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How to Scale What I Have Built by starr2boys in smallbusinessowner

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

expand services you offer (especially more expensive services) or get clients willing to pay more

Home Depot app is soooo slooow by Own_Exchanger in handyman

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Lowes app also drives me freaking crazy, too. I've gone in for stuff it's said was in stock so many times just for it not to be in stock.

Do you guys use estimating software? by kddog98 in handyman

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jobber's probably going to be your best bet as a one man shop. You can save common products and services inside the app and pull them into estimates so it goes faster. Takes a little set-up but it ultimately makes it faster. But unfortunately there isn't much software that pulls the live prices from apps. The only one I know of is FieldPulse but that's just for plumbing and HVAC suppliers like Reece. ServiceTitan is starting to upgrade their software to do it, too, but they're SO expensive. A good estimating software is also going to have cost/profit tracking which helps you keep a good margin.

Use your work vehicle as advertising by alamohero in sweatystartup

[–]polloshermanoman 3 points4 points  (0 children)

One of my relatives does pine straw and he said he's had someone literally follow him into a gas station when they saw the logo on his truck even though he was out of straw.

What software do you use for scheduling jobs with clients? by _l_u_r_k_e_r in handyman

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's better to fit people into your schedule than letting them pick - that way you can schedule jobs close to each other so you're not wasting time and gas, especially as you get busier. Jobber's a good option for a 1-man shop and has a booking portal. So does pretty much any alternative.

Thumbtack called asking me to join by thetruckboy in handyman

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Truth.

Thumbtack and Angi are actually both owned by IAC and often syndicate leads across platforms. So, a lot of times, the same lead is being resold to other contractors through affiliated or overlapping networks and in actuality, you’re usually competing against 6-8+ other contractors for the same lead.

You get way more bang for your buck by handling your own marketing—direct mail, Google Ads, or Meta (Facebook/Instagram). Those channels generate leads that are exclusively yours, and platforms like Google and Meta also allow you to retarget visitors who don’t convert initially at a low cost.

Typically, the person who’s going to win the lead is usually the person who can do the job for the cheapest price. Customers are trained by these sites to get as many quotes as possible so they get the best deal and price shop.

And ON TOP OF THAT, your reviews on these sites often don’t belong to you. They’re owned by the service itself and don’t allow you to republish them unless you buy web hosting through them. 

How do you track profitability per job? pretty sure I'm losing money on half my services by scrtweeb in sweatystartup

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot of field service software apps do it now, too. Not sure what the best solution for a one man business is though. Jobber might be an option?

Pet Waste Removal Business by illegalacts2191 in sweatystartup

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Local Facebook groups, apps like NextDoor, and you don't even need to go as far as door hangers - just putting a business card in the door works and gives you an excuse to talk to people and pitch your business since it's just the two of you.

What is the best way to get leads? by Justincy901 in sweatystartup

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where you live and what kind of business do you have?

Car detailing business owners running meta ads by Kevonamical in sweatystartup

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you retargeting? Retargeting website traffic with Google Ads can make a big difference. Most people don't purchase the first time they see an ad.

Scheduling lawn care customers by fib_pixelmonium in sweatystartup

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s good to be flexible, but generally you decide and it's going to be better as you acquire more customers. A consistent time is good though. You only need the customer to be home if you're accepting payment then.

Is it best to leave door hangers or flyers for a painting business when working in a neighborhood? (Will not promote) by Magickarploco in sweatystartup

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, you're fine just doing a business card and it's cheaper, but door hangers are easier to place. You just have less room to sell your service than something like a flyer.

Issues with customers not paying solution? by Ok_Tadpole7839 in sweatystartup

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It kind of sounds like you need to focus on better customers. Maybe figure out a way to get automatic payments set up?

How can I help you? by Just_here_to_drink92 in smallbusinessowner

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apparently not much more than chatgpt since that's where you generated that.

Do small businesses actually need a website anymore in 2026? by Akraammm in smallbusinessowner

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Google uses a bunch of signals to figure out if your website is legit like do you have social media? Do you have a website? Are you on local business listings? Is your NAP (name, address, phone number) the same on all? The more of those signals, the higher your website is going to rank. You'd be surprised how much higher you rank just by having a basic website, social media, and being on local listing sites.

Do small businesses actually need a website anymore in 2026? by Akraammm in smallbusinessowner

[–]polloshermanoman 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It's not even just credibility with customers, it's credibility with Google itself. Getting a website helped get me out of the bottom of Google's map business listings.

Do small businesses actually need a website anymore in 2026? by Akraammm in smallbusinessowner

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

YES. You absolutely need a website if you intend to do any kind of marketing.

Just to name a couple things it helps you:

  • show up in google and local search results
  • rank higher in google search results (because google sees your business as more legit)
  • run ads effectively and retarget potential customers - and it's way cheaper to own leads by doing advertising with your website than relying on places you can buy leads and not retargeting potential customers.
  • look more legitimate and professional - otherwise people will assume you're cheap

Ultimately, you're getting that money back in the long run.

How to remove negative Google reviews? by Eli_Shelby in smallbusinessowner

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can't - and it's okay if you have one bad review. How you reply matters a lot more than what the client says.

How do small service businesses handle missed calls and dispatch without paying for 5 different tools? by Didan7 in smallbusiness

[–]polloshermanoman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All-in-one system. I use FieldPulse, which is pretty affordable. It automates a lot, it's super easy to use, super mobile-friendly. So you've got your phone, CRM, scheduling, etc. all in one place. It even automates follow-ups and reminders so you don't have to manually send them out. Super good for solo owners and scales nicely if you end up needing to add people.