FloQuote is a brand new idea for estimation in the construction industry. It uses messaging platforms like WhatsApp for your customers to send videos of what they want building, or some other services like painting and decorating or landscape gardening and allows you to send a very fast estimate back to them to see if they have the budget. You can get in touch with them and then you can go ahead with the job. It’s all done online over the internet. No more paperwork to fill out, no more phone calls or faxes to send in, it’s all done online.
The service is run by a company called FloQuote and is provided as a free service for construction companies and tradesmen looking to build their business and grow their client base by offering a fast, reliable and professional service.
FloQuote has been around for almost a year now, so it’s very much established within the industry but still has room for improvement. The support team are very helpful if you need help using the software or if you have any questions about how to use it, they will be able to help you out. They are also very helpful when it comes to explaining how certain features work and how you can make them work better for your business. It is important that your customers are happy with your services as well because that will help you find new customers too! The support team at FloQuote will give you advice on how to deal with any problems that may arise from using the software or from one of your clients who may not be happy with your services at all – they will be able to give advice on how best to resolve the situation and keep yourself out of trouble!
If you are in am services business then estimating is a massive cost in both time and fuel. Never more so than now with high inflation and rising prices. So any time you can save by automating a process is to be welcomed. That’s where FloQuote comes in. As a plumber it is essential that I know how much work I can do per day, week or month and the amount of time it takes me to do that work. It’s not just about the money, it’s about knowing when I can take on more work and when I need to turn down jobs to avoid overloading my schedule. It’s also important that my customers know what their options are in terms of time and cost. FloQuote helps me achieve all these things with its automated quoting system. The software is simple to use and very flexible so you can tailor it to your own needs and requirements – which is great as each business has different needs!
The software itself is easy to use but there are still plenty of features available if you want them. The interface is clean, well laid out and very easy on the eye. You can pick from a list of quotes or start from scratch with your own custom quote form – whichever suits you best! The system calculates the job for you based on all the information you enter into the system – so for example if you enter your travel times then this will be deducted from your quote automatically which makes life a lot easier! The customer will receive your quote in an email which includes instructions on what they have to do next – this helps minimize call outs as they know exactly.
Let’s say for example I am very busy and I don’t have time to visit the customers for a quote so I go to FloQuote.com and enter the details into the system. I then get a quote in my inbox and I know that it is accurate and has been calculated automatically.
It’s a great way to save time so you can focus on other things – like growing your business!
And growing your business is of paramount importance. You need to make enough money to pay your bills of course, but you need to get ahead of the curve with savings. There is a recession coming. Perhaps the biggest we have seen in our lifetimes. Work could be sporadic. You need to make sure you are concentrating on winning the most quotes for the least cost and identifying who will buy and who is wasting your time.
To do this you need to make sure you are using the right systems, such as a CRM or an ERP system. We have written an article on how to choose the right system and have identified some of the best around. You can read it here.
But for now, I will concentrate on one of my favorite – FloQuote.io
So, FloQuote will send out the estimate for your customer to accept. Once they have accepted in principal you can visit if it is a complex project and discuss with the client on-site. If it is an easy job like a repair then you can order parts and bring them when you make the repair. Saves a lot of time.
Once the quote has been accepted and you have a target date for the job to be completed, you can put the job on your calendar and set reminders. This is awesome if you are working for more than one customer. You can see your calendar in different colours for different jobs and know when to be at work.
But it gets better! You can add pictures of the parts or products that you use and keep track of all this information in one place. The system also has a mobile app which is great if you do any business on your phone. You can even turn it into a point of sale system with the POS module. And remember, if you are using any software with FloQuote, they will support it so that everything is working smoothly together.
FloQuote is a software company that specializes in quoting systems for contractors and service providers of all kind – plumbers, electricians, builders, painters etc etc. I am sure there are more professions to add! They also have a POS module which will enable any business to sell their product directly from their website using Paypal or Stripe as payment methods – very useful for those who want to cut out the middle man – Amazon etc etc.
So this is how I manage my time effectively as an electrician contractor!
Remember managing time is the most important thing. When you are spending time with time-wasters you are prevented from spending time with clients who will spend money. So as a contractor you want to spend as much time as possible with clients who will spend money.
So how do you identify time-wasters?
Firstly, the people who come to you and want you to do a quote – the majority of them are not going to buy from you. They are only interested in getting a quote so that they can compare it with other quotes and find the cheapest price. So why waste your valuable time (and theirs) by taking an hour or two to do a quote for them – when they will never buy from you?
It is very simple. Just say “No” and move on! You don’t have the time to waste on these people. If they really need your services then they will come back at another time when you have more time available. For example, if they contact me on Monday I usually wait until Friday or Saturday before doing any quotes for them because I know I am not going to be able to make enough money from one job, so I would rather wait until I can make enough money from one job rather than take one job which won’t be profitable enough for my business! If a client contacts me on Monday and wants me to come out on Tuesday – this is a no-no because it means that unless there is something urgent that needs doing then I won’t be able to make any profit out of it! Also remember that if someone contacts me on Monday and wants me to do something for them on the same day then I will still have to charge the same amount for my services as I would if they contacted me on a Friday or Saturday. So why should I waste my valuable time on these people when I can take a few days off and then earn more money from one job than from 2-3 jobs done in a hurry?
Here is an email that I received recently from someone who wanted me to quote for them on the same day:
“I am looking for someone to come out today and clean my windows, it is in Teddington and there are about 14 windows.”
I replied with this message: “I am sorry but that is not possible. My team are all working today but we are all fully booked up. If you could give us some notice then we would be able to fit you in somewhere, but as it is, we cannot do anything today. Sorry but that is just how it is!”
She replied with this message: “That’s fine, thank you anyway :)”
And in fact, using FloQuote I could have given them an instant estimate if they had sent me a picture or video of the windows and if they liked it I could book them in for another day.
So what is the point of this blog?
I am not trying to make excuses for my company, we have made mistakes, but I do want to say that if you are prepared to pay the price then we are happy to clean your windows. If you are looking for a cheap quote then please don’t contact us. If you want a professional window cleaner who will turn up on time, do a good job and be polite and courteous then please give us a call send us a whatsapp and we will get straight back to you.
So, in the final analysis, qualify, qualify, qualify. Your clients never assume that because you have used a company once before that they will be able to do the job. That ios why they go off and get other quotes, often 3 so at best you have a 1 in 3 chance of winning the job.
So, if you want to get repeat business, send out a qualification survey.
The other thing that you must do is to make sure that when you do get the job, you deliver what you promised. If I do not turn up on time then i am not going to be trusted next time.
Finally, if your customer is happy with your service then please tell them to give me a review on my Google My Business page as this helps me generate more business.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this blog, please leave your comments below and if you like it, please share it with your friends on Facebook or twitter.
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