12 Ways to Run a Better Residential Contracting Business

Growth comes from incorporating good business practices, marketing yourself effectively, using business data wisely and generally being as efficient as you can be. Here are 12 tips and tricks from our past year of blog posts to help you do just that.

3 New Year's Resolutions Every Business Owner Must Make

Starting the new year the right way is hugely important — especially for home service business owners. Here’s how to make it your company’s best year yet.

How to Measure Home Services Technician Efficiency

Being busy and being efficient are not the same thing. Learn how to create and use a Technician Efficiency Report to get your techs producing the results you’re looking for.

5 Ways to Winterize Your Home Service Business

Cold and snow is on the way, whether you are ready or not. That means it’s time to winterize your home services business.

Why Accurate Timekeeping Is Critical, Pt. 2: Labor Audits and Family Leave

Keeping accurate data on your employees’ work time? Learn the roles recordkeeping and software play in state wage/hour audits and family/medical leave.

Why Accurate Timekeeping Is Critical, Pt. 1: OT Disputes

Keeping accurate records of your employees’ work time? Learn what the law requires, what you need in case of a lawsuit and how software can help.

Eliminate Doughnut Time: How to Ensure Your Techs Are Managing Their Time Properly

As a business owner, it’s up to you to keep on an eye on your technicians’ time management.

Heading to a Trade Show? Here’s How to Get the Most Out of the Experience

Trade shows can be overwhelming. Know your goals, take note of standout ideas and be prepared to take action.

At the Outset of a New Business, Expect the Unexpected

No matter how experienced you think you are, opening a business is full of surprises. Find out what shocked one HVAC company owner when he struck out on his own.

Leaping From Tech to Owner? Get in the Right Mindset

Making the leap from home services tech to business owner requires a different mindset. Learn how to adjust your thinking to get your company off to a good start.

7 Tips for Keeping Your Team Safe in Extreme Summer Heat

It’s hot out there — REALLY hot. As the owner of a home service business, it’s important that you help keep your team safe when they’re out on a job.

Is Your HVAC Business Ready for Summer? 5 Ways to Prepare for Your Busiest Season

The summer months mean more appointments and more business. But more jobs do not have to mean more stress for business owners.

The Loss of Community Impacts Contractors — Here’s How Your Company Can Bring It Back

There are many ways in which business owners can grow the sense of community amongst their team — and with their customers.

Getting Your Team to Use New Software Does Not Have to be a Struggle

Your new software won’t help your business if your team is not going to use it properly. Here’s how to encourage compliance.

[Video Included] 5 Myths About Metrics That Are Hurting Your Business

Pointman's Steve Raines explains how to use your metrics to help your business grow in this 20-minute webinar.

Don’t Depend on One Person to Get the Job Done: Document Business Processes

Documenting your business is really about changing your company's approach to getting better. You'll know you're doing it right when your staff asks to share your docs where they make an impact.

3 Things You Can Do Right Now to Run a Better Home Service Business

My business partners and I have started and grown several service-based businesses over the last 20 years and here are three practical things you can do right now to make your life less stressful and your business more productive.

Building a Business & Revenue on Relationships

"It's been six months since we installed your furnace. Are you happy with it? Also, I remember seeing some stains from standing water. I know someone who could help. What do you think?"

Better Than Perfect: How to Correct Business Mistakes

Companies are still run by people just like you and me. If there’s one absolute certainty in our lives it’s that we will, whether real or manufactured by a customer, make a mistake at some point.

Three Ways to Have Better Conversations, Especially with Difficult Customers

Remember how excited you were the day before you opened your doors for business? The future was uncertain, but full of untapped opportunity. You couldn't wait to get started serving all those new clients. When it comes to business and new clients, you have to take the good with the bad, and the bad means working with difficult customers.

Ask For The Sale, It’s Why You’re There

There are a lot of qualities that make a great salesperson. A competitive drive is essential, but so is a level of empathy to understand how a potential customer feels.

4 Tips to Get More Reviews

Your customer, aka potential reviewer has the power to give you a review or not to give you a review. But it’s your responsibility to make it as easy as you can for them.

Hear "Yes" More and Sell More With Options

In order to feel good about a purchase, customers need to be in control of the decision. Hard pressure tactics leave customers feeling buyer's remorse almost immediately because they feel like they've been put in a weakened position.

How Can a Discount Make You More Money?

If you ask a technician who is just starting out to estimate the cost of a job, they will definitely take into account labor (the work they have to do) and probably materials. The tech might even include a markup for profit. Since you have to cover all the bills, not just the jobs, you know that there’s a lot more to pricing a job.

Create More Valuable Club Memberships

A couple of weeks back I talked about how to properly charge for a service fee. This week I want to use a lot of the same principles but this time talk about the ever-important maintenance club memberships most contractors offer.

How to Strengthen Relationships and Grow Your Business with Club Memberships

Club Memberships are an upcoming strategy I’m seeing many many home service businesses implementing.

Getting Ready for the Summer Busy Season

Summertime the “busy season” for many field service companies. Landscapers take care of lawns, roofers capitalize on nice weather, HVAC techs install new air conditioners, and more! Preparing for the extra business is difficult. Any inefficiencies in your off-season will be accentuated and can cost a company potential business and revenue!

Why and How to Set Business Goals

Look at your business and everything you hope to accomplish in the upcoming year, and set goals to get there. Most people think of a resolution as something personal, but it's important to set resolutions for your business as well.

3 Benefits of Customers Declining Work

Nobody likes to hear "No" from a customer. When you've made a significant investment of time and effort to explain and present great options only to have the customer tell you that they just want the quick and inexpensive fix, it can be easy to take the work you've done, crumple it up and "circular file" it.

Now That You’re Making More, What Do You Do With The Extra Money?

In addition to replacing old equipment or buying supplies, here are some different ideas on how you can use extra money to improve your business.

5 Myths About Metrics That Are Hurting Your Business