If you’re in the hunt for bid jobs that fit your contracting business, don’t fear - there are plenty of resources out there to help you find projects. Yes, you can always contact your local city planning office or chamber of commerce office for bid listings and advice, but you’re not always guaranteed to speak with an expert when you call, and their office hours are limited.
Online resources offer a variety of jobs in every size. By using the websites and resources listed below, you should be in luck.
1. Contractor review sites let customers solicit bids
Whether it’s HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List, or Thumbtack, these client-to-contractor connection websites feature millions of users seeking out pros for home improvement jobs. These websites are ideal if your business is new or you just want to boost your client bid base.
By signing up with these websites using a contractor account, your business will be listed and available for reviews by clients. This also allows potential clients to solicit bids from your business.
HomeAdvisor charges around $300 per year for a basic contractor membership, while Angie’s List and Thumbtack offer free basic sign-up options, and charge a fee for job leads.
2. Websites and social media pages get bid jobs coming to you
If you’re having trouble finding projects to bid on, let offers to come to you through your business’s website or social media page. Make sure to let visitors know that you bid home improvement projects and you’re open to customers messaging you.
With over 200,000 million users in the U.S., Facebook is one of the most far-reaching social media networks. You should feature your contact information on both your company website and your social media pages. This will easily allow anyone seeking bids on a project to reach out to you.
3. Government bid sites feature projects that fit your business
Even if your crew is small, government projects are not something to shy away from. While your business may not be equipped for large, complex jobs, there are still plenty of smaller subcategories to search through on government bid websites.
GovernmentBids.com is one of the leading sources for government bids, both big and small, from all around the country. It compiles around 35,000 bids jobs per month for state, local, and federal jobs. The smaller jobs can include projects such as a simple bathroom remodel in a tourism center or a small landscape job at a city building. Every state has listings on the site, and there is a free email signup alert option for daily bid notifications.
The official U.S. government bid site, Beta.Sam.gov, also has thousands of jobs on its free website, but federal jobs can often be larger in scope than a small, local city or county job.
4. Don’t forget about small school districts
With a small contractor or home improvement business, school projects can be a good to seek out if business has slowed down. Small school districts usually have smaller projects, that require smaller crews.
Schools are required to post all bid job listings on their websites. Check out a small school website in your area and you may be in luck. A school job may open your business up to bigger things down the road! You can search for all school districts across the country through the National Center for Education Statistics.