More fence jobs. Starting this week.
Quick wins for fence contractors in the United States.
Things you can do yourself, today, to book more measures and close more of the quotes you already give. No agency needed.- Call new leads within 5 minutes
- Check in with past customers
- Ask for a review the day it’s done
- Price your overhead in
- 01
Call every new lead within 5 minutes
The moment a homeowner fills out your form, call them. Within five minutes, faster if you can. The goal is to reach them before they call another fence company.
If they’ve already called two or three others, you’re one voice among several, and the call back becomes a completely different conversation: comparing, haggling, waiting. If they call you, you pick up and book the measure right then, they have no reason to keep calling around. The only way they will is if something goes wrong at your measure.
It’s the simplest fix there is, and nothing else on this list moves your results as much.
- Turn on instant notifications for every form and every missed call
- Decide who calls back when you’re on a job site, and make it their first priority
- On the call, book the measure while you have them on the phone
How a calling team reaches every lead within 60 seconds →How fast should a fence company respond to a new lead? →
- 02
Check in with the people you’ve already built fences for
Every so often, text the customers you’ve done work for. Built someone a fence six months ago? Ask them: “Hey, how’s the fence holding up? Everything still good?”
You get two things. Honest feedback on your work. And a reminder in their head that you exist. If they’ve been thinking about a gate, or a friend is looking for a fence, you just showed up at the right moment. You’ll be surprised how often you hear “funny, we were just talking about that”.
It costs nothing. People who already bought from you are your easiest next jobs: they trust you, they’ve seen your work and they know you don’t disappear. Just don’t open with “want to buy something else?” Build the relationship.
- Pull a list of every job from the last 6–24 months
- Send a short, personal check-in text to a handful each week
- Note anything they mention: a gate, a repair, a neighbor or friend who wants a fence
- 03
Ask for a Google review the day the job is done
The best moment to ask is right after the work is finished. The fence is up, the homeowner is happy, the mood is good. That’s when they say yes.
Most happy customers never leave a review for one reason: nobody asked them. There’s nothing awkward about it. It’s normal practice, and it pays twice: it builds trust with the next homeowner looking at your profile, and it feeds the local SEO that brings you more customers later.
- Get the review link from your Google Business Profile
- Before you leave the job, ask in person and text the link while you’re still there
- Send one friendly reminder a few days later if they haven’t left one
How reviews feed local SEO and Google Maps →Get your Google Business Profile verified first →
- 04
Add your overhead before you add your margin
Most contractors think they price their margin right. They add up the direct costs of a job, materials and crew time, and put their margin on top. Say the job costs $10,000 to build and you want 20%: you add $2,000 and quote $12,000.
What gets left out are the indirect costs: office rent, truck repairs, fuel, insurance, taxes, phones, software and everything else that keeps the business running. Add up what those cost you in a month, divide by the jobs you do in a month, and you’ll find every job carries, say, another $1,000 of overhead. That $2,000 you planned to make turns into $1,000.
Direct costs (materials, crew) $10,000 Overhead per job (monthly overhead ÷ jobs per month) $1,000 True cost of the job $11,000 20% margin on the true cost $2,200 Price to quote $13,200 - List every monthly business cost that isn’t materials or crew on a specific job
- Divide that total by the number of jobs you do in an average month
- Add that number to every job’s direct cost, then add your margin on top
Want all of it done for you? See how we run it →
Quick wins, answered.
How fast should I call back someone who asks for a fence quote?
Within 5 minutes, and faster if you can. Homeowners usually contact several fence companies, and the one that calls first and books the measure usually gets the job.
How do I stop losing fence leads to other companies?
Call back before they call anyone else, and book the measure on that first call. Once a homeowner has a visit on the calendar, they rarely keep shopping around.
How do I get more repeat customers for my fence business?
Stay in touch with past customers. A short check-in text every few months reminds them you exist, and they’ll think of you for gates, repairs and friends who need a fence.
Should I text past customers after I install their fence?
Yes, as a friendly check-in. Ask how the fence is holding up. You get feedback, and you stay top of mind for their next project and their referrals.
How do I get more referrals for my fence company?
Do good work, ask for a review the day the job is done, and check in with past customers from time to time. People recommend the contractor they remember.
When is the best time to ask a customer for a Google review?
Right after the job is finished, while the homeowner is happy with the new fence. Ask in person and text them the review link before you leave.
How do I ask customers for a review without being pushy?
Just ask, at the right moment. Most happy customers never leave a review only because nobody asked. A friendly request and a link the day the job is done is normal practice.
How do I calculate the true cost of a fence job?
Add materials and crew time, then add your overhead per job: your monthly business costs divided by the number of jobs you do in a month. Put your margin on that full total.
What overhead costs should a fence contractor include in pricing?
Everything that keeps the business running but isn’t tied to one job: office or yard rent, truck payments and repairs, fuel, insurance, taxes, phones, software and marketing.
Why am I making less profit than I expected on fence jobs?
Often because the margin is added to direct costs only. Once overhead is spread across your jobs, a planned 20% can shrink to half that. Add overhead per job before you add your margin.
Ready to fill the calendar?
Apply for a strategy call. We build your demo website and study your market before we talk.