Too many small and home-run businesses today are exercises in chaos. The world of the handyman is rarely an exception. The business owners take notes on paper, and then forget to transfer those notes into a more appropriate location on their computer. This results in lost quotes, estimates, and misplaced information that can drive customers insane. If you take the time to learn how to manage your quotes properly and practice good organizational techniques, you can stand out from the crowd and distinguish yourself as the go-to business when someone needs a handyman. Here’s how.
- Get a customer management system.
A customer management system (or CMS) is essential for keeping track of your customers, their information, and much more. It will allow you to send quotes via email, track which jobs have been paid and which ones have not, make schedules, and much more. It is the single piece of organizational software which can make or break a handyman business. Tip: Keep it simple, you don’t need a complex system. Many estimating apps also have basic CMS systems to track client information.
- Get a credit card app.
Allowing customers to pay on-site as soon as the job is finished is a great benefit most of your competitors won’t offer. Using credit card apps can turn your smartphone into a payment processor; all it takes is an additional piece of hardware that allows them to scan their credit card. Square is a popular example; it only charges a 3% processing fee for each transaction, and this fee is deductible from your taxes. However you have to decide the best provider for your business so look at all the options and ratings: https://www.cardpaymentoptions.com/credit-card-processing/best-construction/
- Learn to take notes digitally.
While you could carry a small notepad with you, using a smartphone or app to take notes is a much better choice. Using a tool like JobFLEX will allow you to add notes, photos and notifications for your employees to keep everyone in the loop on the details of a given job. With JobFLEX Basic or JobFLEX Pro you have the option to upload all of your quotes to our secure servers, which means you can always have access to your information even if something happens to your mobile device. Tip: Start with a basic app that can do basic quotes or estimates but has additional features such as scheduling, CMS, etc. which you can use as you get more comfortable with the app.
- Use a GPS.
How often have you heard horror stories of a handyman being late for a job because he couldn’t find the customer’s home? If all you need is their address, it will make things easier for the customer. Just plug it into a GPS system, whether in your vehicle or on your phone, and follow the directions to get there. The only time you should need to ask for clarification is if the customer lives in a particularly confusing area. Tip: There are tons of options for navigation apps in the Google Play and Apple stores and as you are looking for quote or estimating apps many come with a map or GPS function connected to the CMS or scheduler.
- Answer quickly.
Customers will reach out to you at various times throughout the year via email, text, and phone calls. Make sure you get back to them within 24 hours at the latest; that fast response time will help to win customer loyalty and set you apart from the dozens of other contractors that take ages to respond. It’s the same thing with your quote process, delivering quotes within hours or days helps close deals faster and generates more work. Tip: Have a tool that helps you get quotes out quickly and follow-up with customers to close more deals.
If you’re taking steps to improve your business processes as a handyman, this can seem like a lot. But in reality, having the right tools or tool can make it much easier. JobFLEX is one tool that can assist on multiple fronts. In terms of managing customers, JobFLEX gives you a digital tool to easily let you search through quotes and review past and current jobs. You can even generate quotes on your phone while in the field whether you have internet access or not. JobFLEX can also allow you to take detailed notes while you quote for later reference. Finally, in terms of turning estimates around quickly (view a sample here), JobFLEX can improve your efficiency in responding to client requests by putting so much information at your fingertips, and allowing you to adjust in the fly when you have an up to date materials list. While your competitors are sifting through stacks of paperwork, you’ve already been able to respond with updated numbers and are on to the next job.
It isn’t hard to manage your quotes and make yourself a better handyman. All it takes are the right handyman software, tools and a willingness to go a step further than your competitors are willing to go.
