Small business? Sometimes less is more with Access Control projects - Southwest

If you’re a small business integrator, the best way to grow your business is to think like one. That means taking on projects that are simple to install and maintain, but that can still generate significant revenue. Access control alone is a lucrative niche for small integrators, but making the most of it requires an innovative approach. The 80-20 rule applies to access control jobs: 80% of all access control systems installed in a building will be simple keypad locks with codes set by owners or managers; 20% will be more complex installations involving cards, biometrics and other technologies. Integrators who can find ways to serve both ends of this spectrum can cash in big time!

It’s the small projects that can help you grow your business.

If you’re a small business, it’s easy to focus on the big projects. But in doing so, you can be missing out on the chance to gain new skills and build a portfolio of work. Sometimes less is more—and that’s especially true when it comes to Access Control projects. Smaller jobs have less overhead costs associated with them and provide an opportunity for you to take risks with your design and installation techniques. There are a couple benefits of taking on smaller projects:

• They’re less expensive than larger ones, so they’re easier on your budget—and if you run into a snag during installation (or if something goes wrong), the time loss won’t be as great as if you had been working on an entire building’s worth of security doors instead of just one or two;
• You can allocate more time in each project which gives you more time to learn new systems and find out which one is the best for each type of project.

Small business solutions can be easy to install and maintain.

Smaller Access control system can be easy, whether you’re a small or large business. Some of the benefits of smaller systems are that they are:

• Easy to install.
• Easy to maintain.
• Easy to repair, should something go wrong with the system.
• Easy to upgrade, should you need more features or more doors for the business in the future.

You can also integrate these systems with other technologies like motion detectors, fire alarms and existing security cameras without much effort (and without having to hire an electrician).

The 80-20 rule applies to access control projects.

We mentioned the 80-20 rule at the beginning but let’s think about it a little deeper. It tells us that 20% of your customers can make up for 80% of your profits. Also, 20% of the features in your access control system can create 80% of the value of that system. Finally, 20% of activities that you do creates 80% of the impact. This rule is very important to keep in mind in all aspects of your business!

Access control solutions are often easier than you think.

You would be surprised at how many small businesses see a need for access control, but aren’t quite sure how to go about it. Access control projects can be easy to install and maintain, and often very profitable for your business as well.

In fact, you might want to think about the 80-20 rule when approaching an access control project for a client: if 80 percent of the time spent on an installation goes toward planning and design, then only 20 percent should go toward installation—and that’s assuming everything goes smoothly during installation!

Conclusion

Access control alone is a lucrative niche for small integrators. With an average project cost of $8,000 and a growing market, access control is a great market for small businesses looking to get into the security industry. If you want to grow your small business and make it more profitable, then installing access control systems is a great way to start. It’s something that can be used by all types of businesses at any size! If you’re looking for help getting started or learning even more about access control systems, contact us today!