Running a service business entails a lot more than showing up and fixing the problem. To win the confidence of complete strangers, you need to look like you know what you’re doing at every touchpoint.
When they call, does someone actually answer? When you show up, is your vehicle clean and organized? And when you hand them the proposal — can they actually read it? Is the next step clear?
The proposal is often the moment a prospect decides whether to move forward. Here’s how to make it count.
The Proposal Toolset
Whether you call it a quote, proposal, or estimate, if a customer asks you to do something, you should give them something in writing that details what you’ll do and how much it will cost. ServiceMinder’s proposal tools make this straightforward:
- Interactive proposal writer: Add items, update quantities or prices, and everything totals automatically — including sales tax.
- Proposal tracking: See how many proposals you have open at a glance. ServiceMinder sends automated reminders to prospects to review the proposal or reach out with questions.
- Electronic signature: Deliver the proposal by email, track when the prospect opens it, and let them e-sign directly. You’ll get a notification as soon as they’re ready to move forward.
- Close rate reporting: See what percentage of your proposals convert to revenue and how long it takes prospects to decide on average. If you have multiple salespeople, compare their performance side by side.
Give Customers Options
Everybody likes choice. ServiceMinder’s options system lets you build flexibility right into the proposal.
Here’s how it works: write your proposal line by line as you normally would. As you go, you can assign option names to specific lines. Those named groups become checkbox options the customer can choose from when reviewing the proposal.
Base lines (no option name) are required for the project. Option lines are add-ons the customer can select or deselect.
Want to nudge them toward recommended options? You can pre-select which checkboxes are checked when the customer first views the proposal.
And if they accept but later change their mind? You can adjust the selected options on the fly while scheduling the accepted proposal. No need to rewrite anything.
Information Is Power
ServiceMinder helps you deliver professional, branded proposals that make it easy for the prospect to review and commit — with a few clicks or taps. The data gathered along the way helps you improve your sales process and predict future revenue based on current pipeline activity.
Book a Demo to see how ServiceMinder’s proposal tools work for franchise brands.
