Struggling to grow and I'm losing clients faster than I can replace them. What am I missing?
I've been grinding these past 6 years, I only have 37 clients currently. I have 20+ reviews, I show up on time, I do quality work, and my customer service is genuinely something I take pride in. Clients can always reach me and I'm either available right away or get back to them within 10 minutes. My loyal clients love me and I have the reviews to back it up at 4.9*. But the phone just isn't ringing with new clients. Meanwhile, I've been bleeding the ones I do have.
My bleeds:
- A few moved away this year
- One bought a new home without a pool
- Just lost one last week to a competitor offering free filter cleanings bundled in for only $10 more than my monthly rate
That last one stings the most. The client said it's nothing due to my service and only because they'll save more money this way. They would be saving around $140/year with the new guy when doing the math... I can't figure out how to compete when someone is practically giving away services to undercut me. It's hard to stay motivated when you feel like you're running in place or falling backwards.
For those of you who've been through a slow stretch like this, what turned it around?
Specifically:
- How are you actually getting inbound calls? Google ads, door hangers, Nextdoor, word of mouth?
- Do you bundle in filter cleanings or other services, or keep pricing a la carte?
- How do you compete with lowballers without racing to the bottom yourself?
I know the work is there and I know my customers are happy when they have me. I just feel like I'm invisible to everyone else. Any advice from guys who've built a solid route would mean a lot right now. Appreciate your time, thank you.