Home/Growth/🎨 Painting/Referral program just netted me $8k in repeat painting jobs
Referral program just netted me $8k in repeat painting jobs
C
ColorChanger
·5mo·59 replies·51 participants
C
ColorChanger⚒️ JourneymanOP5mo
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.
B
BrushStrokePro12⭐ Expert5mo
0
meanwhile i'm drowning in angi leads that cost me $200 a pop just to get ghosted by cheapskates, screw those lead gen vampires.
W
WeedWhackerWiz2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
0
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.
C
ChillMaster8⚒️ Journeyman5mo
0
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.
W
WeedWhacker2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
32
man i feel that, referrals are the best part of the gig.
P
PipeDreamer17⚒️ Journeyman5mo
17
yeah keeps the pipeline full without the BS sales calls.
V
VentVictor⚒️ Journeyman5mo
16
exactly, no more cold calling headaches.
R
RollerRogue6⚒️ Journeyman5mo
36
screw these lead gen sites, they take half your profit on painting gigs. referrals all the way.
E
EaveEater⭐ Expert5mo
71
angi leads are a joke, charge you $200 for a $500 job.
H
HeatHustler2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
20
yep, and half the time it's tire kickers anyway.
B
BloomBoss2⭐ Expert5mo
17
total scam, stick to word of mouth.
J
JoistJockey⚒️ Journeyman5mo
49
homeadvisor banned me for calling them out lol.
T
TarPaperTom2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
41
same boat, been relying on them for years.
W
WattTheHeck28⚒️ Journeyman5mo
38
ugh referrals saved my ass during slow season.
O
OddJobOtto3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
28
totally, it's like free marketing.
W
WattTheHeck11⚒️ Journeyman5mo
18
feels good when it works right.
T
TenYearVet8⚒️ Journeyman5mo
22
hell yeah, mine just covered a new sprayer.
C
ColorWheelCarl⚒️ Journeyman5mo
6
nice, what model?
J
JackOfAllTrades⚒️ Journeyman5mo
22
damn chicago winters make exteriors tough, but referrals help push through.
S
SparkPlugSam⚒️ Journeyman5mo
35
frustrated with how inconsistent my leads are without them.
C
CircuitScreamer2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
29
yep, painting season dries up fast without repeats.
P
PackRatPro⚒️ Journeyman5mo
19
tell me about it, sat idle two weeks last month.
V
VoltageVampire⭐ Expert5mo
29
sucks, had to take a crap side job.
V
VentVenturer⚒️ Journeyman5mo
0
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.
N
NotAnElectrician8⚒️ Journeyman5mo
32
i get it, building that trust takes time.
G
GroundFaultGary⚒️ Journeyman5mo
34
but once you do, it's gold.
S
ShingleShark9⚒️ Journeyman5mo
39
shittiest part is when referrals flake on big jobs.
D
DustBunnyHunter6⭐ Expert5mo
39
been there, lost a $2k exterior because of it.
C
ChillOutTech⚒️ Journeyman5mo
35
awful, communication is key tho.
I
Insul8r⚒️ Journeyman5mo
29
controversial take: gift cards cheapen the referral, just give a discount on next job.
C
CleanFreakFred⚒️ Journeyman5mo
22
i hear ya, keeps it in the family.
P
PipeLord42021⭐ Expert5mo
19
try service fusion for tracking referrals, saved me hours.
A
AmpedUpAlex⚒️ Journeyman5mo
20
proud of my setup too, hit 20% repeat rate this year.
S
SparkJockey3⭐ Expert5mo
34
hate how big box stores undercut painting prices.
W
WattTheHeck3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
37
yeah makes it hard to compete.
P
PeakPitcher⭐ Expert5mo
39
feels relatable, especially in residential.
R
RoofRat887⚒️ Journeyman5mo
44
same, my crew loves the steady flow.
G
GreenThumbGuru5⚒️ Journeyman5mo
2
what's your cutoff for the gift card?
S
ShingleShark3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
34
damn pe firms buying up local painters now.
M
MoveMaster3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
33
yeah killing the small guy vibe.
W
WireWizardess⚒️ Journeyman5mo
16
i feel for you all on that.
O
OpenerOperator5⚒️ Journeyman5mo
34
feels good to share the wins.
W
WireWhizKid⭐ Expert5mo
60
haha my referral was from a drunk neighbor at a bbq.
D
DuctTapeDave2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
22
been scraping by without good ones.
V
VoltageVagabond2⭐ Expert5mo
32
yep, chicago market is cutthroat.
D
DoorJammer4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
32
don't overdo the incentives, can backfire on costs.
L
LiftAndShift⚒️ Journeyman5mo
57
pissed at a client who referred then ghosted payment.
F
FixItFelix6⚒️ Journeyman5mo
24
screw the cheapskates ruining it for everyone.
A
AmpedUpAndy2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
35
controversial but i only refer pros who use quality paints like emerald.
S
SpraySavant2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
37
upped my referrals by posting before/afters on nextdoor.
W
WeedWhackerPro⚒️ Journeyman5mo
31
frustrated with slow uptake in my area.
E
EaveEater⭐ Expert5mo
36
yeah takes time to build momentum.
T
TarPaperTom2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
36
warning: track every referral or you'll forget the rewards.
W
WattTheHeck28⚒️ Journeyman5mo
30
hate forgetting details mid-season.
O
OddJobOtto3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
25
frustrating when they don't follow through.
W
WattTheHeck11⚒️ Journeyman5mo
35
proud of scaling to three crews off referrals.
T
TenYearVet8⚒️ Journeyman5mo
27
post in painters lounge fb group, tons of ideas there.
J
JackOfAllTrades⚒️ Journeyman5mo
19
watched idaho painter vid on marketing, helped my referrals.
