If you’re a tradesperson with your own business, you probably have a van or two that helps you to get from A to B. Whilst your van gives you freedom and flexibility, your business may also come to a grinding halt if anything were to ever happen to it. It’s common to see muddy, dented and otherwise rusty vans on the road, but you should know that if your van looks like this, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Not only could it lose you customers, but it could also lead to other more serious consequences.
Here are a few things to consider if you have your own van:
Insurance
The most important thing you need to remember is that your van must have insurance. If you’re uninsured, not only could you be fined or arrested if you’re caught, but you may also have to pay huge damages if you’re involved in any sort of crash. As an uninsured driver, you will always be in the wrong even if you didn’t cause the accident yourself. Even if you get away lightly, your reputation will suffer for a long time to come. After all, nobody is going to hire someone who disregards the law. It reflects badly on you and your company and makes you hard to trust. An insurance company like one sure insurance can help, so if you’re not insured, head over to One Sure or a similar site as soon as possible.
You should get tool insurance as well to protect any tools that you carry in your van. Losing your tools can be costly and slow down your business. It will take time and money to replace them. Having insurance for your tools will make it easier to replace them. It will also give you peace of mind.
Keep it Clean
Your van acts as free advertising as you drive past people on the street. A dirty van, however, will instantly put people off using you. You’ll actually be advertising yourself as someone who doesn’t care about important things – if you can’t be bothered to keep your van clean, people will wonder if you can actually do a good job. Your van is essentially your office, and you wouldn’t invite people into your office for a meeting if your desk was covered in rubbish, so the same applies to your van. Remember, first impressions count, and a customer’s first impression of you is often of your van driving past.
Keep it in Good Condition
There’s nothing wrong with an older van, but big patches of rust need to be taken care of. Not only will this leave a better impression, it will also help your van to last longer. Similarly, if your logo, slogan or contact details are peeling off, you need to get them replaced as soon as possible. There’s no point in showing off your company name if half of the letters are missing. Contact details are just as important – a missing number or letter will make it a lot harder for people to call you or find you on social media. You should also check that the design of your branding isn’t too dated. A logo or font that looks like it hasn’t been updated since the 90’s is going to make you look old-fashioned, which is a big problem if you’re trying to appeal to a modern audience.
Keep it Organised
The inside of your van might be hidden most of the time, but if everything flies out every time you open the door, your customers are going to notice. Mess and disorganization make you look unprepared and amateur, which isn’t the impression you want to give when trying to sell your business. If your van is too small for your needs and you can’t afford a new one, consider installing a roof rack or buying a small trailer. Just a little more space can make a big difference to how your tools are organized, and it can save you a lot of time and stress whilst you’re on the job too!
Keep it Secure
Your van is likely full of expensive equipment that you can’t afford to lose. Theft is common when vans are left unlocked and losing vital tools can leave you unable to complete a job. Small things like extra locks and alarms can make it harder for thieves to get into your van, whilst a dashcam can record activity around your vehicle whilst you’re not there. Consider locking things away inside your van too – you can get van safes designed specifically for securing your most valuable tools, so even if a thief does break into your van, they still won’t be able to take your most important equipment.
Overall
Some of these tips may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at the number of tradespeople who don’t follow any of them. Remember that impressions matter and safety and security are priorities, and your business should thrive for years to come.
