Finding a new customer takes advertising, time and quoting. A past customer already knows and trusts you. A small amount of effort after the job is done can bring a steady stream of repeat work and referrals.
Finish well
The last day matters most. Tidy up properly, walk the customer through what you have done and explain how to look after it. People remember how a job ended.
Leave something behind
Give each customer a card or a short note with your name, phone number and web address, plus a line about what you can do next. A fridge magnet or a sticker on the boiler or fuse board with your number is a classic that still works.
Ask for a review and a referral
Ask happy customers for a Google review while the work is fresh, and say you would be grateful if they would pass your name on. See how to get more Google reviews.
Keep a simple customer list
Record names, jobs, dates and contact details, as long as you have permission and keep it securely. This lets you contact people at the right time. See our privacy policy for how we handle data on our own site.
Offer sensible follow-ups
Think about what customers will need later: a roof check after a storm, a boiler service every year, repainting in five years, gutter cleaning each autumn. A short message at the right moment is helpful, not pushy. See annual-service reminders.
Be easy to find again
Customers often cannot remember a firm’s name a year later. A website, a Google profile and a social page that all match make it simple. See van signage and your website.
Thank people
A short thank-you message after the job costs nothing and is rarely done.
Treat every job as the start of a relationship. The next one may come from the same customer or from their neighbour.