Straight answers for service-business owners.
How lead marketplaces really work, how to start a company the right way, and how to build the website, phones, CRM and marketing that make it run. Sourced, specific and written for people who'd rather be working.
What lead marketplaces really cost, and how to build demand you own.
How much do Angi leads cost?
How much Angi leads cost: what Angi's own 10-K says, the third-party price ranges pros report, how lead credits work, and how to find your real cost per job.
Read guideAre Angi leads worth it for your business?
Are Angi leads worth it? A fair look at who it suits, what homeowner choice changed in 2025, the break-even math, and when to shift to owned leads.
Read guideHow Thumbtack leads work for service pros
How Thumbtack leads work for pros: how you're charged, the five-pros-in-four-hours limit, Fair Shot refunds, the refund policy, and why reply speed matters.
Read guidePlain-English steps for starting and setting up a service business.
How to start a service business, from idea to first paid jobs
How to start a service business in the right order: legal setup, EIN, bank account, insurance, pricing, equipment, and the website, phone and CRM that win jobs.
Read guideThe service business startup checklist, in the order that works
A service business startup checklist in working order: name, state filing, EIN, bank, licenses, insurance, prices, phone, email, website, CRM and payments.
Read guideLLC or sole proprietor: which fits a new contracting business?
LLC vs sole proprietor for contractors and service businesses: liability, federal taxes, paperwork and cost, explained from IRS and SBA guidance in plain terms.
Read guideWebsites, local SEO, Google Business Profile and AI search.
How much does a contractor website cost?
What drives the cost of a contractor website, the ongoing bills after launch, what you must own (domain, hosting, content) and the red flags in a web quote.
Read guideWhat a contractor website needs, page by page
A page-by-page checklist for a contractor website: home, service pages, area pages, about, reviews, quote form and FAQ, plus speed, mobile, schema and tracking.
Read guideGoogle Business Profile for contractors: setting it up by Google's own guidelines
How a service-area contractor sets up a Google Business Profile: hidden address, categories, services, photos, posts, reviews and verification, per Google.
Read guideAnswering every call: numbers, routing, texting and AI receptionists.
AI receptionists for contractors: what they do, where they fall short, and how to set one up
How an AI receptionist answers a contractor's calls, books jobs and flags emergencies, what it can't do, disclosure and recording rules, setup steps and costs.
Read guideWhat missed calls really cost a contractor, worked out with your own numbers
Work out what missed calls cost your contracting business from your own call volume, answer rate, close rate and job value, with our free calculator.
Read guideMissed-call text back: how it works, the rules, and messages that get replies
How missed-call text back works for a service business, the consent and 10DLC registration rules behind it, and example messages you can adapt for your company.
Read guideQuotes, scheduling, payments and the software that runs the business.
How a CRM runs a service business, from first call to paid invoice
What a field-service CRM does: leads, quotes, scheduling, jobs, invoices, payments, a customer portal and reports, and how off-the-shelf and custom compare.
Read guideHow to switch CRMs without losing your data
How to switch field-service CRMs without losing data: what to export, how to map it, running both systems, picking a cutover date, and what usually breaks.
Read guideOnline payments for contractors: cards, bank transfers and the rules
Online payments for contractors: card vs ACH, what processing costs, card surcharge rules, deposits, and card on file and autopay done with consent.
Read guideBringing past customers back, legally and reliably.
Email marketing for contractors who would rather be working
Email marketing for contractors: build a list from your own customers, segment by service and season, what to send, how often, and the CAN-SPAM basics.
Read guideTexting customers legally: TCPA basics for service businesses
SMS marketing rules for service businesses: TCPA written consent, quiet hours, opt-outs within 10 business days, damages per text, 10DLC registration.
Read guideSPF, DKIM and DMARC, explained without the jargon
SPF, DKIM and DMARC explained in plain English: what each DNS record does, example records, how alignment works, and the mistakes that send your email to spam.
Read guideNumbered, practical lists: marketing ideas by trade, templates, checklists and the mistakes to avoid.
18 roofing marketing ideas for storm work, claims and slow-closing replacements
18 roofing marketing ideas built around storms, insurance claims, inspections and long replacement sales, using channels you own before paid lead sellers.
Read guide18 HVAC marketing ideas for the rush, the shoulder months and the replacement sale
18 HVAC marketing ideas built on maintenance agreements, emergency calls, tune-up seasons and replacement follow-up, using customers you already own.
Read guide17 plumbing marketing ideas that make you the plumber they call first
17 plumbing marketing ideas for emergency calls, water heaters, sewer work, freeze warnings and builder accounts, so the next panic call rings your phone.
Read guideHow to price jobs in each trade: the method, the math and the mistakes, with worked examples you can swap your own numbers into.
How to price pressure washing jobs by the surface, the square foot and the hour
How to price pressure washing: square footage by surface, production rates, chemical cost, setup time, minimums and add-ons, with a worked example you can copy.
Read guideHow to price lawn mowing by the minute on site and the minute between stops
How to price lawn mowing: mowable area, trim and edge footage, minutes per stop, drive time, weekly vs biweekly visits and seasonal plans, with worked math.
Read guideHow to price house cleaning from room times, not square footage alone
How to price house cleaning: room time standards, first deep cleans, recurring visit pricing, team hours, add-ons and cancellation fees, with worked math.
Read guideHiring, payroll, cash flow, insurance, contracts and the operating habits that keep a service company profitable.
How to hire your first employee without missing a federal step
How to hire your first employee in a service business: the federal paperwork (EIN, W-4, I-9, new hire report), payroll setup, insurance and the first week.
Read guideEmployee or independent contractor: how to classify the people who work your jobs
Employee vs independent contractor for contractors and service businesses: the IRS and DOL tests, what a 1099 does not prove, and the cost of getting it wrong.
Read guideHow to write a job ad that good technicians actually answer
How to write a job ad for technicians and field crew: what good techs look for, a template, wording that breaks EEOC rules, and how to screen the applicants.
Read guideHow service businesses win and keep commercial contracts: property managers, HOAs, facilities, government work and bidding.
How to land commercial cleaning contracts and keep every building
How to get commercial cleaning contracts: who buys janitorial service, the vendor paperwork, walkthrough bids, scope sheets, proof of service and federal work.
Read guideHow to get commercial snow removal contracts without overcommitting
How to get commercial snow removal contracts: who buys, when they sign, pricing models, triggers and salt terms, slip-and-fall records and public bids.
Read guideHow to get commercial landscaping contracts and win the renewal
How to get commercial landscaping contracts: property managers, HOAs and public bids, reading a maintenance spec, pricing line items, site reports and renewals.
Read guideState-by-state tables, contractor licenses and the rules that touch your website, phones and email, each sourced to the state agency.
Call recording laws by state: one-party, all-party and mixed
Which states are one-party, all-party or mixed for recording calls? A 50-state table with statutes, plus what it means for business phones and AI.
Read guideLLC filing fees, annual costs and DBA fees in all 50 states
Compare LLC formation fees, annual report or franchise tax costs and DBA fees in all 50 states, each read on the state office site in October 2026.
Read guideWorkers' comp requirements by state: when your service business must carry coverage
When a service business must carry workers' comp in all 50 states: employee thresholds, owner exemptions, construction rules and the agency to check.
Read guidePermits, registration and local rules for service businesses in large US cities, taken from each city's own offices.
Working in New York City: contractor permits, licenses and city rules
Working in New York City: the DCWP home improvement license, DOB registration, trade waste license, noise hours, 811 and UBT.
Read guideChicago contractor licenses, permits and paid leave rules
Working in Chicago: general contractor license classes and fees, home repair rules, trade licenses, paid leave and DIGGER.
Read guideLos Angeles contractor permits, business tax and city conduct rules
Working in the City of Los Angeles: business tax registration, the $100,000 small business exemption, LADBS permits, leaf blower and noise limits, and DigAlert.
Read guideFind out what your leads really cost.
Get a free system quote: we look at your site, your Google profile, how your calls get answered and what you spend on leads, then put what we'd build and what it costs in writing.
Get a free system quote