Want More Jobs? Give a Little First!

Boost your visibility by donating $100 gift cards to local fundraising events—it's low-cost marketing that connects you with high-value, community-minded clients!

KickStart: Get maximum mileage from your home service business generosity.

Let’s face it—we’re all hunting for quick, cheap, and effective ways to market our residential service companies. One of the best tricks I’ve used over the years is to…

Donate $100.00 gift cards to local charity events. Here’s what I recommend to our HFS clients…

Pick safe, “feel-good” causes—think school auctions, pet rescues, or food drives.

IMPORTANT: Many of you have strong political and/or social beliefs. I get it. However, if you stake out a public position on your personal convictions you will inevitably alienate and/or offend potential clients.

So, in these polarized times I urge my HFS coaching clients to stay neutral publicly and especially in their business promotions. Some do… some don’t! But at the very least reflect on this...

Do you really want your business, your employees and yes, even your family’s financial future to suffer for your personal beliefs? It's your call of course!

However, as I remind every HFS training group I work with: “Your business- your decision- your consequences!” 😵‍💫 Forgive my mini-rant please! Returning to our regularly scheduled programming….

These (hopefully non-controversial) charitable groups I mention above can auction off your gift card or add it to a prize basket. And of course, you’ll be recognized and thanked as a supporter of these charities.

Either way, your business name ends up in front of people (likely homeowners!) who care deeply about their community. Even better…

These well-heeled folks have the money to spend on good causes AND on caring for their home!👍👍 That’s your dream client right there! The result? More high-end clients (and profit) for YOUR residential services.

I like donating $100.00 gift cards for several reasons:

1. A $100.00 gift card is a big enough number to feel valuable to the winner of your services.

2. A "larger" 100.00 donation will be appreciated by all the supporters of this charity. (And you certainly don’t want to come across as being chintzy!) 😮

3. If your job minimum is at least $250.00 (which it probably should be!), the worst-case scenario will be that you wind up doing a $150.00 job. But honestly, nobody will stop at just spending $150.00 with you!

4. Combine all of the 1) above business benefits along with 2) it is a “feel-good” thing for you personally plus 3) this gift card is costing you very little to nothing*! I’d say you have a Triple Win going on! 👏👏👏
* NOTE: Many gift cards from charity auctions are never redeemed. You get all the above benefits... for FREE!

Just a heads-up: Don’t load the card with a bunch of small print like “Only good on services over $500.00.” That kills the goodwill. Just honor the card on any job over your minimum charge, and call it a “charitable win”.

Final TIP: Make the card “transferable” to someone else in your service area. This way if the winner just doesn’t need any of the services you offer, they can re-gift it to a friend that does! WOO-HOO! You just got a new client for FREE!😁

Real-World Examples:

🪳 Pest Control Pro? Donate a $100.00 gift card to a neighborhood school auction. Imagine your card labeled “Kickstart Your Bug-Free Home!” being bid on by parents who definitely don’t want roaches in their kids’ lunchboxes.

When the auction winner calls you, it’s not just about a discount—it’s about solving a real problem, and you’ve already made the first move. Plus, don’t discount the value of a new, “Raving Fan” Cheerleader client!

🪟 Blinds Cleaning Specialist? Partner with a local fundraiser and drop in a gift card titled “$100.00 Toward Fresh, Clean Blinds!” Most homeowners hate dealing with blinds—and after the holidays or a spring pollen wave, they’re desperate for help. You're the hero they didn’t know they needed!

Steve’s Bonus Ideas:

💼 Got commercial accounts? Give the company owner a stack of $100.00 gift cards to pass out to their employees. They’ll look generous, and you stay booked even during the slow season. A carpet cleaner we work with did this and locked in 63 new clients… during a dead winter!

📬 After the holidays: Mail the cards to your past residential clients as a “THANK YOU” and a little nudge to bring them back in. Call it a “New Year Home Reset” card or whatever fits your trade.

Bottom line? A $100.00 gift card might cost you an hour or two of employee time, but it gets you in front of high-value clients and positions you as a business that gives back to your community. That’s marketing money well spent!