing to lease the office space to the new owner. Given the importance of the space and the competitive price, the owner is interested in selling both the property and the business as a package. Website: www.viabeacon.com/ Market Outlook/ Competition: The primary risk that the business faces is a downturn in the local housing market. There are several avenues that a new owner can pursue to help mitigate these risks, that include expanding the business’ current product and service offerings, which are outlined below. The business has a wide range of customers, from individual homeowners to new home builders who contract out countertop fabrication and installation. By maintaining a diverse array of customers, the owner is able to partially insulate the business from any changes to the local housing market. Growth & Expansion: Among the many growth opportunities that the business faces, there are three that stand out. Expand into Countertop Repair To date, the business has had its hands full keeping up with a growth in its existing residential customer base. However, the current owner sees the expansion into countertop repair as a very lucrative addition to the business model. Currently, the owner receives numerous calls per week seeking countertop repair services, which are not currently offered. In order to service the demand, the new owner would simply need to draft a scope of work and pricing model for repair services. The employees are very knowledgeable and experienced, so there is very little additional training required to provide repair services. New Product Lines The current owner routinely receives requests from customers interested in installing sinks and faucets. Many customers are interested in using one contractor to perform both the countertop installation and the sink installation. The current owner already has connections with suppliers who sell sinks and faucets and the installation work is far quicker and easier than the countertop installation. If the new owner decides to pursue these new product and service lines, it’s important that they train the employees on the plumbing component as well, given that the faucets will need to be connected to the water lines. Apart from sinks and faucets, a new owner could also expand the product offerings for the countertops. Currently, the business offers a comprehensive list of materials (described above), but there are other stones that are used for countertops that could be sourced and offered to customers. Tastes and trends are important to keep up with, so a new owner could continue to perform market research and offer more materials to cater to a wider array of customers. Invest in Digital Marketing There are a number of marketing channels like paid search that are not currently being used. The business has a phenomenal reputation, but there are just a few online reviews. By using a service like SureCritic or another customer feedback software, the new owner can boost the business’ online reputation. A new owner would also want to invest in a CRM and scheduling software to track customer projects and follow ups. These investments in technology will allow the new owner to quickly scale the business while maintaining the high quality service that customers expect from the brand.