WHY JOIN A CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION? 

     With the stress and time demands that owning your own business bring, who has time to join, let alone actively participate in a contractor association?  Since one is not “paid by the hour” to attend contractor meetings, why join?  We must remember that the “paid by the hour” mentality is a non-entrepreneurial mind set.  As entrepreneurs, we think out of the box and our pay is beyond the paycheck, just as you can’t put a price tag on a walk with a loved one along the beach during a beautiful sunset.  Contractor associations at their most basic form draw their strength from the old adage that there is strength in numbers.  For example, a few years ago, local law makers passed a frivolous law which outlawed a very necessary tool to a local trade.  The tradesmen were outraged.  To whom did they turn in their hour of need?  You guessed it, their local trade association.  You see, it works like this.  If I have $100.00, I won’t go far.  If I could band together 2000 other tradespersons such as myself to pool their $100.00 together, I would have $200,000.00 to hire the best lawyers and lobbyists to represent our interests.  As a result of their due diligence, the Contractor association was able to overturn the ridiculous law, thus resulting in the return of the tools to the tradesmen. 

     Trade associations typically offer a wide range of programs and services to members of their industry.  Whether your firm is a one-person operation or a multi-million dollar company, the benefits of membership will help your business reach its potential.  Thanks to the power in large numbers, Trade associations can offer the greatest insurance protection at the lowest cost.  Structured insurance plans are offered in a wide arena of plans, such as worker’s compensation, general liability, vehicle, loss of earnings, medical, dental and life insurance can be offered to meet the special needs of contractors.

     Another Association benefit is the Marketing of your business.  You may be the best at what you do, but without a clientele, you would shortly go out of business.  The modern business owner needs must also be a marketing whiz.  Trade associations offer internet referral programs to promote their contractors.  Trade associations are in the business of educating the consumer about what constitutes quality work—and steering them to your doorstep! 

    Another benefit of Professional associations is their professional development seminar programs which educate member contractors on the latest technology in their respective fields.  Closely related to the seminar programs is the certification program which, upon passing a battery of tests, the qualifying contractor is awarded with a “Master Designation” in their field.  This designation, such as the Certified Professional Pond Certification” (CPPC) which is sponsored by the IPPCA is not a rubber stamp program.  This certification means you are the cream of the crop, a “TOP GUN”.  Using this in your marketing literature with add legitimacy and trust on the part of potential clients.

     Another benefit of Associations is the bringing together of contractors and suppliers.  The Association provides numerous opportunities for buyers and sellers of products to informally meet and get acquainted with one another.  Manufacturers and distributors gain valuable access to end users buyers of their products, which enable them to educate contractors about the latest technologies.

     One of the biggest benefits of t he whole Association process is the giant bonus of making life long friends, who may actually turn out to be incredibly knowledgeable mentors, which can only benefit your business.  Which all these incredible bonus features, the question should really be….Why didn’t I join my association sooner? 

By:  Mike Garcia, CPPC
        Enviroscapes
        Redondo Beach, California