How To Get Your Home Services Business Started From Nothing
Have you always wanted to run your own business? Maybe you’re just fresh out of school, or maybe you’re working a trade for someone else right now and you want to be your own boss.
Let’s break down the basics of how to get your home services business started from nothing.
First things first, you need to make sure you are - legally - all ready to start up your business. Depending on your physical location and your specific industry, that may mean insurance, licenses, etc. Once you get all of that squared away, we can help with the contractor marketing and business development component of your business.
Create Your Business Name
At the very least, you need to have your business name figured out and a super basic logo. You don’t have to pay a designer thousands of dollars to get a logo done right away - that’s not a great priority if you are starting your own business for the very first time.
Having a business name is the most important part - and make sure you keep a few key things in mind.
#1 Don’t use your name in your business name
There are so many companies called “Dave’s Pressure Washing” (Sorry, Dave). I found over 40 “Dave’s Pressure Washing” companies on Facebook alone. It isn’t really unique and it also hinders the potential for your business to be sold in the future if that’s something of interest to you. If it’s not, go for it. Go for it, Dave!
#2 Make it clear what you do, but don’t be spammy
Having a business name like “Chicago Pressure Washing Near Me” isn’t going to cut it. That’s way too spammy. At the same time, some random name or less specific name like “Visions Of Tomorrow” could be a software start-up company name, but it doesn’t clear tell us your service offering if you’re a contractor.
#3 Be careful using your location in your business name
Aside from being potentially spammy if you overdo it, it could also constrain your company’s ability to grow geographically in the future.
Overall, your business name should be unique but still easy enough to read and understand when driving past a yard sign.
Create Your Google Business Profile
Once you get your name squared away, there’s one more step you need to take before you even leave the house for your first job. You need to create your Google Business Profile.
If you don’t already have one, go to business.google.com and start the process to create a listing. Follow the steps in order, including accurately selecting your main category, adding your contact information, and so-on.
It doesn’t have to be perfect to start - but we do want to make sure it is live and that you have a specific URL (your web link) that you can give to people later on.
TAG - The Business Cycle
This is the exciting part. This is the start of the business growth cycle that I like to call “TAG”
Target New Customers
The first step in the TAG cycle is “T” - target new customers.
The first time you do this cycle - you need to talk to your friends, family, and neighbors to let them know you’ve started a new business and you’re looking for new customers. Let them know you’ll give them a good deal for being an early customer.
Book those first jobs and complete work for those people. If they like you enough to book you, then chances are they will be more understanding of you if it takes longer to do the work properly.
Targeting new customers can be done in a variety of ways eventually, but the first time around - use your personal network of who you know to get your first jobs under your belt.
Ask For The Review
The second step in the TAG cycle is “A” - ask for the review. Talk to your newly completed customers and ask for a review on your Google Business Profile.
Ask them in person after the job is done.
Thank them for trusting you and your new business. Then, ask them if they could help you out by leaving a good Google review.
You can then text and/or email them the link you got when you created your Google Business Profile – to make it as easy as possible for them to leave you that positive review.
Grow By Investing In Your Business
The third step is the TAG cycle is “G” - Grow by investing in your business.
That money you earned on the first TAG cycle doesn’t go into your pockets just yet. Pay yourself what you absolutely must to just get by - especially when you are early on in the process.
The priority here is not to pay yourself. We need to grow your business as a priority.
You are going to re-invest that money right back into your company again.
We are going to call these business and marketing step-ups.
Our goal is to grow and do something that helps us do a better job at completing the TAG cycle again.
You’ve got options for your business and marketing step-ups. It can be things like…
- Business Step Ups
- Equipment Investment - Maybe you had to rent or borrow gear for your first jobs. Invest smartly in your business by getting the gear that you know you absolutely need - prioritizing the gear that will make you more money.
- Self-Education And Training - Business coaching books and courses, certifications, training, and skill development are ways to invest your business proceeds into future improvement
- Growth and security - As you continue to improve your business, you’ll need to look at long-term business success. That may include hiring some help or saving money for your slower times.
- Marketing Step Ups
- Pay Cash For Referrals - Contact those same friends, neighbors, and family members again - even if they didn’t use your services. Let them know you’ll pay them $50 cash if they refer you to a good-paying customer. You only have to pay them if their referral is good and gets you paid. All you have to do is make sure you adjust your charges to get the extra $50 out of your new customer and then use that to payout your original referrer as a thank you.
- Canvassing Tools - Buy flyers, door hangers, and yard signs so you can canvass more neighborhoods and get more business while looking more professional.
- Trying Facebook Ads - Increase your reach by using Facebook Ads to get access to newer customers. Just be careful that you’re targeting the right people and the right locations, so that you’re not wasting your money to get in front of Facebook users you could never service.
- Invest In Your Online Marketing - Operating a website, review management system, or other long-game online marketing efforts can help you get lower-cost leads over time to grow your business.
The important thing here is to pick the right step-ups for where your business is. It has to be a good enough reach to be at least a little uncomfortable to make an impact.
If you reach too low, you won’t invest enough in your business. You won’t get the improvements you need to continue your TAG business cycles.
If you reach too high, you’ll overspend and overextend your business. You’ll risk losing business momentum, and your growth will slow or stop.
Do The Cycle Again - For Forever
You’ll continue to repeat the TAG Cycle again and again
- Target New Customers
- Ask For The Review
- Grow By Investing In Your Business
The first TAG is the hardest. But once you have a little money in your pocket and you see how your success can go from concept to reality with some hard work and determination, you’ll get more cash to reinvest in your business and continue the TAG cycle.
The more you loop, the more experience you get, the more reviews you get, the more opportunity you get to grow your business.
If you need help with TAG - targeting new customers, asking for reviews, or growing your business - the pros here at Footbridge Media are always ready to help. We have 20 years of experience helping contractors just like you to create more successful businesses. Learn more how we can help grow your construction business.
"Contractor Marketing Tips And Tricks" - The Footbridge Media Podcast
About Chris Lonergan
Chris Lonergan has over 12 years of contractor marketing experience with Footbridge Media. With a background in web design, print design, content creation, and online marketing, Chris is focused on providing quality marketing and business solutions in the construction and service industries - helping small business owners to more efficiently manage their companies and grow their operations.
Chris Lonergan has previously contributed to and/or been featured in PM Magazine (Plumbing & Mechanical | Contractors x Engineers), theNEWS (ACHR - Air Conditioning | Heating | Refrigeration), Service Roundtable's blog, inPAINT Magazine, the SMB Marketing Agency Show, and the Green Industry Podcast. Chris is also a past SGI/CertainPath breakout session presenter.
