When you are first starting your business how do gain clients?

Carman_WBI1
Carman_WBI1 Posts: 2
in Thumbtack Resources

When you are first starting your business how do gain clients? I'm to gain momentum using Thumbtack and I feel like I'm struggling.

Best Answer

  • structuralguy65
    structuralguy65 Posts: 56
    Answer ✓

    @Carman_WBI1 I have been in business for myself for 26 years. I would temper your expectations on what Thumbtack can do for you. The best way to look at Thumbtack is to view it as one of several ways to gain business. Like anything in life, do not put all your eggs in the Thumbtack basket. You have little control over changes to the Thumbtack user interface other than turning your leads on and off, no control over the quality of the leads they provide, and you have to fight and argue to get refunds for leads when a client makes a mistake or assumes your company does the thing they're asking for, when you don't. So put effort in other avenues, and avoid the risk of relying 100% on one thing. I'd also add that once you do get a good local reputation, the phone will start ringing.

Answers

  • DustiO
    DustiO Administrator, Moderator Posts: 2,327

    Hi @Carman_WBI1 and welcome! A few things I would recommend right out of the gate after checking out your profile:

    1. It's looking GREAT so far!
    2. Get more reviews if you can — you can ask former clients to leave you reviews, and you can also import from Google if you have any there.
    3. Add a few more photos, especially before and afters of jobs you have done if you have them!

    We also have weekly Zoom sessions that you can join to chat with other pros and get their advice! You can find those here (there is one this morning coming up in about 30 minutes).

  • DustiO
    DustiO Administrator, Moderator Posts: 2,327

    PS I would also recommend going through the New Pro Success Guide that you will see when you log in - there is so much great stuff in there!

    Screenshot 2025-11-20 at 9.38.05 AM.png
  • Carman_WBI1
    Carman_WBI1 Posts: 2

    @DustiO I guess I'm a little concerned. I have over 12 years experience under other firms and Im just now getting started. Any advice for that positioning.

  • DustiO
    DustiO Administrator, Moderator Posts: 2,327

    I would still make the same recommendations as above - utilize the new pro success guide and it will give you a lot of guidance. Also join the networking sessions I linked above.

  • DerHilfer_LLC
    DerHilfer_LLC Posts: 118

    You need to use a wide range of marketing tactics. I don't know if your business is servicing clients outside your home, but if so, make sure you have marketing on your vehicle. Unfortunately, this has an expense beyond the magnets or wrap. You'll have to pay for commercial vehicle insurance since your vehicle is now part of your business. It's not terribly expensive though. You should be able to write that off on your taxes.

    Always have five business cards in your wallet.

    Buy company uniforms, wear them when you're working unless you only work from home.

    I like NextDoor Neighbor Opportunities. It's only $149/mo and it's working well for me.

    Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, etc. Post at least 2X a week. I can hook you up with a great social media marketing company who can either do this for you or teach you how to do it better yourself.

    Last and most important, track everything. Good customers, bad Users, dead "leads". You should have at least a spreadsheet where you can easily view everything about your business. That's where I started. QuickBooks is another possible solution. I decided to write my own CRM which I have made copies of for other Thumbtack Pros to use since a lot of my reports are based on Thumbtack, shall I call them "irritations"? Those reports were exceptionally insightful.
    It also generates my Christmas card list based on gross revenues and recency of customer interaction. I.E. the $200 customer from 2023 who hasn't made a request since isn't getting a Christmas card, but the customer from 2024 who spent 30 grand still is.

    Which leads me to my last suggestion: good business practices all around. Know your customer, know their pet's name. Ask them about their kids when you're working for them if they're in the room. These simple pleasantries go a long way. Stand firm on your pricing. I've had so many customers promise that if I give them a discount, they'll hand out my business cards to their relatives or leave them in their beauty salon. Why should I work for you for $60/hr. when someone else is going to pay me $98? Lastly, always get a contract and have the customer sign it. I have two deadbeats from Thumbtack and if I wanted to, I could go to a judge and request a lien be placed on their home because I have a signed contract. Without that, I can't. I highly suggest you have a real lawyer write the contract even if it costs you a few grand for the boilerplate.

    Good luck!

  • DerHilfer_LLC
    DerHilfer_LLC Posts: 118

    Oh, I happened to see that it looks like you were working for someone else doing what you've started your business. It's kind of unethical, but it's only illegal if you took the contact information from your last employer with you. You can just "happen to remember" a customer's name, look them up on FaceBook or FastPeopleSearch.com and then reach out to them though. If you took the contact list, that's company property and it's highly illegal. But finding that great client again on your own because you remembered their name is totally OK.
    FWIW, my last employer was a fork lift company. I am running a home improvement company. Even if I had the list, it wouldn't do me much good.

Resources

Welcome! Check out our Community Code of Conduct. (review here)