As a new Handyman business, what do people suggest I do as affordable marketing options?
I currently use google ads which can be quite expensive as I build a customer base. I'm also planning to put decals on my work vehicle. What are some other cheap options I maybe haven't thought of? Should I work in partnership with other businesses?Why should I wrap my business vehicle?
Home service pros with vehicle wraps ➡️ Do you have any tips or advice? What are the pros and cons you've experienced? Pros that don't have theirs wrapped ➡️ What’s been holding you back from getting your vehicle wrapped? Is it cost, design ideas, or something else? Got a pic of your wrap? Share them in the comments for bonus points! 📸How's everyone creating social content without it eating up their workday?
What’s your go-to setup for capturing social media content these days? Also curious about which apps or tools people are using for filming, editing, organizing, or posting content consistently. In this episode of Masters of Home Service, PhilRisher and Hunter Patrick (Dumpire) share tips on creating social media content, including: The easiest types of video content to shoot DIY social media tools any service pro can use Why focusing on local content matters more than going viral Want to put these tips into action? Download our weekly social media plan for this episode. Never miss an episode of Masters of Home Service. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Are clients buying the visible work, or the judgement behind it?
I am building a small dog training business, and one thing I keep coming back to is that clients often see only the visible part of the service. In my case, that might look like a walk, a training session, or some handling work outside. But the real value is not just the visible activity. It is the assessment, the judgement, the reading of the dog, the owner coaching, the risk control, and knowing when not to push further. I imagine this applies across a lot of home service businesses. A client may see the mowing, cleaning, repair, landscaping, or installation, but not always the planning, experience, insurance, equipment, decision-making, or risk carried by the business. That creates a marketing problem. If we only describe the visible task, clients compare us against the cheapest version of that task. If we explain the judgement behind the work, we have a better chance of being compared on value rather than price alone. For those further along, how have you explained the “invisible value” of your work without sounding defensive or overcomplicated?
How important is social media for growing your business?
Im a one woman show. I hire day laborers but majority of the time I work alone. I’m a female contractor in the cowboy capital of Texas. The struggle is real yall. I feel like I’m constantly having to prove myself. Nobody takes me seriously until I start doing the work. Would it be wise to do videos and how much would this help me in establishing my skills and help grow business? I’m busy and I just don’t want to waste time on this if it’s not going to help. What do yall think? And what kind of videos should I do? I do a variety of work. Do I pay someone to follow me around? If you’re doing this please give me some tips and lmk how much it helped you. ThanksWhy I Went Away From the Handyman Brand
I remember when i first started doing coaching programs, a lot of coaches told me that anyone that was a handyman would eventually turn in to a remodeling contractor or something more. I didn't want to believe it. I was thinking, "I'm going to be the first to really elevate the handyman brand". I fought it for years and years. I even was able to do $1.2 in revenue as a "handyman". But I also felt like i was fighting against a head wind. Anytime I told someone our rates, I got SOOO much price resistance. I was sort of immune to it. I mean, I was still getting people accepting quotes. But I also started noticing the small jobs were a lot of work for just a couple hundred bucks profit. I still had to get all these job details and vet the jobs, then if it went sideways, POOF we're working for free. When I was on my own it was kind of a dream. Just being professional, showing up on time, and doing what I said I would do made me stand out and it was like shooting fish in a barrel. But when I had employees ... the cost to have people was very expensive, everyone is belly aching about price, and those big remodel jobs were hard to sell because who's going to pay a handyman $40k for anything? Especially a kitchen with high end finishes? That was the turning point. I had a bathroom where they wanted all this crazy stuff but I could tell they were second guessing me. They could tell I knew what I talked about but they hit up a knowledgeable handyman for a price break, not to be charged full price. I wonder how many times this happened and I didn't notice. smh So I changed my name to "Home Pros" instead of handyman. What's the first thing I noticed? My employees were relieved. Turns out a carpenter of 25 years doesn't want to be called a handyman. Now I notice when people call me that, my belly turns and I get a little offended too! haha My initial discovery calls were a little easier. My walk throughs were a little easier. I started booking bigger jobs with ease. The brand identity flowed with the service we were offering instead of running against it. I'm writing this not to dissuade anyone from being a "handyman". I think it's noble to be a handyman. You have to think about so many different thing just to do something as easy as a faucet install. What's the condition of the cabinet and countertop, are the shut off valves shot, am i able to fit under the sink, etc etc. People don't appreciate how many different ways simple jobs can go sideways. BUT in my opinion, Handymen are great for one person shows. Why? The handyman brand can be a lead machine. EVERYONE searches for that. As one person, you could easily make $250k per year by yourself with really low overhead. That's great money. I do know a couple larger handyman companies but they're services offered are very fixed, they don't take on special projects. This means that a lot the higher ticket stuff is off the table. Which means you need a lot more jobs to get to that seven figure mark everyone wants to get to. For me, it wasn't worth the head ache. I wanted to do the larger projects. Also, because of the variability of handyman projects, it's hard to have a good team, and it costs a lot so the required revenue amount to sustain things when you have employees is a significant jump than when you are operating on your own. And those experienced guys, might not be attracted to being called a handyman. Now this is just my opinion and lived experience so I'd be curious to hear if anyone actually read this whole thing but had a opposing view point. But much love to the handymen out there, you have my respect!Outside the Box Networking Tips
I'm a fairly active networker. I've tried BNI (I hate the politics and strictness of it but I will concede it works), I'm currently in a Le Tip group, I always wear something from my company around town, I've done NARPM. I haven't done chamber of commerce but I'm wondering for those of you that are really active in the networking space - what tips do you have for people to either get started or take their networking to the next level? I think mine actually is I drive a fully wrapped vehicle around ALL the time. This is a conversation starter and it's a little bit of a long play. All the places I go regularly, the people know what my business is at least and it helps get brand awareness in my circles. BUT I know there's other things out there. So what are the rest of you doing?
