CaroliProWash said:
You know what I'm reading into your questions - and don't take this wrong - you're questioning your ability to make a go of this. If you deliver on what you advertise and base your core business on quality, professionalism, and reasonable prices, you're going to be just fine. You really will.
Celeste
Me too!
You deserve to earn a living.
Few expect something for nothing.
Experienced people here are telling you....Be confident.... even though you are not. Confidence sells big time so the sooner you have it the better.
Half of everything is simply going out into the cold, hard world and simply trying and then....."Asking for the sale!".
Never walk away from a quote without asking for the sale.
The #1 reason is they are going to take your quote and whatever effort you put into it and throw it on the highway. They need your service or they wouldn't have called.....so...a good businessman Always Asks For The Sale.
"A Good Service At A Fair Price" is really an unbeatable combination.
The problem is willing customers need to know you are out there.
Word of mouth is the perfect sales tool but a new service in a highly populated areas can be tough.
I've done this with another business I own. It works too good so I stopped.
o Be careful what you give away....
o Never work for free....unless fixing a goof up.
o Don't put yourself in the position of remembering you owe somebody something.....and then not following through. You are an A-hole to that guy forever and you'll never know why.
o Give your existing customer an incentive to work for you! A business card with their name and address preprinted on the back and marked as....say....a "$25 Referral" on the back? You give one or two biz cards out after you have completed a job.
You instruct them, "If you are happy with my service" pass this cards to others you know will need my service. Make sure the new customer gives me this card and I will send you $25 as payment for a referral!
o Then....you give the referred customer the same treatment...but you are never giving anything away.....unless you do not value a referral.
Only pass out cards with a $25 (or whatever) referral on the back to customers who have hired you.
It's like paying your customers to be salesmen...which they are anyway!
Check with your accountant but the act is a business write off for me.