Hi everyone.
For the last three years I have been running a pretty spotty handyman business without putting a ton of effort into it. It’s not for a lack of product knowledge or craftsmanship but more for random family events that have come up and more importantly, my general withdrawal from wanting to do even the basics of customer service, like calling people back. I’m an introvert and then some when it comes to customer relations and having to call someone back is a mental hurdle that obviously sours people. To date I’ve managed to stay on top of bills and lead a pretty decent life but I absolutely know I’ve got it in me to thrive in the home improvement sector and am now making my last go-of-it with this rebrand.
When I am “on” with customers I gain trust quickly and am very well spoken and presentable and do a fantastic job for what I’m hired to do, my problem (as I see it) is maintaining that professionalism all of the time with every customer. I’ve successfully owned two businesses in the past. I sold one and the other I gave to my ex-wife via the judge. When I was younger I was hugely enthusiastic and did whatever it took to be successful and now I feel worn and old (46) and better suited as a manager type that ensures a job gets done properly rather than being the one doing the job.
My website building skills are good. My marketing is above average. I do not have any dependencies like alcohol or drugs or gambling.
I am awaiting approval for the rebranded LLC that I’ll be moving forward with and at that point will cease the existing handyman business. The new business idea is to be larger than “just a handyman” and include things like shed conversions and restorations while still doing some handyman work. It will also allow me to start (mostly) new and hopefully kickstart the old feelings of dominating the market I’m in.
My question for the community is fairly broad and pretty much boils down to me asking for any advice you may have to offer. This is my last ditch effort for staying my own boss and I don’t want to mess it up.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be monitoring this throughout the weekend.
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I cannot imagine a larger “small” handyman business not being slammed with business these days, so the general economic. environment is on your side. Sounds like referrals will be a great client funnel for you, and carry the most weight. I’d make sure to have a google business profile, then get clients to review you, while telling them you appreciate referrals (the stickiest kind of customer) and like working with people who value good work, like they do. It simultaneously flatters the customers, then creates an incentive to send people your way—people like to say they recommended a good thing/restaurant/store etc (kind of a halo effect) Chances are if they’re not a pain in the ass and are willing to spend, their social group is similar.
Source: me. I have a client based business and this is a very effective strategy for me.
Thank you for this!
Go out of. your way in the beginning, to get that first 2-3 great reviews.
But yeah, ultimately, it’s very hard to change your character at your age
Reviews are something I was good at once upon a time and for some reason just stopped caring about.
I’m taking your last sentence as a challenge. Thanks for that!
Hey, so there are some essential things to keep in mind.
Thank you for the response, introducing structure is something that keeps popping up as I navigate how to get better with my shortcomings.
Ahm they aren’t shortcomings. Think of it like a sea, you need a GPS to get through the best and simplest way, hence people like myself are open to mentoring and guiding others.
That’s a nice way of putting that, thanks. I may take you up on the DM offer, thank you for that as well!
You’ll need to work on your SEO a little bit and use keywords appropriately for your site. Having a good flow also allows it for people to contact you easily. I recommend your Google business page be up to date as well. If you need any help, don’t be afraid to pm either. I don’t bite, only my pet alligator does.
An alligator eh??..my S.O. is a reptile breeder and the amount of things that bite on my property is slightly higher than I’d like. My SEO isn’t bad as it stands, but I’ll definitely keep you in mind for when I think I’m done and reach out then. Thank you for the offer.
Fellow introvert here. I’d recommend putting systems in place that work to your strengths. You don’t like calling people back? Switch to email. Or hire someone to do your customer service. Build a quote building tool into your website. Don’t miss out on potential work because you don’t want to talk to people.
I used to think I hate sales, but I realized I really just hate pushy sales tactics. I love just talking to people and finding solutions to their problems. If they work with me great. If they go in a different direction, also fine. I can feel good about the way i do my sales calls now, and I dont find them nearly as exhausting. Find systems that work for your style. Don’t keep trying to do stuff the way you think they’re supposed to be done. You’ll be much less likely to burn out this way.
Good luck!
Awesome advice. Thank you! We’re researching answering services now and it already feels like a weight is being removed.
A few things.
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It sounds like your idea, skills, and ability to execute are spot on. I don’t see an issue with rebranding as you describe.
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I would be really surprised if you don’t have adult ADHD inattentive or combined type. If you haven’t thought about it, spend a morning researching it and learn to work with how your brain works. If you want medication, in the US, you would have to get a formal diagnosis.
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We are a similar age and most of us get a metabolic/energy breakdown at middle age. IMHO this is especially problematic for people who have genetic ADHD as it seems to require a lot of energy for our brains and bodies to work properly. Personally I went on a low carb/keto/carnivore way of eating, and it has transformed my life and now the ADHD feels less like a disability and more like a superpower and my physical energy and strength is 100% better too.
I have had tons of business ideas through the years, and even in retrospect, none of them were unworkable or bad. My problem in making them work is always getting into a place in life and state of mind where I can focus and see it through.
Ha! On October 27th I watched a quick Facebook video about how someone realized they most likely had ADHD. The way the video was made was humorous and I chuckled until I realized that those symptoms are 100% spot on with how life is now, that was my “ahh crap” moment. I have done a deep-dive into it and have already gotten passed the “what if’s” phase of the process. I’m procrastinating with a doctors diagnosis.
And I appreciate your diet suggestion. My diet is extremely healthy with very little sugar (damn tea) and I think that helps limit things, but I haven’t ventured into the low carb/carnivore diet yet, so that’s something I’ll look into this weekend. Thank you
Yeah it was my daughter who filled me in on my ADHD. I haven’t sought out a formal diagnosis since I don’t wish to seek treatment. Even though I have very definite symptoms, I was a good student and atypical in certain ways that let It go undetected.
When I started carnivore I gained a lot of mental clarity but the ADHD didn’t actually feel better since having a faster and better brain doesn’t always equal a more organized brain. About the 6 month mark it all started to even out and feels more like a superpower than a disability now. Currently I’m at 8+ months carnivore/ketovore.
Even though our paths have been different your story sounded so much like mine…
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I had a successful career in tech sales despite being an introvert, hating public speaking and at times being borderline antisocial. (Wasn’t till my 50’s that I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression.)
Try this approach: I created a “sales persona” that was a confident, professional, relaxed version of myself.
I initially wrote one sentence note cards and placed them by the phone to read from so I didn’t babble, bumble and get tongue-tied.
I put a small mirror by the phone so I smiled when I spoke with clients and prospects.
I hate the phone. I don’t enjoy speaking with people I don’t know, but I’m told by my clients and family that I sound so comfortable, confident, friendly and natural on calls.
I came to learn, it doesn’t matter how I feel, it matters how my client feels.
If I can pull this off, you definitely can.
Best of luck.
Thank you for the ideas, I’m going to try this out.
how is your physical marketing and signage?