Practical ideas and straightforward advice to help you run a better service business.
You didn’t start a contracting business because you love algebra, spreadsheets, or staring at a blinking cursor on a blank invoice. You started it because you are an expert at what you do—whether that’s fixing a burst pipe at 2 AM, landscaping a backyard oasis, or rewiring a historic home. But…
Read articleYou spend two hours driving to a site, walking the property, taking measurements, and another hour crunching numbers to build the perfect estimate. You hit "Send." And then… silence. It’s the "black hole" of contracting. You don’t want to be annoying, so you wait. Three days pass. Then a week.…
Read articleYou’re staring at a half-finished estimate for a bathroom remodel. You know exactly how long it should take, but you also know that old plumbing has a nasty habit of turning a two-hour job into a two-day nightmare. Do you charge by the hour to protect yourself, or give a flat fee to win the…
Read articleIt is the moment every service professional dreads and desires in equal measure: the moment the customer asks, "So, how much is it going to cost?" If you are like most small business owners in the home service industry, you probably crunch the numbers, calculate your labor burden, add your…
Read articleIt starts with a glossy brochure or a stroll past the dealership lot. You see that shiny new skid steer, the upgraded excavator, or that top-tier hydro-jetter, and a voice in your head whispers, "If I owned that, I’d save a fortune on rental fees." But then reality hits. You remember the last…
Read articleYou hired a new tech for $25 an hour. You bill him out at $45 an hour. On paper, you’re making a $20 profit for every hour he works. So why is the company bank account essentially flatlining at the end of the month? It’s the most common math error in the home service industry, and it kills more…
Read articleIs your monthly marketing budget an investment strategy, or is it just a donation to your local printing company? For many small business owners in the home service industry, marketing feels like a high-stakes game of poker played blindfolded. You print 5,000 door hangers, pay a distribution…
Read articleYou just finished a 10-hour job. The client paid, you shook hands, and you drove away feeling productive. But when you look at your bank account at the end of the month, the numbers don’t add up. You’re working harder than ever, but your business isn’t growing. Sound familiar? This is the "silent…
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