How to Succeed in a Residential Service Business

This is only a guide to creating enough business to keep a residential business working 5 days a week 8 hours per day.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Capital (3 months operating cost in savings)
• Drive and enthusiastic optimisim
• Willingness to fail and the dream to succeed.

1. Sell online Create a good website and hire someone who can get you listed in the top 10 in your local area in the search engines.
   
   Do not let up on SEO and Web Advertising. It will bring you the bigger and better deals.
2. Hand out Fliers If you have a job it should be your goal to have 1 person handing out fliers to all the houses in that neighborhood while you are on the job.
   
   Even if you have a small job say $100. It is well worth it to pay someone $8-$10 per hour to hand out flier throughout the entire neighbor hood while you are on the job. (I always keep 2 way radios in my trucks in case one of my guys does not have a cell phone). Stay in touch a lot of times as that guy is handing out fliers he will be asked for a quote or to do some type of work right then and there.
3. Pick up the phone... COMMUNICATION ?
   
   If you are not answering every call with a human voice I guarantee you that people are hanging up ready to spend money with you and having said that at least 70% will not leave a message. PICK UP THE PHONE>>>>>
   
   IF you miss a call have the guts to call back any missed numbers and tell that you missed their call and you want their business. Call back ASAP.
4. No Discounts Never extend terms
   Never work for free or break even
   Always Quote 10 - 15% more than you hope to get and then negotiate down to what you want for the job.
5. My banner out - Got a $1200 job that day from banner lead. Buy a 4'x8' banner to put up in the yard while you are working.
   
   You could not even imagine how many people will call you but are to shy to come up to you and ask you directly about doing work for them.
   
   I personally increased my on job site sales over 60%. I would say ever 3rd job I am on a neighbor calls me because of my large banner.
   
   Your Job Site is a Selling Opportunity Don't forget it.
6. Keep a database of everyone you do work for and on every holiday send all your customers an appropriate card.
7. Finally...
   
   Do quality work no matter what your doing. Have pride in what you do no matter what it is. You will be rewarded over time.
   
   Also. Don't evade problems address them directly and swiftly.

Tips & Warnings

• Sell, Sell, Sell.
• Market, Market, Market
• Be very friendly / But don't become friends.
• Make Money not Friends.
• If you become friends with a customer you have to fire them. So be friendly but don't become friends.
• As much as you want to don't slash you prices to get deals. If you can't get deals without slashing your prices you most likely will not be making enough profit to stay in business.
• Don't be afraid to turn deals down ... Just say no to no profit deals.