Starting out

How to get your first customers as a new contractor

Start with the people who already know your work, then make sure strangers can find and trust you: a verified Google Business Profile, a review from every early job, a simple website, and a phone that's always answered.

Right now your work comes from people who know you

It's not that you need marketing yet. It's that your next twenty jobs come from people who don't know you, and they'll look you up on Google before they call.

This week

Tell everyone you've worked for or with that you're on your own now, and ask who they know
Set up and verify your Google Business Profile: hide your address and set a service area if you go to customers
Put your licence or registration number on everything
Introduce yourself at the supply house counter and to general contractors who sub out your trade

Your first ten jobs

Ask every customer for a Google review the same day, with a direct link
Take before-and-after photos of every job you'd be proud to show
Reply to every review, good or bad

Don't lose the calls you've earned

When you're on a job and the phone rings, it's easy to let it go to voicemail. A lot of people who hit voicemail ring the next name instead, so forward missed calls somewhere they'll be answered, or call back within minutes.

A website that does some of the work

Homeowners check you out before they ring, and so do AI assistants like ChatGPT. A site that says what you do, where you work, and shows your reviews and licence number answers the questions a stranger has.

We'll keep your Google profile working. Reviews answered, a post every week and your details kept accurate, as part of Cakewalk. Free until we send you your first new customer enquiry, then $197.50/mo for 6 months, then $395/mo.

See how it works

Questions

What's the fastest way for a new contractor to get customers?

The people who already know your work, then a verified Google Business Profile with a few reviews. Most homeowners search Google before they call someone new.

Should a new contractor pay for leads?

Lead sites and ads can fill a quiet week, but they cost money per lead. Reviews and your own Google profile keep working for free, so start there.

Sources

Guidelines for representing your business on Google: “Your name should reflect your business's real-world name, as used consistently on your storefront, website, stationery.”

More guides: How to start a contracting business in Washington · What it costs to become a contractor in Washington · How to get a contractor's license in California · Do I need a website for my new contracting business? · How to get your new business on Google Maps