Miles Dirmann

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

The E-Myth Revisited nails it:

Every business owner has 3 personalities: Technician, Manager, Entrepreneur.

Most contractors are 90% Technician. Amazing at the work. But the business runs them.

The fix isn't working harder. It's building one system at a time.

Start with: w...

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

Calling for Avo, the math:

10 hrs/week. ~100 calls. ~1 close.

1 close = $1,000 ($500 plus $500 bonus)

That's $100/hr realistic.

We provide leads, scripts, CRM. You provide the work.

Top callers get warm leads. Apply: https://t.co/1YjKNc7dJT

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

When a customer asks "how much?"

Don't quote a number. Say:

"To give you an accurate number, can I ask 2 quick questions?"

Scope + timeline. Then:

"Most jobs like this run $X to $Y. Want me to lock in a time?"

Price quote becomes booked appointment in 90 seconds.

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

Your dispatcher matters more than your best tech.

Your tech closes one job at a time. Your dispatcher touches every dollar that comes through the phone.

ServiceTitan data: companies that train phone staff see 20 to 30% higher booking rates.

Train the person answering the ph...

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

The honest version of building a startup:

Months of coding. Zero revenue. Zero clients.

The hard part isn't the work. It's the silence. No feedback. No validation. Just you and the question: am I wasting my time?

I ran a pressure washing business. I lived the problem. That'...

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

How to follow up on an estimate:

1. Text summary within 2 hours of the visit
2. Call 48 hours later if no response
3. Final "just checking in" text on day 7

Most contractors skip 2 and 3. That's where the money is.

HBR research: 80% of sales need 5+ follow ups. 44% of peopl...

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

Honest question for service business owners:

What percentage of inbound calls do you answer live during business hours?

Industry benchmark: 50 to 70%.

Of the missed ones, only ~20% get returned within 30 min.

Does that match your experience? What's your real number?

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

More leads won't save your contracting business.

Callrail: 30 to 50% of contractor calls go to voicemail.
ServiceTitan: estimate follow up is below 40%.

More leads into that system = more waste.

Fix response time and follow up first. Then scale the budget.

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

The math on a missed call for a plumber:

Average job: $350
Close rate on answered calls: 60%
Missed calls per week: 10

$350 x 0.6 x 10 = $2,100/week lost

$8,400/month. Not from bad marketing. From not picking up the phone.

Pull up your call log. Do the math.

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

Contractors: biggest challenge right now?

A) Getting enough leads
B) Answering calls/following up on time
C) Hiring and keeping good people
D) Pricing jobs profitably

Drop your answer. Building for this market and want to understand priorities.

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

Hiring cold callers at Avo. Being honest: you're calling contractors who don't know you.

$500/close plus $500 after month 1. Full platform with scripts, CRM, lead lists.

Top callers get warm leads.

Remote. Flexible. Apply: https://t.co/1YjKNc7dJT

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

What running a pressure washing business taught me:

Show up on time. Charge what you quoted. Clean up.

Every repeat customer came from that. Every referral came from that.

But I kept losing leads because I couldn't answer the phone while on jobs.

Trust compounds. But you h...

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

After hours calls: don't ignore them, don't overcharge.

Flat dispatch fee ($75 to $100) framed as availability, not penalty.

HomeAdvisor data: contractors who answer after hours book 30 to 40% more emergency jobs.

Customers calling at 10pm aren't price shopping. They need h...

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss: people decide with emotion, justify with logic.

Apply this to contractor pricing: always give 3 options.

Budget fix. Recommended fix. Premium fix.

One option = yes/no. Three options = "which one."

Most pick the middle. That's the a...

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

InsideSales research: responding within 5 min makes you 21x more likely to qualify a lead.

In home services, first to respond wins 78% of the time.

3 free fixes:
1. Text auto reply for missed calls
2. Specific callback promise in voicemail
3. Someone monitoring leads during ...

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

Better voicemail script:

"We're on a job right now. Leave your name and number, we'll call back within [specific time]. Or text us here."

Why it works:
1. Specific time > "ASAP"
2. Text option keeps the lead
3. "On a job" = you're in demand

2 minutes to update. Keeps leads ...

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

Industry data on truck wraps:

Average: 2 to 3 direct calls per month.

$4,000 wrap over 4 years = ~120 calls = ~$35/lead.

But those are low intent.

Clean wrap with name + number: worth it for brand.
$5K designer wrap: spend the extra on something trackable.

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

Why build for contractors?

Because I was one. Ran a pressure washing business. Know what it's like to miss 3 calls while on a job.

$600B market. 3M+ businesses. Most running on phone calls and paper.

The tech exists. It's just built for $2M+ companies. Small operators need ...

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz, applied to contractors:

Traditional: Revenue minus Expenses = Profit
Profit First: Revenue minus Profit = Expenses

The difference is behavioral. When profit comes last, there's never any.

Start with 1%. Move 1% of every deposit to a separat...

[Miles Dirmann @milesjames01]

How to 4x Google reviews, no software:

1. Generate your direct Google review link
2. Ask in person right after the job
3. Text them the link on the spot
4. One follow up text next morning if they didn't

Satisfaction peaks right after good work. 2 hours later they forget. Ask...