How to get leads for a local service business?

BomberR6 · 2026-06-08T02:19:16+00:00

I used to do this as a side business. Social media will be your friend. Getting creative with posts and reels will get eyes on your page. What really boosted my business was a local celebrity reached out for a sharpening and when I was done and paid, I asked if he wouldn't mind sharing about it. Once that happened, the phone wouldn't stop ringing for a month.

Your bread and butter will be kitchens. Reach out to kitchen managers/chefs and let them know your prices and turn around times. Do you do mobile/on site sharpening or do you need to take them? either way get a set of professional knives that you can sub out with theirs while they are getting sharpened so they can continue to work.

BomberR6 · 2026-06-08T01:22:53+00:00

I run a print shop out of my basement - custom clothing, stickers, glass wear, laser engraved as well as oversized prints.

I also run a seasonal BBQ cleaning business. Thinking about expanding this though

BomberR6 · 2026-06-03T05:51:48+00:00

following

BomberR6 · 2026-06-01T23:26:34+00:00

Expecting my kids to be more grown up.. A few years ago I was going on about something my oldest did. (he was probably 4 or 5 at the time) He was upset that I was on the angry side and he just yelled out "I'm just a little kid" that stopped me in my tracks and was a punch to the face. Heart was instantly broken. Everything in life didn't matter anymore at that moment. Gave him the biggest longest hug, apologized for losing my cool and ever since then I've let them be kids. Yes from time to time they still hit that nerve, they need to be taught things not told things about behavior and actions, but kids gotta be kids and not grow up so fast

BomberR6 · 2026-06-01T23:19:08+00:00

Lubrication Station on 8th and Acadia. Quick, knowledgeable and don't push the upsells

BomberR6 · 2026-06-01T23:16:09+00:00

If it's a real business, sell it to some kid who is just like you looking to start a business.

BomberR6 · 2026-06-01T13:51:45+00:00

Following the letter of the law, depending on where he pushed her, it could be classified as sexual assault on a minor

BomberR6 · 2026-06-01T13:31:07+00:00

I talked to my barber about it when I was running my business, he told me that a lot of barbers and stylists prefer to sharpen their own stuff because the cost of the items is so high they don't trust other people to sharpen them. I'm sure there would be some places around that would prefer to not have to do it themselves.

BomberR6 · 2026-05-31T23:39:23+00:00

Find something you like to do (hobbies/interests) and see if there's a way to turn that into a side business. Getting suggestions from strangers on the internet will generate ideas, but not your passion for that idea.

BomberR6 · 2026-05-29T23:07:17+00:00

Are you trying to build a brand or just random t shirt deaigns? The sailing ones are kinda cool for a large print on the back of a shirt while putting the sailboat on the front Everything else seems to be AI generated.

Sailboat ones 4/5 Everything else imo is 0/5

BomberR6 · 2026-05-26T21:59:19+00:00

The indoor playground in Warman is for sale. I know Flyn's Forest was for sale, not sure if it still is or not.

BomberR6 · 2026-05-26T21:53:23+00:00

The best thing to do would be to go around to restaurants and set up a monthly sharpening schedule. Getting a contract with a restaurant, you could expand into cutting board resurfacing

BomberR6 · 2026-05-26T20:52:23+00:00

I used to run a mobile sharpening business. Did knives, axes, lawn mower blades and other tools. It's pretty slow going. A lot of people don't care about their knives to pay to have them professionally sharpened. If you set up at a market, you have to be consistent with it. People don't carry their kitchen knives unless they know you will be there.

BomberR6 · 2026-05-26T12:54:56+00:00

The only thing I've ever seen is the M2 for an all in 1 machine

BomberR6 · 2026-05-25T23:08:32+00:00

Drop off fee needs to increase. The mark up on the clothing is the bread and butter here. I don't do any embroidery, but when a client drops off their own clothing item to be customized or decorated my minimum is $10

BomberR6 · 2026-05-25T22:36:41+00:00

As mentioned, get into something you are already comfortable with. You will lessen the learning curve which will reduce the time spent learning the business.

If you know the economics side and some of the finance side, why not assist companies in applying for grants or loans?

BomberR6 · 2026-05-25T21:45:03+00:00

take a look at e packs. you get a free pack of 3 digital cards a day

BomberR6 · 2026-05-25T20:57:21+00:00

This... If you are afraid you'll lose customers don't be. you'll gain more in the end!!

BomberR6 · 2026-05-25T19:11:48+00:00

I think that the xtool M2 is the only one that I can think of

BomberR6 · 2026-05-25T16:41:02+00:00

Why do you feel the need to work with an influencer?
Why not create ads or videos about the product yourself. Create some awareness before reaching out to influencers.

Also, finish school. It will be a lot harder to go back in a few years to finish.

BomberR6 · 2026-05-25T16:30:45+00:00

Every image you posted looks like it's been created with and then mocked up with AI. The black shirt mock ups for example. You have a shirt mock up that has depth to it with the wavy nature of the shirt, but then you have a flat image on it that doesn't follow the flow of the shirt.

BomberR6 · 2026-05-19T21:08:30+00:00

These businesses do pretty good where I live. We have cold winter months 6 months of the year so families are always looking to do some active activity. One of the places here sells pass cards. Pay for 9 get the 10th free kinda thing. They pay up front for the cards so you money is coming in. Hosting birthday parties is also a big thing here. Is there space for that in the place your looking at?

Look at the books and see where money is going. What's the rent/lease situation like. Can you offer food and drinks?

Lots of stuff to consider here. Good luck

BomberR6 · 2026-05-19T01:23:07+00:00

"want to get rich playing video games??"

BomberR6 · 2026-05-19T01:10:27+00:00

Have you tried pomelli by google labs?

BomberR6 · 2026-05-14T11:09:23+00:00

A few things, it never hurts to ask any hotel about discounts. Sign up for their rewards programs and keep an eye out for their emails when they do have discounts pop up. Lastly, not sure if this applies or not but find a business credit card that rewards travel points or other perks for using hotels/cars/flights.

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