Problems with Price Books?

Are you sold on flat rate pricing? (a.k.a. upfront pricing, straight forward pricing or bid pricing.) I hope so. There are lots of reasons why it’s a good idea. The number one reason? Your customers want to know how much it’s going to cost before they agree to a repair or a replacement. So maybe [...]

Problems with Price Books?2019-10-08T17:46:23+00:00
  • UN-Do Your Business

You Can UN-Do Your Business…and Do Something Else

Years ago, when I first started with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, John Nicholson asked if he could become a franchisee. I said, "No!  You only do new construction work.  This is a conversion service franchise.  That means, you need to do service work with at least two truck to be eligible." Two months later he called me, "Ellen, [...]

You Can UN-Do Your Business…and Do Something Else2016-12-01T14:55:09+00:00

Is Your Flat Rate Price Book Setting You Up to FAIL?

Ride Alongs are essential for building relationships with Techs and Customers. I've hopped in the truck over one hundred times. The number of times I've seen a Service Tech use the Flat Rate Price Book the way you THINK he is supposed to be using it? Zero. Not once have I seen the presentation that [...]

Is Your Flat Rate Price Book Setting You Up to FAIL?2016-12-01T14:55:12+00:00

Tips for Finding a Bossy Mentor

Note: I am blogging on behalf of Visa Business and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa's. Visit http://facebook.com/visasmallbiz to take a look at the reinvented Facebook Page: Well Sourced by Visa Business. The Page serves as [...]

Tips for Finding a Bossy Mentor2017-01-23T21:35:38+00:00

5 Tips For B2B Referral Marketing Success

It’s one thing to tell your customers how great you are.  It’s a much bigger, better thing to have respected community influencers tell your customers how great you are.  It’s the thing that can ramp up your marketing to create immediate, measurable results.  Here’s how… Make a list of 10 VIPs…Very Influential People…in your community. [...]

5 Tips For B2B Referral Marketing Success2016-12-01T14:55:14+00:00

Public Relations Tips for Small Business

These tips are just a BASIC outline. This will get you started for a creating effective conversations, systems and training at your company. The best plan is to prevent customer and public relation challenges by doing a great job and communicating effectively. Communication Rescue is about turning an unhappy customer into a happy customer…and keeping [...]

Public Relations Tips for Small Business2016-12-01T14:55:20+00:00

How Much Should I Charge?

You want to make more sales and more money. Good for you. And it’s good business. Here’s the problem. More sales at a losing selling price is like cliff diving into a lake. You might not hit bottom, but if you do it’s going to hurt because you don’t know what’s below. If you don’t [...]

How Much Should I Charge?2020-02-18T14:16:31+00:00

“I’m just getting started. How do I market with NO money?”

Recently I received an email from “Nelly” about his soon-to-be-open business. He had already put together his Bare Bones Biz Plan but wondered about his next step… “How do I get customers?” Dear Ellen, I’ve got my business plan (Thanks for the help!) I’m getting ready to open for business on August 1st. How do [...]

“I’m just getting started. How do I market with NO money?”2016-12-01T14:55:21+00:00

Are You “Cliff Diving” with the Wrong Pricing?

You want to make more sales and more money. Good for you. And it’s good business. Here’s the problem. More sales at a losing selling price is like cliff diving into Lake Powell. You might not hit bottom, but you might. It’s going to hurt if you don’t know what’s below. If you don’t know [...]

Are You “Cliff Diving” with the Wrong Pricing?2019-09-26T01:11:58+00:00