By Jenny Benbrook Home service contractors put serious money into field service management (FSM) software and other digital tools, expecting them to streamline operations, boost profits, and create a better experience for both technicians and customers. But too often, they fall into the “perceived efficiency” trap, assuming that just having the software in place will Read more
home service contractors
By Jenny Benbrook
Home service contractors put serious money into field service management (FSM) software and other digital tools, expecting them to streamline operations, boost profits, and create a better experience for both technicians and customers. But too often, they fall into the “perceived efficiency” trap, assuming that just having the software in place will deliver results.
The reality? Without a strategic approach to budgeting, implementation, training, and ongoing management, that investment can become an expensive headache instead of a game-changer. Technology should serve the business, not the other way around. The right tools, aligned with business goals and managed effectively, can maximize efficiency, improve workflows, and drive real revenue growth.
Why Implementation is Just the Beginning
FSM platforms like ServiceTitan and FieldEdge are powerful tools that can transform a business—when properly set up, used, and maintained. These platforms provide insights into operations, from tracking inventory and equipment maintenance to optimizing technician scheduling and following up on unsold estimates.
Take unsold estimates as an example. Contractors spend a fortune on marketing, lead generation, and technician dispatch just to get an estimate in front of a potential customer. But if that estimate isn’t followed up on, it’s money wasted. Leveraging FSM software to track, automate follow-ups, and increase close rates can unlock millions in revenue, turning lost opportunities into booked jobs.
But software success doesn’t stop at implementation. Without a proper training plan, standardized workflows, and dedicated oversight, even a well-implemented system can fall apart. Poor training leads to inconsistent usage, undocumented workflows create confusion, and a lack of tech stack management causes inefficiencies that negate the software’s benefits. A tool is only as good as the process it supports. If you don’t have a plan, technology just becomes another expense.
Common Roadblocks to Long-Term Software Success
Many contractors struggle with software adoption and optimization due to several key challenges:
Time Commitment: Learning a new platform takes time, and so does training a team to use it correctly. Without dedicated effort, even the best software won’t deliver its full potential.
Change Resistance: Asking a seasoned team to adopt new workflows can be tough. People get comfortable with how they work, and changing that, even for the better, can be met with pushback.
Lack of a Clear Plan: Many businesses invest in software without defining what success looks like. Without clear goals, implementation lacks direction, and the software’s value isn’t fully realized.
No Dedicated Tech Stack Management: Software is not a one-and-done purchase, it requires an ongoing financial commitment for optimization, training, and troubleshooting. Without a dedicated resource to manage the tech stack, inefficiencies and outdated workflows can creep in, reducing ROI.
Overwhelm from Too Many Tools: Contractors are drowning in technology options, with too many tools and no strategy. The greatest risk isn’t adopting technology too quickly, it’s adopting it without intention.
Getting the Most Out of Your Investment
To avoid these pitfalls, contractors should approach software implementation and long-term success with a structured plan. Here’s how to start:
Set Specific Goals – Identify what you want to achieve with your software. Are you trying to increase technician efficiency? Reduce inventory waste? Close more estimates? Improve customer communication? Define success in measurable terms.
Dedicate Financial Resources – Contractors should allocate 2-5% of projected annual revenue toward technology. This budget should not only cover software licensing but also implementation, training, ongoing support, and a dedicated internal or external resource to manage the tech stack. A clear roadmap prevents wasted time and money. Technology adoption should be intentional, seamless, and impactful.
Develop a Standardized Training Plan – A good implementation won’t matter if your team doesn’t know how to use the software correctly. Learning technology is not a one-and-done activity. Establish a structured training process, provide documentation, and offer continuous learning opportunities to keep employees up to speed.
Document and Maintain Workflows – Standardized processes ensure that every team member is using the software consistently. Powerhouse Consulting Group provides a structured, step-by-step approach to technology adoption with a technology playbook to ensure proper implementation, set expectations, process documentation, training, and more.
Invest in Ongoing Optimization – Success requires ongoing optimization, not just a one-time setup. Technology changes daily, and businesses need structured validation, tracking performance, optimizing workflows, and driving measurable results over time.
Why Professional Guidance Pays Off
Contractors don’t expect customers to install HVAC systems or electrical panels without professional expertise, so why should software be any different? FSM consultants spend thousands of hours mastering these platforms, learning the best configurations, workflows, and integrations to maximize their value.
Trying to implement a major system without expert help is like wiring your house without an electrician. You might get some lights to work, but it won’t be safe, efficient, or built to last. Powerhouse Consulting Group is the trusted guide for technology adoption, ensuring that tools are used efficiently and effectively. We don’t just vet and implement tools; we teach contractors how to maximize their value.
Final Thoughts
The future of the trades isn’t just about fixing what’s broken, it’s about anticipating what’s next. The industry is shifting toward data-driven decision-making, and contractors who strategically implement technology now will lead in the next 5-10 years. Investing in technology isn’t just about tools, it’s about building a scalable business.
Powerhouse isn’t just a consultant; we are a strategic partner helping contractors scale and thrive. Our hands-on, business-first approach ensures that contractors get real value from their technology investments. There is no easy button, but contractors who put in the work and follow the right process will build sustainable, profitable businesses.
Jenny Benbrook is the founder and CEO of Powerhouse Consulting Group. Drawing from more than 20 years of experience in the skilled trades, Jenny provides strategic coaching and consultation for home service businesses seeking to make the most of their software investments. Powerhouse Consulting Group is the first and only ServiceTitan Titanium Partner, and also provides in-depth expertise regarding FieldEdge. More information is available at mypowerhouse.group.
The New Flat Rate empowers contractors with business growth tools during Freedom Builders Mastermind
The No. 1 price generating software provides home service business owners with actionable strategies that help develop financial stability The New Flat Rate, the No. 1 price generating software for home service contractors, showcased their dedication to contractors during their annual Freedom Builders Mastermind by helping business owners develop key strategies to overcome their pain Read more
The No. 1 price generating software provides home service business owners with actionable strategies that help develop financial stability
The New Flat Rate, the No. 1 price generating software for home service contractors, showcased their dedication to contractors during their annual Freedom Builders Mastermind by helping business owners develop key strategies to overcome their pain points and establish financial freedom.
The three-day event, held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee in early May, saw contractors develop implementation tools aimed toward taking their businesses to the next level while also spending time with some of the top minds in the home service industry. Different from most business-building events, Mastermind focuses on small groups workshopping together to write processes that can help them overcome major pain points in their business.
“Freedom Builders Mastermind is built differently than any other event out there,” said Matt Koop, vice president of The New Flat Rate. “We trade away the glitz and glamor so that we can get to the root of the problems that contractors are trying to solve. By working in small groups with like-minded individuals, it creates a comfortable atmosphere and camaraderie that empowers our attendees to discuss their business concerns openly.
“Ultimately, we want contractors to walk away with actionable steps and processes that will lead them toward real solutions. When our attendees left Freedom Builders Mastermind, we were confident that they did so with powerful tools that will drive their revenue up over the next 12 months.”
The Mastermind provided attendees with information on several topics geared toward helping businesses improve revenue while also developing freedom in their personal lives. Those topics included: bridge building basics, driving revenue, simple systems profit, and much more. Primary speakers at the event included Koop; Danielle Putnam, president of The New Flat Rate; Chris Michel of Coach Chris Consulting, a sales trainer at The New Flat Rate; and Roger Daviston of The Daviston Group, personal development, boundary setting and habit coach.
“Making the lives of contractors easier while also helping them gain financial freedom has always been a primary goal for The New Flat Rate,” said Putnam. “The Freedom Builders Mastermind is a key element of that goal. When business owners come to this event, they know they are going to leave with extremely powerful tools that will make them successful. Plus, they get an opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs who are likely suffering from similar problems, and together, they can build those processes to overcome pain points that have been dragging them down for years. If you are a struggling business, you need to attend a Mastermind.”
For more information about The New Flat Rate, please visit https://thenewflatrate.com/.
For more information about Freedom Builders University, please visit https://freedombuildersuniversity.com/.
ServiceBot™ combines operational data and artificial intelligence to interact with prospects, creating new home services customers during the first online interaction WorkWave®, a leading provider of SaaS software solutions that support every stage of a service business’s life cycle, has announced the launch of ServiceBot, a highly successful sales automation tool which makes e-commerce easy via Read more
ServiceBot™ combines operational data and artificial intelligence to interact with prospects, creating new home services customers during the first online interaction
WorkWave®, a leading provider of SaaS software solutions that support every stage of a service business’s life cycle, has announced the launch of ServiceBot, a highly successful sales automation tool which makes e-commerce easy via an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled chatbot that lives on a company’s website. Formerly known as Lawnbot, ServiceBot will now be available for all service industries, from lawn care to pest control to cleaning, and more.
“At WorkWave, we have made a promise to propel the industries we lead forward, and this means continuing to deliver innovation that helps our customers win and outpace their competition — ServiceBot clearly does that,” says WorkWave CEO David F. Giannetto. “ServiceBot is the first use of AI technology within WorkWave platforms and solutions, and opens the door across the entire portfolio to incorporate this type of technology into other areas that drive operational efficiency or improve the customer experience. Hundreds of our customers are already using ServiceBot to generate new customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
ServiceBot shows the power of WorkWave’s business model, and its recent expansion to lead multiple industries, by bringing its greater resources to bear, helping Lawnbot to evolve into ServiceBot which can now support any home service business. ServiceBot automates the sales process and allows consumers to purchase, schedule and pay for service visits right on their website, through AI-driven, human-like interactions. ServiceBot is seamlessly integrated into WorkWave’s industry-leading platforms including Real Green SA5 and is currently being integrated into PestPac, with ServMan and WinTeam soon to come.
With ServiceBot, customers can offer service to potential customers at any moment. As a mobile device-friendly, 24-hour, one-stop-shop sales automation tool, ServiceBot is able to sell to customers wherever they are, at any time.
Notable ServiceBot features include:
- Complete branding aligned with individual businesses
- Real-time pricing tables to ensure the most accurate quotes
- Optimization for mobile users
- Safe, secure payment acceptance
- A detailed dashboard to see all sales and lead data in real time
- Ability to generate great reviews with ReviewBot
- Sales enablement across 25 different service categories
To learn more about ServiceBot, visit goservicebot.com.
The industry’s leading business training and coaching experts announce an ongoing development program designed to give business owners a foundation for empowering and inspiring their teams Business Development Resources (BDR), the training and business coaching authority for home services industry professionals, announces a unique opportunity for service industry business owners, managers, and team leaders to develop Read more
The industry’s leading business training and coaching experts announce an ongoing development program designed to give business owners a foundation for empowering and inspiring their teams
BDR’s Leadership Excellence Academy offers a unique opportunity for service industry professionals to develop key skills for empowering and inspiring their teams and generating enhanced results.
Business Development Resources (BDR), the training and business coaching authority for home services industry professionals, announces a unique opportunity for service industry business owners, managers, and team leaders to develop key skills for generating enhanced results by effectively influencing and mentoring team members.
BDR’s Leadership Excellence Academy: Foundations, an ongoing development program, launches in October with bi-monthly training sessions held the second Tuesday of every other month through August 2023.
“Leadership is the foundation of success in our industry, and anyone can become a leader,” said Bruce Wiseman, president and owner of BDR. “You don’t have to have a particular personality type to be a leader. All it takes is a commitment to your business and a vision for success. Our Leadership Excellence Academy is an investment in success. It’s designed to help contractors and distributors establish and implement a plan to empower and inspire their teams to reach higher levels of success.”
Foundations is Year One of the Leadership Excellence Academy journey and consists of six four-hour training workshops that target key elements of leadership. Each session provides strategies and best practices on how to apply each one in the workplace, including:
- Determine your leadership level (Oct. 4)
- Determine your leadership style and capacity (Dec. 13)
- How to become an influencer (Feb. 14, 2023)
- Go from communicating to connecting (April 11, 2023)
- Empowering your team to success (June 13, 2023)
- Leading people: managing the process (Aug. 9, 2023)
In addition to the six bimonthly workshops, Leadership Excellence Academy: Foundations offers targeted podcasts to help participants prepare for and review each session along with self-paced online courses available between the live online workshops.
“Learning leadership principles is something available for anyone,” Wiseman said. “Ultimately leadership is about setting an example, living up to your values, and building a strong, positive culture your team wants to be part of. Leadership itself isn’t always easy, but the proper training and experience prepare you to successfully face challenges and take your company to the next level.”
To register or learn more about BDR’s Leadership Excellence Academy, visit https://www.bdrco.com/leadership-excellence-academy/.
Leading menu pricing software company to host annual conference at Westin Chattanooga The New Flat Rate, the first menu-pricing system for home service contractors, is gearing up for its third annual Business Uncensored conference in Chattanooga. The two-and-a-half-day event will take place from Oct. 18-20 at the Westin Chattanooga kicking off with a reception on the Read more
Leading menu pricing software company to host annual conference at Westin Chattanooga
The New Flat Rate, the first menu-pricing system for home service contractors, is gearing up for its third annual Business Uncensored conference in Chattanooga. The two-and-a-half-day event will take place from Oct. 18-20 at the Westin Chattanooga kicking off with a reception on the night of the 18th.
This high-level business conference offers attendees the opportunity for comprehensive training that will help home service business owners in a multitude of ways, from learning how to utilize online marketing to recognizing business plateaus. This year’s theme is “Drive,” which places an emphasis on helping business leaders drive their money, marketing, team and purpose.
“Since we started The New Flat Rate, our goal has been to help make the lives of contractors easier while also allowing them to be profitable as a company,” said Rodney Koop, founder and CEO of The New Flat Rate. “With Business Uncensored, we can do that by providing tools and knowledge that will not only help them increase profits but also unleash their full potential.”
Throughout the conference, attendees will gain lessons on a variety of different topics that will teach contractors how to develop successful business methods that drive the company overall. There will be several breakout sessions that are geared toward increasing focus on topics that can help business owners address needs in specific areas, such as friendship marketing or how to supercharge your service department.
“Many business owners in the home service industry place their focus on revenue-generating areas such as the number of service calls they receive on a regular basis, oftentimes missing out on opportunities by rushing to finish the job,” said Danielle Putnam, president of The New Flat Rate. “We have sessions that will help contractors uncover those lost opportunities, act on them, and follow up for future business during the slow season.”
“While keeping a steady flow of business is important, it isn’t the only thing that makes a company successful. Understanding what drives your team or the overall success of your customers is just as important. Those are some of the areas that we also focus on during Business Uncensored to help contractors grow and be successful.”
Speakers from The New Flat Rate will include Rodney Koop; Danielle Putnam; and Matt Koop, vice president. Also speaking at the event are contractors Roger Daviston, John Ellis, Rob Matheny, Steve Moon and Christopher Gibbons.
For more information about Business Uncensored, visit www.2021BU.com
For more information about The New Flat Rate, visit https://www.thenewflatrate.com.