New Google Search Features: Online Estimates Filter and “Have AI Check Prices” — what does this mean for service pros?
Google has recently started rolling out new pricing-related features in local home service search, and they could impact how service businesses get discovered. Two early changes we’re seeing: “Online estimates” filter Google is beginning to surface an Online estimates filter in some home service searches. Early signs suggest businesses that provide clear, machine-readable pricing or instant estimates may be favored over generic contact forms. “Have AI check prices” or “Ask AI for Pricing” feature Google is also testing an AI feature that gathers pricing on a homeowner’s behalf by using AI to call businesses and collect price quotes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=illIa8LSfY0 These features are still new and evolving, but they raise big questions about pricing transparency, estimates, and local search visibility. We’re curious: Have you noticed either of these features in your area yet? Do you currently show pricing or estimate ranges online? Do changes like this make you rethink how you approach pricing and Google visibility? Would love to hear what service pros are seeing so far 👇You Get One Billboard.....
If you had one billboard for your business, just a few words seen by thousands of people every day, what would it say? The one message that really explains what you do best and why a customer should choose you over anyone else. Think about what makes your business different, what your best customers appreciate most, or what you wish people understood right away when they hear your name. Looking forward to seeing everyone’s answer!How Much Should You Really Be Charging?
The number one question I receive is tied directly to the fact, most contractors are still guessing when it comes to pricing. Overhead. Profit. Labor rate. Trip fees. They think just because they throw a number they hear their competitors use, thats all that they need. It may work, but how and what do you divide these funds is just as important for your business health. If you don’t know how to do the math, you’re not building a business. You’re surviving check to check and think you need more work, when you do not. So here’s the plan: This Tuesday & Thursday on IG, I’m walking you through our Contractor Price Builder Worksheet FREE on instagram live. We will cover: - How to calculate your real hourly rate - The difference between markup and margin - Why profit is a non-negotiable - And how to price with confidence Join the session. Bring your numbers.
Request for Quote building using hidden subtotals
As a handyman/general contractor, I only base my quotes per job/task and not time and materials. I do not want the client to see the price of labor, cost of materials, or other line items except the Job task itself and the price. In order to build an accurate quote, I have to build all of this in a spreadsheet (labor, materials, etc) and copy over the grand total. If I need to make a revision, I have to go back to the spreadsheet and redo the calculations. It would be very helpful to have a way to build a quote with hidden sub line items that can be changed. Quickbooks has a estimate feature called bundling. Example: Tile Backsplash Installation $2,575 (hidden below) Labor 12 $165 $1,980 Tile 1 $350 $350 Mastic 1 $30 $30 Grout 1 $30 $30 Misc 1 $20 $20 Does anyone else struggle with this or have an efficient workaround?4 wheel drive and winter tires.
In my past jobs I was always provided a work truck. All companies would buy the standard Chevy Colorado 2 door WT, rear wheel drive and all weather tires. If there was a bad snow storm, sometimes I couldn't even get out of my driveway! Funny thing is, back then I didn't care, I was an employee and if I can't make it safely, it was the companies problem to figure out. Now that I have started my own business I have decided that I would buy a 4 wheel drive truck and install winter tires. I want to be available to my customers no matter what the weather and I don't want any excuses. I feel I can safely make it to a home or business no matter the weather and I think that is going to make me stand out to customers. I know that not all businesses have cold weather problems to deal with but in Ontario where I live and operate, I think being ready for winter is very important. If anyone is thinking about purchasing a work vehicle, and live in a snowy area, I would highly recommend making the investment in a 4 wheel drive vehicle with good tires!Real Reason Most Contractors Don’t Know Where the Leak Is (How to Price)
Just returned from the Masters of Home Service Podcast with Adam and we broke down something every contractors pain point... Most of us think our pricing problem is about charging more. But in reality, it’s about not knowing where the leak is. That’s why I built the Pricing Blueprint Worksheet, it forces you to look at every category inside your business: Is your hourly cost set right? Is your team milking jobs or burning hours? Is your overhead eating too much of your margin? Are your profit targets too low? Or are you just lost trying to figure out where it all goes? When you separate these categories, you finally see where your money ends up. You’ll know if it’s a labor problem, an overhead problem, or a leadership problem. This is exactly what we talked about on the podcast, that transition from employee mindset to owner mindset. Thank you Jobber Team for the opportunity. Here is the sheet we went over and let me know your thoughts.Looking to collaborate with Junk removal, landscape or cleaning companies.
Hello Jobber world, I am a small Canadian owned and operated pest control company operating in Toronto, Ontario. I am putting this message out to try to get in touch with a small commercial cleaning, landscape and junk removal company to share some work. Also open to creative ideas also, pressure washing comapnies, HVAC, construction, lawn care...anything we can do as small business owners to share the work. My business model is a full service pest control company, and all three of these services are going to be offered to my customers due to the importance of each. I plan to do most of it myself at the beginning, but would like to have some other local Canadian owned small business owners to share work leads. I do not want to work with a large operation to outsource work because I am a huge believer in owner/operated businesses, hence why I (and likely yourself) started my own business I would love to hear from anyone reading this and you can email me anytime at pestfreecanada@gmail.com
Who Was Your First Hire?
I’ll never forget mine! My first hire was a foreman. I needed someone who could run the job while I focused on running and growing the business. That was the moment it stopped being just me and started becoming something bigger. Scary? Of course. Exciting? Absolutely. That first hire teaches you the hard stuff. How to train. How to lead. How to TRUST someone with your name and your clients. You don’t always get it right, but that’s how you grow. What I learned: Hire sooner than you think you’re ready Character beats skill every time Being a boss is a completely different trade than doing the work So let me ask you… who was your first hire, and what did they teach you?
