How to Get Leads as a New Contractor (Without Paying for Ads)

Starting a contracting business is hard. You're competing against established companies with years of reviews and referral networks you haven't had time to build. The good news: most of your competitors have weak online presences. Getting your fundamentals right immediately puts you ahead.

Set up your Google Business Profile first

Before you have a website, get your GBP claimed and verified. It's free and it's the fastest way to appear in local search results. Fill out every field, especially services, service area, and hours.

Once verified, ask every satisfied customer to leave a review. Your first 10 reviews are the hardest and most important, they establish you as a real, active business in Google's eyes.

Get a professional website immediately

Customers Google contractors before calling. They want to see that you're real, that your work looks good, and that other people have had good experiences. A website gives you all three.

You don't need a complex site to start. A homepage with your services, your service area, photos of your work, and a contact form is enough to convert curious visitors into leads.

Where to get your first jobs

• ✓Subcontracting for established contractors: Reach out to established general contractors in your area and offer to sub. It builds your portfolio and your network simultaneously.
• ✓Home services platforms: Angi, Thumbtack, and HomeAdvisor generate leads. The margins are thin, but they're a way to get jobs while your organic presence is being established.
• ✓Local networking: Chamber of commerce, BNI groups, real estate agent networks: contractors who know agents get referrals from the constant stream of homes needing pre-sale or post-purchase work.
• ✓Nextdoor and neighborhood groups: Hyperlocal social platforms are extremely effective for contractors. A completed job in a neighborhood generates multiple neighbor inquiries.