Normal Estimate Close Rates

[ClimberBusinessman]

What is your normal estimate rate close percentage (i.e. the percentage of estimates that you do that turn into paying jobs/customers), for tree removal/trimming work? Has your close percentage changed in recent months due to any economic changes, and do you have a higher or lower close ratio when you get the customer the quote in person versus emailing it to them after you meet with the potential customer/prospect?

 

[U&A]

For milling i try to quote at .75cents a board foot but seldom get that. I have to quote anywhere from at .60-.70 cents just to get the jobs.

Iv even quoted at .55

 

[blades]

The question is about SIGNED CONTRACTS FOR A JOB(S). Not the the cost of the job.

 

[ZinTrees]

the last 2 years I've closed 30-50% which is exactly where I want to be, this year I've closed maybe 10%, and the last month only about 5%, between the election and the current economy its been tough


My phone has rang maybe 10 times in 2 months, I used to get that many or more calls a day, and id have to turn down work constantly, hoping after this election things get back to normal


about 90% of my jobs were closed in person on the spot, if I have to email the customer a quote, usually I lose the job, I try my best to close 100% of the work before I even leave the property after giving the in-person quote

 

[U&A]

The question is about SIGNED CONTRACTS FOR A JOB(S). Not the the cost of the job.

I see that now. Sorry. Made a mistake

 

[blades]

I think it will slow some more now with the longshoremen strike. If that lasts any length of time prices will go ballistic again. As it also encompasses the gulf coast fuel will likely rise also. if it spreads to the west coast a total recession will happen. Politically it doesn't matter who ends up in office.

 

[ClimberBusinessman]

the last 2 years I've closed 30-50% which is exactly where I want to be, this year I've closed maybe 10%, and the last month only about 5%, between the election and the current economy its been tough


My phone has rang maybe 10 times in 2 months, I used to get that many or more calls a day, and id have to turn down work constantly, hoping after this election things get back to normal


about 90% of my jobs were closed in person on the spot, if I have to email the customer a quote, usually I lose the job, I try my best to close 100% of the work before I even leave the property after giving the in-person quote

Wow, that's rough. Have you tried marketing at all or would that just have the same problem with low conversion rates?

 

[ZinTrees]

Wow, that's rough. Have you tried marketing at all or would that just have the same problem with low conversion rates?

I used to use Facebook ads till early this year they started ignoring my settings and would share my ads in places thousands of miles from my shop, I was paying for every click and it got really expensive really quickly, they refused to do anything about it

then, once they eventually got it kinda fixed, the bots took over and 99% of my messages were just bots, so I stopped giving facebook my money, can't advertise through google at the moment due to a false ban from 10+ years ago that they refuse to do anything about (seriously, no reason given or anything)


so right now all my ads are facebook community posts, nextdoor app posts and business cards, word of mouth goes a LONG way too


I close the same % of bids no matter how I advertise, so im not paying for ads

 

[ClimberBusinessman]

Don't know if this would help, but you might be able to get around the Google ban if you hired an ad agency that is Google Certified (or whatever they call it). I've never used them, but Tree Service Digital or even another local ad agency might be able to help you out.

 

[Bullseye T&L]

What is your normal estimate rate close percentage (i.e. the percentage of estimates that you do that turn into paying jobs/customers), for tree removal/trimming work? Has your close percentage changed in recent months due to any economic changes, and do you have a higher or lower close ratio when you get the customer the quote in person versus emailing it to them after you meet with the potential customer/prospect?

Paid Estimates: meaning they pay for a consultation, need actual work done, and get an estimate for work. Pretty close to 100%. Hasn't really changed this year. If you can talk them into paying for estimate, then getting them to do the work is easy.

Free Estimates (repeat customers): 80-90%+. My repeat customers that I actually return their calls are really good, dependable clients. The number of calls has gone down tad this year, but the close rate seems the same.

Free Estimates (filtered): Number of calls down a tad. Usually a new customer that was referred by a current client and I filter them first to see how serious they are. 40-70%. I will sometimes give them a range from pics they send me to see if they get sticker shock first, especially if they ask how much it's gonna be without me ever having seen the tree. I have seen this rate fluctuate this year and close rate really depends on who referred them. I have some parts of my referral network that are rock solid, and other parts not so much.

Free Estimates (unfiltered): To few to really give a good number, but I 'd say maybe 10-30%. Calls can be up at times, and down others. It just depends on who I handed a business card to before that. They're the tire kickers, users, tightwads, and "just got to have a free quote" crowd. I usually get these referrals from the friend of a friend of an actual client, or real estate agents, or other contractors who got my number and hand it out to anybody. I try to filter them if I can, but when I can't, it's usually a wasted trip. Worst part is that if you do get the work, it doesn't make enough money to cover all the wasted estimate trips that it took to get the job.