Starting Out

Mansfield

Hellow,
I'm new to the forum and would like some advice I'm trying to go out on my own and I'm having a hard time finding work I have put an add in the news paper, but I have not receaved any calls. What has worked for you guys?

tzzzz216

I started out the same way ,ads in the paper, it did start slow but then the work startes coming and its been steady ever since , I've gotten by word of mouth too, it'll come hang in there , Good luck



" The only easy day was yesterday "

Ishmael

I noticed a lot of builders/caretakers list web addresses in their yellow pages ads. I sent out emails to every one of them I could find. I got some business through that approach. Good Luck!

PressurePros

Your first year in business you can go one of two ways.. spend much more money on marketing or learn to live on poverty wages. (maybe both)

I'm not trying to give you a hard time, mansfield but if you didn't devise a business plan and set a marketing budget that is adequate enough to generate income you might be better served to work for someone until you have enough capital to get you through the meager earnings you can expect in the beginning of a start up business.

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Ken Fenner
Pressure Washing PA
Roof Cleaning Services PA

Mansfield

Thank you for the good advice, I will try the yellow pages

Richard

Advertising online is more popular than paper these days...I would spend some good time getting your name on the web. Google, Yahoo, Yellowpages.com, etc. Creating a website is easy these days. And of course get business cards made and hand them out like they are on fire. In my first year I handed out at least 1000 cards. Basically, get your name around to so many places you lose track. Then the magic starts. Good luck to you.

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Rich

All Clear Sewer

Best money you will ever spend is the "Phone Book" next is signage on a work truck. trust me I`m in advertising as I also own a sign shop. don't spend money on radio, paper and or TV. Most people when they have a problem they pick up a phone book or they see a bright colored truck and get a phone number.

P.S.....Always do your best work on every job and the work will soon come to you!

Mansfield

The phone book is something I'm looking into and once I have a nice work truck I will definantly advertise on it. I get alot of work from word of mouth, its just not consistant. I'm still working for someone but with all the good advice I hope to be on my own within the next year. Thank you all

All Clear Sewer

No BS about it, Phone book will make you money and go as big as you have money but remember, "do your best on every job!"

gmp

Just remember that a phone book only comes out once a year. Don't go wild over the ads. They can be quite expensive.

Just like most here, I have found by being truthful and honest will get you more work than you need. Return phone calls promptly, and do what you say you. Show up on time, and if you're gonna be late, call.

Word of mouth is how I stay busy. Too busy most times.
Keep yourself and your truck presentable. And finally, get a logo for the company. Many people will see it and remember it.

I'd have to say more than ninety percent of my business is word of mouth referals

gmp

By the way Mansfield, I'm just south east of you in the foothills.

Plumber

I'm with you Mansfield Working for someone else and doing my own company in the evening and weekends. I have gotten all my work from buisness cards I have passed out. (For example went to local harware store and seen a customer of that store strugling to find some thing and no one is there to help them. So I walk up to them and try to help them find there part. And 9 out of 10 time they ask me if I'm an plumber and I give them my card. Usually in a few days I get a call "how much would you charge to put that part in that you helped me locate?" Or My friend ran into you at ______ and you helped him or her find a part and I was wondering if you can come take a look at my house and fix my problem?" Buisness card work great for me right now. But looking in to puting an add in the phone book.

Good Luck!
Mike

DCyrPlumber

Same here, just starting out. Congrats on getting your lic. IF your state works anything like FL, it's a long process. Anyway I am also just starting out can't really give any advice yet, because I am in the same boat. I found a small local GC that I get speratic work from, other than that I recieved 2 Random service calls. My wife works for Disney so she hung some business cards there. Maybe see if your local stores have a "community bulliten board" hang your card there. If I find something to work for me here I will gladly pass it along.


Dean

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mharrold

The first advertising I did was to go to all of the local realtor websites and make a list of all the realtors in each office. Made up the mailing list in Word, put together a form letter and sent them off. Came up with 400 names and addresses in about 3 days work.
From them I got referrals and repeat business.

Another thing that I did to get some money coming in was to sub work off another plumber. He's actually the guy that taught me plumbing years ago and he'd had his own business for about 3 years. He'd had employees in the past but could never find good ones he wanted to keep and didn't really have enough year round work to keep them busy anyway. The arrangement worked out great for both of us.

The guys at the supply houses have kicked me some work at times too. Might talk to them.