Setting up for 2018. Investing in software to build business to support basic systems. If you were or are a small start up, one guy one van, which system do you think will help grow the business and why do you think that? Whatever you are using including Customer Factor etc.
I need to know why you like it. What does it do for you that a basic scheduling app and your bank don't already do. Is it helping your business to grow and if so...in what way? Thank you for replying.
Service monster's fill my schedule feature has helped grow my business. However to save a little money I use the "self serve" version of FMS. This is where I am able to make my own mailing list and cards. I use post cards instead of regular cards to save on postage. I do the 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 month reminder cards. I give a 10% discount on the 9 n12 month cards, $15 off on 15 month and $10 off on the 18 n 24 month cards. I use the desktop version on SM on my android phone to simplify my life. Haveing access to a customers history in the field is very valuable asset to have. Sometimes people lie about how much they paid in the past in order to get a lower price. Having this data availble helps fight against the "Jedi mind trick" that some people try to use on our techs.
Tell me something about it and why you like it. Would really like to get my business set up correctly for 2018.
I can call you later if you want. I’m sitting in church surfing MB. But in a nutshell. It’s $35 a month, I currently manage 720 customers with ease. Keeping them updated with reminders, scheduling, notes and contact info. It organized my sales and expenses and is a wealth of organized data. Help desk is very responsive. @TConway and @kingjoelking also use it.
Where's @PrimaDonna ? My opinion of hcp is, yes some real cool features but it's a failed consumer app that has them scrambling to produce income that was supposed to come from 10% new client finder fees.
HCP I would personally stay away from. Being a SM customer can be frustrating at times, but I would still give it a full recommendation. Don't have any experience with it but have heard lots of good about Customer Factor. I would highly recommend using something to at least keep your customer database and job history super clean. If I were looking to get started with a CRM I would personally look in to both SM and CF.
Best thing you could do is hire a real person to answer your phone and do all your book keeping, scheduling, follow up calls, customer calls/service, marketing,prelimenary hiring, hand written thank-you cards, etc. That is the best way to grow your business.
When considering a real person, you really can appreciate how relatively inexpensive online software I'm in the stone ages with Mistral 2000, the benefit is there is no monthly fee but if I was ever to consider growing again Service Monster would be my choice Seems like you can really run your biz from the field My 2cents
HCP is much easier to use for the technician than SM. SM has a lot more reporting than HCP for the owner.
My wife loves it. The bag holds a lot of German Shepherd hair. However, I need to use the edger on my proteam sometimes to get those baseboard hairs.
HCP seems to feel it has a right to use your data/Customer base to market other services... I hope it's other services and doesn't include Carpet Cleaners... so that seems to be a conflict of interest when you are paying a hundred dollars a month to use their software. That would be a deal breaker for me if true. Seems to be true. SM feels complicated and I don't understand why I should be charged an additional 200 dollars as a sign up fee plus the 100 dollars a month to use their software. Not sure the Phone App is there yet. The Customer Factor is a flat 45 dollars a month and seems to have everything the other 2 have. I don't think there is a sign up fee either. Even Damon can't break it.