Business Advice Needed

you came to the right place.

buy low
sell high

Google adwords and Craigslist ads. Get a simple website that describes your services and add your website to every free business directory you can fine online.

Network with other tradesmen in your area and start doing peer referrals.

Your local chamber of commerce meetings are a good place to network as well.


Good luck

I already have an craigslist ad up, and have been networking in the community. Thanks for the advice about the chamber of commerce meetings.

Tough gig, everybody is doin something to make more money, and home repairs is one of the areas saturated. Word of mouth and your marketing skills is what will make or break you, also expand your service area. Good luck bro its cut throat.

First of all I wish you the best of luck. If you don't mind me asking, what exactly are you focusing on? Roofing, electrical, etc? I have a home appliance repair business. One of the things we did recently that seems to be working out well, is Angies List. Once you sign up you can print a survey. I have the guys ask the customer's to fill them out and mail them back to Angies list or go online and do it. Most people don't take the time to do a review unless they are unhappy. However, I have found that if you ask them to leave a nice review they will take the time (offering 10% off labor for doing it doesn't hurt either)

Signing up with the Sears Marketplace can get you a few extra jobs but you have to be willing to comply with their background check and insurance requirements. The web address is [link to signup.servicelive.com] .

Great idea, people who aren't stupid still have money and there is a great need! Go get em!

Craigslist is a low ball market full of headaches! Hand out business cards in the area you wish to work in!

I have experience in all aspects of home repair. I do carpentry, roofing, trim, light electrical and plumbing, painting, etc.....

I haven't limited my learning experiences, so as to have multiple talents.

Saturated with losers, good professional help is hard to find! If you have your act together there is still money to be made!

Are you licensed, insured and bonded?

In this economy, finding people that have money to spare on repairs will be your most difficult task. the people with money/credit will have newer homes and won't need repairs, and those in older houses probably won't have the cash...

I only do quality work, and have excellent references.



I am working on getting insured and bonded. It is tough coming up with the amount of money that requires to achieve.

I'm not finding it that hard to find people with money to spend. Smaller jobs are my bread and butter.

There you go, anglers always find a way!

Cool, best of luck. Wealthier customers like to know they are covered, especially on bigger jobs. It's hard so get started because even if you do have the talent it takes money just to get in the game. You have to be willing to travel great distances for gigs.

You need to network with others in your field, hopefully someone who is doing well will need some extra help on big jobs and can send some contract work your way.

It's hard because there are a lot of unskilled/semi-skilled laborers getting paid under the table.

What's your niche?

Who makes up your audience?

What do you do better or differently than others with the same business?

Don't grow/expand the business too quickly. Slow and steady.

I'd also suggest not diversifying your service offerings too much. Specialize in just one or a few services. Don't try to do everything.

The 2 pieces of advice above will probably seem strange, but anyone who has ever started or run a service-oriented business will understand.

I completely agree, do one thing like no one else and you can make a very good living! Even in this Great Depression!

Also OP, if you never have read some books about special forces and how they never let defeatist thinking around or near them, always go, always win, never quit!

I built a successful business from thin air and the only help I had was people telling me I was going to fail! You can do it don't listen to the haters who never had the guts to even try!

Get you some cheap business cards printed up if you haven't already. Then go to your local credit unions or local banks and post a business card on their bulletin board if they have one.

Thanks and I'm already doing this. I have the basics covered. Was really looking for a few original ideas that hadn't already occurred to me.

Check 10 things that you need to succeed in business at website like [link to edgeworks.in] ,etc.

I run my own business.

You have to get creative with advertising in order to grow your clientele.

Home repair is an easy thing to advertise cheaply.

Go to your local nursing homes, senior citizens centers, and AARP offices and leave a flyer on their memo board detailing your services.

Also, leave flyers and cards on memo boards at local pharmacies, grocery stores, and BINGO HALLS!

Your target market is obviously going to be home-owners, with specific emphasis on people who are too old or incapable of taking care of these things on their own.

Also---there are community workshops for gardening and horticulture---these old folks like to have plant-boxes made for their gardens, etc. You should attend some of these as a volunteer, and work with them---then leave your business details and use word-of-mouth to help promote your services on a community level.

Get involved with the programs locally that try to do urban gardening, etc. Or local programs that help improve housing for low-income areas. If you volunteer--you'll make alot of networking acquaintances, and it's a good use of your time helping folks while promoting your business.

Best of luck to you!

This is easy. If you'll show up when you say you will. Do what you agree to do, in the price range you agree to, and complete the job in the time allotted, you will be turning business down before you know it. That will be the best advertisement you could possibly get. Every where I've lived, I dread having to call someone to come fix anything around the house. They never show up on time, if they say they can do it in a day, it's a week before it's finished, and they always leave a mess behind them. If you'll avoid those examples, people will keep you as busy as you want to be. Good luck!

I used to work for a co. that sold google products to businesses.

I'll tell ya the secret. One Word.

Directories!!!

Put your biz name , industry and phone number in every directory you can.

There are hundreds -

Be sure and place keywords - example

"Business Name, What you do, Cities you Service."

Directories is what gives you google placement.



*after a job - leave your biz card - that has a next time discount for referrals offer.
example " Refer a friend - Get 10% off your Next Service!! "



Good Luck in your venture.

I opened up a store 2 years ago and have been moderately successful.

You have a face problem. I mean getting face to face with prospects. Word of mouth works for a while. What you need is to advertise in Church bulletins and home owner magazines. Give your customers a reason to come to you. Better prices guaranteed work, no hassle bids, friendly etc.

Most cities allow you to open up your garage as a shop you can talk to people face to face.Business cards are a must.Make them, in your case, cut to the patten of a circular saw. One thing I learned in my Masters courses, is that your name should tell exactly what you do. Bob's Remodeling and house repairs etc. Don't name it Bob's let the title tell who you are
Your cards should also hi lite your experience and what you do, such as free bids, Honesty etc.

Good Luck