One thing I’m trying to avoid is spending time on estimates for customers who are hoping for chuck-in-a-truck rates and aren't willing to pay market or premium rates. Is that just part of the game early on, or have you found ways to screen this out before going on site? What actually helped: Price anchors up front? Intake questions? Minimum charge for estimates? Phone script? Long term I think branding will be the solution but when starting out I don't necessarily have that. Thanks!

On paper, everyone in this group has a business. If we are honest with ourselves, very few of us operate like a business. We have fallen into the typical trap of having built ourselves a job, with the responsibility of a business owner. I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many people I know that would make more money, work less hours, and have far less stress if they just worked for someone else as a W2 employee. We all know, that's not the point. Each of you have already taken the first step to get out of that trap and truly build something meaningful that can last far beyond yourself. You've taken the initiative to learn the business and implement systems. The real difference is taking all of the information that lives in your head, and documenting everything on paper. Formatted in a way that anyone can perform the functions of your business without question. The best way to learn about the importance of systems and processes is to read the book E-Myth Revisited by Michael E Gerber. Any business can be scaled, don't let the statistics of the handyman trade fool you into thinking it's impossible to scale in our industry. Each one of us are proving that narrative wrong and I believe are on the cusp of a transformative industry change.. all for the better! Reminder - if you want to have something scalable, sellable, and something you can retire from you need to focus your attention on building proper systems for each function of your business.

I always wonder what other people are working on in their business. So I figured I’d share what I’m up to for Q1. 1. A client app/membership program, where they can book services, refer others, earn reward points and more. 2. A robust estimating platform allowing anyone with minimal experience the ability to accurately estimate jobs (trying to idiot proof it) 3. A “while I’m here” service menu. Anytime a tech is in a house they can share this with a client and offer some small repairs while on site. 4. Comapnywide CEO dashboard on PowerBI. We have so many spreadsheets with so much valuable data… but I need a simple and clear visual dashboard to review every day. What are you working on that you’re excited about?

It seems like most people who own a Handyman business are focused on the profit per job vs. the LTV (Lifetime Value) of the client... Let me explain. They look at every job in isolation. Did we make money today? Was this job profitable right now? But here’s the truth: a client is worth far more over time than they ever are on a single job. In fact, the first job you do for a homeowner might not even be profitable — and that’s okay. The real goal isn’t to win the job. The goal is to win the client for life. A great example of this is BMW. Most people assume they can’t afford a BMW. So BMW created the 1 Series. Lower price point. More accessible. A whole new demographic suddenly walks through their doors. But here’s the important part: The service didn’t change. Whether you buy a 1 Series or a custom M Series, you get the same experience. Same showroom. Same treatment. Same brand promise. What does that do? It creates loyalty. Over time, those 1 Series customers upgrade. Not because BMW forced them to — but because they don’t want to leave. They trust the brand. They feel taken care of. BMW didn’t just sell a car — they captured a customer. That theory is what we have been heavily focusing on at Handy's. We’re not obsessed with maximizing profit on the first job. We’re obsessed with owning the relationship. Capturing market share. Becoming the go-to solution homeowners never replace. And from the outside, competitors are going to look at it and think:“How are they doing this?” The answer is simple:We value Lifetime Value. Not one-time transactions. So let me ask you this.. how much are you willing to lose on the first job, to keep that customer for life?

I’m in the process of launching my handyman business and have become a bit paralyzed by "FSM/CRM Choice Fatigue." I can’t decide if I should save money now or invest in a "forever" system. My fear is that by picking a basic tool I will outgrow it in six months and waste weeks migrating data. Also, if I go big and choose the wrong FSM, I will still have the same problem. Currently looking at everything from Swivl (free) to Tradify (mid) to HCP/Jobber (pro). Experienced operators: What do you wish you’d started with? Also, what "hidden" feature is actually a game-changer for your daily workflow? (e.g., automated follow-ups, route optimization, etc.) Thanks! Kurt