Running a home service business can quickly become chaotic and overwhelming if you're not careful. Your time may feel stretched thin between managing appointments, juggling administrative tasks, and keeping customers happy.
That’s where automation can quite literally save the day.
The right business automation platform will have features to take repetitive tasks off of your plate, streamline customer communications, nurture leads automatically and enable you to grow while reclaiming your time.
But this begs the question: Which features are most helpful to home service providers?
We’ve got the answer. Below you’ll find a list of the top five tools that will help you save time and level up your home service business efficiently.
Document signing
A secure, online signature tool is a game changer for home service businesses. But far too many plumbers, electricians, construction companies and other businesses are doing this process manually.
While collecting signatures and delivering paperwork in person works, a signature collection feature is a better way to get the job done.
For example, Thryv Signatures is a secure electronic signature tool that speeds up and streamlines the entire process by safely sharing documents and collecting important customer info.
You can use the feature to set the signing order for recipients, send automated reminders, and automatically store completed paperwork in your CRM system once everything’s been signed.
If you’re tired of running around collecting signatures, keeping track of important paperwork, or relying on insecure email platforms for sensitive info, it’s time to add a secure document signature tool to your business automation platform.
Appointment scheduling
Without appointments, crucial home services wouldn’t get done. This is the backbone of how your team knows where they’re going, when and for what. So if you aren’t already using an automated appointment scheduling system, you need to!
Your business automation platform should have an appointment scheduler built-in, and when you put it to work in your business, it’ll do a few things:
Save you time by eliminating the back-and-forth of manually scheduling consultations
Sync your service teams’ calendars so it’s always updated with the latest information and appointment status, ensuring more transparency and clarity
Deliver reminders to cut back on no-show appointments
Provide greater organization
For service businesses that have countless appointments day in and day out, whether that be with leads or current customers, this feature will quickly prove to be a lifesaver.
Billing
Getting paid — it’s important, right?
But who has the time to run around making sure each and every invoice is getting delivered and paid on time? If you’ve been operating this way and manually performing payment duties for your home services business, billing automation will be the gift that keeps on giving.
Look for a business automation platform that offers a payments/billing feature. This feature should be able to send invoices, follow up on open invoices, deliver payment due-date reminders, alert customers of failed payments, and more.
All this equates to peace of mind, which allows you and your team to focus on providing the best service while knowing you’ll be paid for it on time.
Lead nurture
Feel like you don’t have the time to keep up with leads? If so, business automation’s lead nurture abilities can take that off your plate entirely.
Home service businesses, no matter their niche, need a way to intake new leads and follow up with them efficiently. It’s nearly impossible to do this manually, especially at the speed and accuracy that automation does it.
By automating your lead nurture efforts with your software, you’ll be able to intake new leads, collect all the details you need, store their information safely in your small business CRM, and deliver the messages they need at exactly the right time.
Plus, business automation can monitor each contact’s specific actions and send them emails or texts that align with where they are in your customer lifecycle.
Reputation management
After someone’s home problem is fixed thanks to your team, they’re going to be primed and ready to share their experience with others! But far too many home service companies forget to follow up after the work is done to collect reviews or ask for referrals.
This can be holding you back from greater brand awareness and additional revenue. The solution? Automate it!
A reputation management feature within business automation software is designed to help you request reviews automatically and monitor your online review platform so you can respond accordingly.
You can even use it to invite happy customers to submit referrals and reward them when they do! It makes the entire process easier for your audience, your team and you.
On top of all that, it also bolsters your online presence and gives you authority in your home services niche thanks to the increased feedback.
Our recommended solution
Thryv has helped countless home service providers get organized, save time and conquer their marketing like pros. If you want to do the same and take advantage of the features outlined above, check out Thryv Marketing Center.
But don’t take our word for it. Browse through the success stories of real home service business owners and their teams who have found growth and freedom thanks to Thryv.