{"id":1522,"date":"2022-02-16T05:43:19","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T12:43:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/?p=1522"},"modified":"2022-02-19T05:50:22","modified_gmt":"2022-02-19T12:50:22","slug":"5-items-to-keep-in-your-contracting-business-vehicle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/5-items-to-keep-in-your-contracting-business-vehicle\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Items to Keep in Your Contracting Business Vehicle"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>If you\u2019re like a lot of contractors, you\u2019ll have a vehicle that you often use for business. Having everything you need makes life easier. Here are five things to put inside the vehicle, to keep your workflow running smoothly and safely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tools and Materials
\n<\/b>If you do most of your work at client sites, you will need to bring a variety of tools and materials with you. Big equipment and supplies may be shipped directly to the location, but the things that you bring from your workspace will probably go with you. Install a storage system that allows you to keep the most common tools and materials in your vehicle. A checklist will make it easy to confirm that you have everything before you leave. Make sure to create an inventory of materials, and update it as you use them. That way, you don\u2019t have to worry about arriving to the client site and realizing that you don\u2019t have what you need.<\/span><\/p>\n

Extra Documentation
\n<\/b>If you\u2019re not doing virtually everything electronically these days, you\u2019ll need extra forms. You can\u2019t always anticipate when you will need to write out an estimate by hand, or create a contract for a client to sign. Even if you plan to take most of your work back to your business for preparing and sending out, it\u2019s a good idea to have a way to take notes on the site. Being able to explain what you\u2019re talking about might require you to draw it out, and it will be a lot easier that way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Record-Keeping System
\n<\/b>Having a way to keep track of your records is important, particularly if you go to multiple client sites every day. It\u2019s easy to lose a copy of an estimate, particularly if you do it in writing. Choose a filing system that you can grab and go, that won\u2019t take up too much space in your vehicle. Better yet, consider upgrading to an electronic filing system that you can access from a laptop or other device. If you do plan to work with an electronic system for estimates, payments and other records, make sure that you have Internet access wherever you go. A mobile hotspot is usually sufficient, but it\u2019s not always enough.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vehicle Maintenance
\n<\/b>One of the best places to keep the maintenance tools for your vehicle is in your vehicle. Make sure that you have all the items you need for regular upkeep, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n