Running a small-to-mid-sized plumbing company with 11-50 employees and annual revenue between $100,000 and $1 million presents unique challenges. These businesses often have to juggle securing a steady stream of clients, streamlining operations, and ensuring efficient scheduling, all on a limited budget. The right business software can help overcome these challenges and set up a foundation for consistent growth. Below, we’ve outlined an actionable roadmap with recommendations for technology solutions tailored to the needs of plumbing companies, as well as similar service-based businesses.
Step 1: Streamline Client Scheduling and Appointment Management
The current use of Google Calendar for managing the schedule has proven to be inadequate as the company grows. A more robust tool for scheduling and dispatching can go a long way in reducing operational headaches and providing better customer service.
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Jobber
Visit Jobber
Jobber is an excellent scheduling tool designed specifically for service businesses like plumbing companies. It helps with job scheduling, route optimization, and client communication. It even offers billing and invoicing features, which can simplify backend tasks. -
Housecall Pro
Visit Housecall Pro
Another industry favorite, Housecall Pro offers tools for scheduling, dispatching, and communicating with clients. It integrates with QuickBooks and automates workflows, making it a well-rounded choice for plumbing companies. -
ServiceTitan
Visit ServiceTitan
ServiceTitan is built for contractors and offers powerful tools for managing appointments, client interactions, and technician dispatching. While its price point may be higher, its comprehensive feature set is well-suited to businesses aiming to grow their commercial client base.
Step 2: Boost Marketing and Generate More Leads
The company is currently struggling to generate consistent leads through online ads. To build a steadier inflow of clients, it’s crucial to refine the marketing approach using tools specifically designed to attract and convert potential customers.
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HubSpot Marketing Hub
Visit HubSpot
HubSpot’s Marketing Hub combines tools for email marketing, CRM, and lead nurturing. It’s a great platform for managing marketing campaigns, optimizing your website for SEO, and tracking performance all in one place. -
SEMRush
Visit SEMRush
For companies that want to strengthen their online presence, SEMRush offers tools for search engine optimization, keyword research, and competitor analysis. This can help the company improve its organic search rankings, reduce reliance on ineffective paid ads, and attract clients searching for plumbing services in their area. -
Constant Contact
Visit Constant Contact
If email marketing is not yet part of the company’s strategy, Constant Contact makes it easy to email residential and commercial clients about promotions, maintenance reminders, and seasonal services.
Step 3: Implement a CRM for Better Customer Management
Tracking interactions with residential and commercial clients can get complicated, especially for a growing company looking to expand its commercial contracts. A customer relationship management (CRM) software can centralize client data and keep client interactions seamless.
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Zoho CRM
Visit Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is budget-friendly and designed for small businesses. It lets you track communication, set follow-ups, and manage customer data effectively. It also integrates with tools like Gmail and other apps. -
Salesforce Essentials
Visit Salesforce Essentials
Salesforce offers powerful CRM tools specifically suited to small businesses. It simplifies tracking residential and commercial leads, automates follow-ups, and provides valuable insights to help guide sales and service strategies. -
Pipedrive
Visit Pipedrive
Pipedrive focuses on optimizing sales pipelines. It’s particularly useful for businesses focusing on converting leads into long-term clients, whether they are homeowners or commercial property managers.
Step 4: Track Time and Manage Teams More Effectively
With a growing team, ensuring accountability and productivity can become a challenge. Time and project management tools can offer insights into how efficiently the team is operating and where improvements can be made.
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Clockify
Visit Clockify
Clockify is a free time-tracking tool that lets your team log work hours, track billable time, and provide transparency into how time is spent across jobs. -
Trello
Visit Trello
Perfect for small businesses, Trello is a project management tool with an intuitive interface. It can be used to assign jobs, track their completion, and manage recurring internal tasks. -
Asana
Visit Asana
Asana offers more advanced project and team management features, making it a suitable option for companies experiencing rapid growth or managing multiple large contracts at once.
Step 5: Simplify Financial Tracking and Invoicing
As the company balances residential jobs with expanding commercial contracts, managing payments, invoices, and overall finances becomes increasingly complex. Investing in accounting software now will save time and headaches later.
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QuickBooks Online
Visit QuickBooks
QuickBooks Online is an industry standard for small businesses. It streamlines bookkeeping, invoicing, and tax preparation, and integrates seamlessly with tools like Housecall Pro and Jobber. -
Wave
Visit Wave
Wave is a free accounting tool with features for invoicing, expense tracking, and receipt scanning. It’s ideal for plumbing companies on a tight budget. -
FreshBooks
Visit FreshBooks
FreshBooks simplifies invoicing and expense tracking, making it particularly helpful for businesses managing multiple projects and different types of clients.
Step 6: Focus on Reputation Management
For service-based businesses, online reputation plays a crucial role in attracting new clients. Managing reviews and building trust online should be a key priority.
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Podium
Visit Podium
Podium helps businesses collect reviews, manage online reputation, and communicate with clients via text. It can boost your local search ranking and improve trust with potential clients. -
Birdeye
Visit Birdeye
Birdeye automates review requests after jobs are completed and allows you to respond to reviews across multiple platforms quickly, helping you maintain a solid online presence. -
NiceJob
Visit NiceJob
NiceJob simplifies reputation management, focusing on collecting reviews and building trust online. It integrates easily with other business management tools to streamline the process.
By implementing these solutions in the roadmap laid out above, plumbing companies and similar service-based businesses can overcome operational hurdles, streamline their workflows, and focus on growing their clientele. Investing in the right tools now will help build a foundation for long-term stability and success.