What’s your biggest green flag (or red flag) during a property walkthrough?
Hey everyone! Let’s talk about that initial interaction with a potential client. We’ve all walked onto a job site or a residential property and just known instantly how the experience was going to go—before we even handed over an estimate. Sometimes it's a subtle cue from the homeowner, and sometimes it's the state of the property itself. When you're quoting a job, what is one major "green flag" that tells you a customer will be amazing to work with, or a "red flag" that makes you consider raising your prices or walking away? Let’s swap some stories and see what common signs we all look out for! 👇
How are you getting the most out of Jobber AI?
Hi everyone, I'm curious to hear how people are getting the most out of Jobber AI, particularly for quote drafting.How are you using it in your day-to-day workflow? Are you relying on it just for writing quotes, or have you found other features that save a lot of time? I'm especially interested in: How you structure prompts for accurate quote drafts Whether you're using it for customer communications or follow-ups Any workflows or automations you've built around it Tips or best practices that have genuinely improved your efficiency I'd love to hear any examples of how you're using Jobber AI to save time or win more work. Thanks in advance!Roll Call! Meet & introduce yourself to other Construction and Home Improvement pros
If you’ve ever thought, “How are other businesses like mine handling this?” you’re in the right place! This space is for Construction and Home Improvement pros to connect, compare notes, and talk shop with others who understand the day-to-day realities of running your type of business. 👋 Introduce Yourself Drop a comment and tell us: Your name Business name Industry Years in business Location (City/State/Province) Let us know if you’re joining us for LIVE networking on March 17 (more details below) The more context you share, the better connections you’ll make. 🙌 Pro tip: Search your city or state in the forum to easily find other pros in your area. 📅 Want to connect LIVE? We’re running a pilot to host virtual weekly LIVE Industry Networking starting on March 17, running until April 7. If you’d be interested in joining for the first or following sessions (don’t need to commit to all but you're welcome to join!), make sure to let us know in the comments. 🤝 Culture of this space Think of this forum board like a room full of peers who understand your world. Share what’s working. Ask real questions. Talk through challenges. The goal is to power your success and raise the standard of home service industries together. 💬 Looking for conversation starters? This space works best when conversations are industry-specific and experience-based. You might jump in with something like: “How are other [industry] pros pricing this service right now?” “Is anyone else seeing this shift in their market?” “What’s been working for you when it comes to ____?" 🤔 Why are industries grouped together? We’ve intentionally clustered similar industries to keep conversations active and relevant. These groupings reflect shared business models, operational challenges, and pricing conversations so you can learn from peers who “get it,” even if they’re not in your exact trade. If your question applies to all home service businesses, feel free to post in our broader forum boards. Pro tip: Check out the industry tags to get even more specific Looking forward to seeing this space come to life. 🚀
Grants
Statement of Appreciation: Grant Phase 2 Completion "As we officially wrap up Phase 2 of this process, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to apply for these grant funds. Running a heavy fabrication business requires balancing intense daily physical production with the constant need for strategic, high-tech upgrades. Opportunities like this grant are game-changers for independent shops like ours—allowing us to fast-track our capacity, invest in our crew's safety, and scale our operations to the next level. Thank you for your time, consideration, and dedication to supporting local trades and businesses. We are excited about the potential to put these funds to work and build a stronger future for our team and our community." Diego Iron CompanyBefore You Give Up on Your Dream, Read This.
There was a moment in my life when I was physically run over by a garbage truck. Most people would assume that was the hardest part of my story. It wasn’t. The hardest part was choosing not to let that moment define the rest of my life. Instead of giving up, I got back up. I went back to school—twice. I invested in myself when it would have been easier to make excuses. I kept learning, kept growing, and kept chasing a vision that only I could see. Every setback became another reason to work harder, not quit. If you’re an entrepreneur reading this, I want you to know something: The journey will test you. There will be days when the money isn’t there. Days when nobody believes in your vision. Days when you question yourself. Days when you wonder if you’re falling behind. But don’t confuse a delay with defeat. Some of the greatest victories are being built in seasons where no one is clapping for you. I like to think of life as a rose. Before anyone admires its beauty, it must first push through the darkness beneath the soil. It endures storms, strong winds, and little insects trying to destroy its roots before it ever blooms. Entrepreneurship is no different. Critics will come. Failures will come. Rejections will come. Doubt will come. But if your roots are grounded in faith, purpose, and perseverance, nothing can stop what God has planted within you. So if you’re feeling discouraged today… Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep sharpening your craft. Keep believing in the dream that was placed on your heart. One day, people will see the flower. They’ll celebrate the success. But only you—and God—will know everything it took to bloom. To every entrepreneur in this community: don’t give up on yourself. Your story isn’t over. Your purpose still matters. And what you’re building today may become the blessing someone else needs tomorrow. 🌹💙Why your 'Best' work still gets you 3-star reviews
After 30+ years in the industry—from project managing hotel builds and overseeing regional engineering to running my own construction and painting companies—I’ve realized a hard truth: A project can be technically perfect, but if the communication was poor, the client won't remember the quality—they'll remember the frustration. In my experience, managing expectations is at least 50% of the job. Whether it’s arrival times, scope creep, or project delays, the 'technical fix' is rarely the hardest part of the business. The hard part is the human element. You can deliver a flawless renovation, but if you didn't manage the expectations surrounding that job, you’ve left a door open for a headache. I’m curious—what’s the one 'service expectation' you’ve struggled with the most while trying to grow your business? Let's break down how to standardize that process so it doesn't break your workflow.Is it better to own 100% of the business ? Or add investors ?
Hello fellow colleagues , I've ran this contract business for about 10 years and gradually increased in overall revenue. But it seems I've hit a peak due to inflation and competition. Not to mention the economy is not doing too well. I've considered adding investors and sell portion of the company to keep investing but I also know the potential we have in a healthy economy and dont want to regret bringing investors and having to pay big percentage of the earnings . Any advice for those that possibly went trough this or have a strategy that are in a similar situation ?
Business Insurance
Has anyone heard of pay as you go insurance for independent contractors? I had a conversation with someone about this. I’ve tried researching online but had no luck finding anything. I think it makes sense for contractors to pay for coverage as they work different projects. Sometimes independent home remodeling contractors have slow seasons and if they’re not getting paid how can they cover the monthly insurance while out of work?
