Home/Growth/🎨 Painting/Referral program just netted me $8k in repeat painting jobs
Referral program just netted me $8k in repeat painting jobs
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ColorChanger
·1mo·59 replies·51 participants
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ColorChanger⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo
182
Out here in the Chicago area, I started a simple referral thing last year where I give $100 Home Depot gift cards for every new client who books a full interior or exterior paint job. It's been killer, landed me three solid referrals this month alone on Benjamin Moore jobs, totaling about $8k. Proud of how it's growing the business without chasing ads.
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BrushStrokePro12⭐ Expert1mo
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meanwhile i'm drowning in angi leads that cost me $200 a pop just to get ghosted by cheapskates, screw those lead gen vampires.
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WeedWhackerWiz2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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hell yeah, just turned one referral into a $5k deck stain gig with those same benjamin moore products - gift cards are the way to go without the ad BS eating my margins. started mine last summer and it's doubled my repeat work, feels damn good watching the jobs roll in from folks who actually trust the trade. chicago winters make that extra cash a lifesaver for gear upgrades too. keep crushin it man.
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ChillMaster8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, wish my referrals pulled in that kinda cash, been scraping by with yard signs and word of mouth. chicago winters dont help with the slowdown either.
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WeedWhacker2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
32
man i feel that, referrals are the best part of the gig.
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PipeDreamer17⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah keeps the pipeline full without the BS sales calls.
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VentVictor⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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exactly, no more cold calling headaches.
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RollerRogue6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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screw these lead gen sites, they take half your profit on painting gigs. referrals all the way.
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EaveEater⭐ Expert1mo
71
angi leads are a joke, charge you $200 for a $500 job.
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HeatHustler2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yep, and half the time it's tire kickers anyway.
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BloomBoss2⭐ Expert1mo
17
total scam, stick to word of mouth.
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JoistJockey⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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homeadvisor banned me for calling them out lol.
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TarPaperTom2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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same boat, been relying on them for years.
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WattTheHeck28⚒️ Journeyman1mo
38
ugh referrals saved my ass during slow season.
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OddJobOtto3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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totally, it's like free marketing.
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WattTheHeck11⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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feels good when it works right.
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TenYearVet8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
22
hell yeah, mine just covered a new sprayer.
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ColorWheelCarl⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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nice, what model?
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JackOfAllTrades⚒️ Journeyman1mo
22
damn chicago winters make exteriors tough, but referrals help push through.
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SparkPlugSam⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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frustrated with how inconsistent my leads are without them.
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CircuitScreamer2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
29
yep, painting season dries up fast without repeats.
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PackRatPro⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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tell me about it, sat idle two weeks last month.
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VoltageVampire⭐ Expert1mo
29
sucks, had to take a crap side job.
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VentVenturer⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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set up a simple referral system with business cards that say 'refer a friend, get 10% off your next job' and i've pulled in steady work without the downtime. had a client last summer send over three neighbors after i did their exterior with sherwin-williams duration, turned into a $2k bonus week. track it in quickbooks online so you dont forget to follow up on those leads. print cards at home depot for cheap, like 500 for under $20. make sure to thank the referrer with a beer or gift card, keeps em loyal. if youre using housecall pro, integrate the referral notes right into the customer file. thats helped me avoid those idle stretches you mentioned. just did a referral chain that netted four jobs in a month.
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NotAnElectrician8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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i get it, building that trust takes time.
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GroundFaultGary⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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but once you do, it's gold.
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ShingleShark9⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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shittiest part is when referrals flake on big jobs.
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DustBunnyHunter6⭐ Expert1mo
39
been there, lost a $2k exterior because of it.
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ChillOutTech⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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awful, communication is key tho.
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Insul8r⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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controversial take: gift cards cheapen the referral, just give a discount on next job.
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CleanFreakFred⚒️ Journeyman1mo
22
i hear ya, keeps it in the family.
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PipeLord42021⭐ Expert1mo
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try service fusion for tracking referrals, saved me hours.
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AmpedUpAlex⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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proud of my setup too, hit 20% repeat rate this year.
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SparkJockey3⭐ Expert1mo
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hate how big box stores undercut painting prices.
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WattTheHeck3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah makes it hard to compete.
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PeakPitcher⭐ Expert1mo
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feels relatable, especially in residential.
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RoofRat887⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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same, my crew loves the steady flow.
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GreenThumbGuru5⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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what's your cutoff for the gift card?
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ShingleShark3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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damn pe firms buying up local painters now.
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MoveMaster3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah killing the small guy vibe.
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WireWizardess⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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i feel for you all on that.
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OpenerOperator5⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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feels good to share the wins.
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WireWhizKid⭐ Expert1mo
60
haha my referral was from a drunk neighbor at a bbq.
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DuctTapeDave2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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been scraping by without good ones.
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VoltageVagabond2⭐ Expert1mo
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yep, chicago market is cutthroat.
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DoorJammer4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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don't overdo the incentives, can backfire on costs.
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LiftAndShift⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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pissed at a client who referred then ghosted payment.
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FixItFelix6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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screw the cheapskates ruining it for everyone.
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AmpedUpAndy2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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controversial but i only refer pros who use quality paints like emerald.
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SpraySavant2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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upped my referrals by posting before/afters on nextdoor.
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WeedWhackerPro⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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frustrated with slow uptake in my area.
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EaveEater⭐ Expert1mo
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yeah takes time to build momentum.
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TarPaperTom2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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warning: track every referral or you'll forget the rewards.
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WattTheHeck28⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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hate forgetting details mid-season.
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OddJobOtto3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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frustrating when they don't follow through.
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WattTheHeck11⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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proud of scaling to three crews off referrals.
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TenYearVet8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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post in painters lounge fb group, tons of ideas there.
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JackOfAllTrades⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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watched idaho painter vid on marketing, helped my referrals.
