How To Scale A Service Business (11 Tips)

[@jasond.personal5433]

*Tips* 01: define and sell an outcome 02: create ready clients 03: only serve clients you can actually help 04: create iterative feedback loops 05: start simple and get ninja later 06: add recurring revenue on your backend 07: fire yourself 08: know your freakin' numbers 09: design a sales experience that is effortless 10: fall in love with the problem, not the solution 11: be coachable

[@Twiztid_Metal]

Thank you.

[@DrELewis2014]

What a saint🙏🏽😇

[@zeyer7206]

1) Define and sell an outcome. Specify the delivery of an outcome. 2) Design an experience. Prequalify and shortcut the expectations. 3) Only take on the right clients. 4) Create feedback loops. Your clients want to give you opinions and input during the process. 5) Start simple. Less is better when starting out. Work on simple systems 6) Add recurring revenue on your back end. 7) Fire yourself. Who can you hire that can do the jobs that you do? 8) Know your numbers. 9) Create a seamless sales process. Selling is easy if your leads are prepared. 10) Fall in love with the problem. Be passionate about helping your client fix their problems. 11) Be coachable. Invest in help, books, coaches, partners.

[@gregoryjhickman]

thanks for the recap!

[@pixeltonenewmedia2657]

“Only help clients you can actually help”

[@gregoryjhickman]

Amen to that!

[@JustChill76]

Awesome

[@tinameyers8726]

Helping them from what their need is, is most important to me.

[@The_Superyacht_Paint_Expert]

Love the video man! Excellent points! I’m a coatings (paint) expert for the US superyacht industry, as well as bridges, overpasses, water / wastewater facilities and assets, large structural assets (skyscrapers, stadiums, cranes, etc.), govt. assets, nuclear power plants, and so much more. I am one of 2,500 in the world. Lol I will try this method, to the t. Wish me luck, my ambitious friends.

[@hemashamir]

The best thing I heard is 'to fire myself'. I think I needed those magic words.

[@gregoryjhickman]

truth! :)

[@sebastianjsmith]

Streamlined my Fiverr business. Helped a ton! Thank you!

[@gregoryjhickman]

Awesome!

[@ilamalihilustan22]

That's great! What do you sell?

[@PaulMatthewMedia]

Surprised you’re not a bigger channel. This video was very well put together. I found tip 10 the most valuable. Been trying to put a plan for my wedding video service on paper and that challenged me to stop looking at what I’m providing and figure what problem it solves. Thanks!

[@gregoryjhickman]

Paul Matthew Media thanks. Just getting started really. :)

[@gregoryjhickman]

How about a share to help spread the word? :)

[@paynegold]

Creating an “enrollment” process and getting clients ready for the work was a HUGE aha moment for me. Thanks for this!

[@gregoryjhickman]

You bet.

[@desmondwilliams4068]

Yeah, it got my wheels turning because I have spent time get folk to get ready to be ready. It has burned a lot of time. But I also think some of it they are not ready because they are not ideal clients, but my revenue is not enough to turn people away...

[@gregoryjhickman]

@@desmondwilliams4068 evenue will always be that way until you start turning the wrong people away.

[@aleadingmanproductions5135]

Not even close, fall in with the problem, not the solution. Thank you, this was great

[@johnstewart4986]

All excellent tips, Greg! My favorite tips were 1,2, and 10.

[@gregoryjhickman]

Thanks for sharing!

[@thenvironmentalist]

Fantastic, Tip four, to optimize, was a major learning point for me. We really need to get feedback from our clients while we’re delivering our service!

[@gregoryjhickman]

Yess!

[@RonitaElease]

This young man is honest... Good! I've followed him almost since his early YT. Start here if you're new to these vehicles. Library is insightful.

[@gregoryjhickman]

🙏

[@brentbanks7249]

I am in lawn care. I have a general manager running my company. I meet with him weekly for about 1 hour while it pumps out around 200k to me.

[@gregoryjhickman]

Hell yeah, that's what i'm talking about.

[@jimyjacobs2528]

All the tips are really useful to me, thanks

[@gregoryjhickman]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ChaseArrington]

Fall in love with the problem!!! That’s the best one for me. Very good insight!

[@gregoryjhickman]

Yeah, changed my life. :)

[@ashleynicolefoxsmallworld9799]

These are all great tips. Is it possible for you to make a part 2 video that actually gives an example of them all, please? Examples would really help us understand. Thanks in advance♡

[@nalcow]

These are actually good ideas. One of the challenges I've been facing is the variaety of clients. Many needs and variables indeed make it difficult to sistematize. I will narrow as you suggest my service portafolio to one of two segments and start from there. Thanks for the advise.

[@gregoryjhickman]

Nearly impossible to systemize when the service is unique every time. solve one problem for one avatar and get good at that.

[@ilamalihilustan22]

Have you narrowed down your services and systemized yet?

[@erick5327]

Fall in love with the problem not the solution, and streamline the service. Good insight.

[@gregoryjhickman]

changed my live. :)

[@ChaseArrington]

Fall in love with the problem!!!

[@AlisaLewis]

Thanks Greg very informative and helpful information- you got yourself a new subscriber. 🎉🎉🎉

[@gregoryjhickman]

Thanks and welcome! ASk your questions in any comment and I keep a list of videos answering questions.

[@theairportchauffeur7142]

Comfort Is Business Sickness!!! Great Vid!!!

[@scottjagodzinski9707]

Excellent advice! Tip #10 is something I learned a few years ago and it is a huge one. Not only does it help spur innovation, it helps you serve your clients at a much higher level. Recurring revenue on the back end (#6) is also great advice. Thanks again Greg.

[@gregoryjhickman]

So true! and you're welcome!

[@jackgreenstalk777]

thanks for the tips! i liked the advice in making service more repeatable. I have been doing a lot of this already just nice to clarify a path forward. Hard moving from a sole proprietor to a hiring biz

[@ASuazo123]

Hi Greg, I liked the video. Recently started a service arm within my company and it’s been a big journey. Some of the things you talk about I am already doing like th recurring revenue(SLAs), but there were plenty of, oh should be doing that: profitability, feedback loop and preparing clients. I’ll try to figure out a good way to implement them. Thanks for the video!

[@SimpleMarketingAcademy]

Great tips, Greg! Scaling is one of the hardest things to do.

[@just_medico_student]

The tip about creating redundancies would be a golden seed, but it's gonna take its own sweet time.💖🤗but love that one

[@abrahamjohn223]

Can’t know how I bumped onto this. All in all great content 😊. I also watched those similar from "Donnie Boivin" and kinda wonder how you guys create this stuff, "Donnie Boivin" videos also had cool info.

[@PetronellaPhotography]

Incredible info!!! I haven't read or seen anywhere. Thank you!

[@gregoryjhickman]

🙌

[@anthonymabee6404]

I have been working on these issues for the last year. I decided to reach out to KZbin to see if others feel like I feel in tackling this topic and BOOM this guy☝🏻hits the nail on the head! Everything I’ve been thinking he communicated the points perfectly and clearly! I’m hooked thank you 🙏🏻

[@gregoryjhickman]

What was the biggest takeaway?

[@anthonymabee6404]

@@gregoryjhickman all of it! my issue is, I feel I am in a unique niche, tattooing. Traditionally tattoo artists are independent contractors.. so I can’t direct their schedule, how much they charge, what tools to use etc.. I basically charge rent or percentage and the later is harder without directing the staff

[@gregoryjhickman]

@@anthonymabee6404 Can't you set standards? and only keep the ones that meet the standard? Sort of like a sales team.

[@anthonymabee6404]

@@gregoryjhickman yes, it’s hard, I keep coming back around to the idea I will have to train a work force in order to fulfill my standard of operating. Like courses and seminars that they can take before hiring them..

[@ilamalihilustan22]

@@anthonymabee6404 How is it going with you? Have you set standards or quit? Would really love to hear your story!

[@Takoda9721]

Thanks for uploading! Great content, so much value.

[@gregoryjhickman]

You're welcome. what was the biggest takeaway?

[@WizDom21]

10 things in 10 mins, im in! Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@AmandaHorvath]

He's back folks! 😀great video! love the graphics

[@gregoryjhickman]

hahah you know it.

[@danielcrouse5377]

Fantastic video!

[@gregoryjhickman]

Thank you very much!

[@lavenderorganizes_]

Very Helpful! thank you:)

[@gregoryjhickman]

You're welcome

[@jenny_learnenglishgoglobal]

wow, I love this video

[@jonathanleafe1300]

Great video. I'm an agency mentor in the UK and pretty much recommend all of these - but in slightly different ways.

[@gregoryjhickman]

Nice, glad you enjoyed!

[@ilamalihilustan22]

What further tips can you add here?

[@marcelinojr.deperalta3735]

this video is full of value

[@beyetransformed6559]

Tip 11 was my fav!

[@medhadurge5332]

So happy you made a video for service business. Fantastic and informative video. Great tips because its difficult to streamline service business. However, did not understand how i could implement the first one. Define and sell outcomes? I did not understand the meaning of 6th-about recurring revenues on backend.

[@gregoryjhickman]

The fastest way is to watch this training altagency.com/mw but I have numerous other videos on the channel on this topic.

[@anthonydabridge6653]

good tips, thanks

[@editionnepal]

Thank you Sir 🤝

[@gregoryjhickman]

Welcome 👍

[@joshuajirehvasquez982]

Massively underrated

[@gregoryjhickman]

What was your biggest takeaway?

[@traceyrenfrew4990]

What’s an a example of adding recurring revenue on the back end? I have a dog care business providing adventure hikes for daycare and in home overnight boarding when owners are out of town.

[@voltairepabustan]

Tons of value. Thank you!

[@ruxp12]

Please help me. lol any strategies for opening the retainer conservation? What does a pitch sound like for that? I may be missing the mark here but am wondering why a client would go on retainer when they can just call any comparable group and open with them as a new project?

[@gregoryjhickman]

Did a series of videos on this a while back. Check the feed. 💪🏼

[@paulinahernandez5154]

great info! do you have something on business model info? being struggling to find the right one for us!

[@gregoryjhickman]

Plenty of videos on the channel for agency models.

[@reviveservices5273]

Thanks for this!

[@gregoryjhickman]

You bet! What was most useful?

[@lm2082]

Be Coachable

[@tarafield304]

great advice! :)

[@ACoderThatMakesFilms]

Absolute gems!

[@gregoryjhickman]

Thanks!

[@alexhamm-realestateinvesti5496]

Thanks G!

[@Rohanrrbb]

Great thoughts Greg

[@gregoryjhickman]

thanks.

[@vanessap5323]

Great tips!

[@gregoryjhickman]

Glad you think so!

[@maryhharris557]

The most helpful tip was making your service repeatable!

[@gregoryjhickman]

Absolutely!

[@TourmalineFilms]

Interesting vid. I was just watching a video from Sam Ovens and he was suggesting to convert a service based business into a product based business where you create courses. I see how that can be a benefit with not being as dependent on adding more people in to your business and being less time dependent but he was claiming that you can't scale a service based business which is a bold claim that I disagree with. What do you think about his claims here?

[@gregoryjhickman]

I don't really follow him. Service businesses can definitely scale and be big. There are thresholds where it gets difficult for sure. I believe in a Hybrid and for most small agency / service based businesses, they care more about the freedoms of owning their own business and that reaching the ideal lifestyle balance and biz style - it makes more sense for a hybrid or productizing. But it's not a one size fits all by any means.

[@TourmalineFilms]

@@gregoryjhickman Yeah, I agree plus I'm more passionate about the service side of things so wouldn't want to get rid of it.

[@jalexb915]

Great video 🙌🏻 Question: With having redundancy, wouldn’t a business owner be creating potential competition? I’d be scared to teach an employee vital experience it took me years to acquire. Thoughts?

[@gregoryjhickman]

That's the wrong mentality. You'll never build a team that can take things off your plate if that's how you believe it will be. Instead of creating competition, you need to look at t as creating your replacement. then systemize what they do so that IF they ever leave that you can replace them and onboard the new person quickly. But if you hire the right person - this shouldn't be a concern.

[@ilamalihilustan22]

good question! Do you still have the same views?

[@ivanoshanahanvalentine4657]

great content

[@gregoryjhickman]

Thank you

[@onuwabuchi]

Hi 👋I'm have a service-based business. I'm interested in mentorship!

[@gregoryjhickman]

Let's chat. Grab a time with my team here: altagency.com/book

[@gregoryjhickman]

⚠️ QOTD: Which of the 11 tips was most useful for you? Comment below! Also, if you want the free training I talked about which is 🔥 you can get that here: AltAgency.com/mw

[@sumitsawai9518]

All tips are good . Fall in love with the problem!

[@ndube4589]

Link doesn’t work

[@chandraprakashmogha1745]

How can I grow resume writing and designing service business ?

[@gregoryjhickman]

Where are you at now? What’s the goal?

[@chandraprakashmogha1745]

@@gregoryjhickman I'm from india and my goal is help job seekers to get hired in their dream job by providing them a profession al resume.

[@ndube4589]

The link to the free class doesn’t work

[@gregoryjhickman]

The new link is AltAgency.com/mw

[@ArtandKitchen_]

I have digital service business, I wanna know tips how to find high paying clients.

[@gregoryjhickman]

Check the channel, i have videos on that. :)

[@JTTechie]

I think a common fear behind hiring someone to do what we do is that they can start their own business as a copy. Anyone else feel that?

[@gregoryjhickman]

Not everyone wants to start their own business. In fact, many more don't.

[@JTTechie]

@@gregoryjhickman I have a content marketing business so if I hire someone who can manage my content creators and deliver to my clients, there isn't much stopping them from competing with me. They'd have the blueprint for my business. Yes, not everyone wants to start their own business but the risk is definitely there.

[@gregoryjhickman]

Contracts. And if that’s your biggest fear you have far bigger growth problems.

[@ilamalihilustan22]

@@gregoryjhickman Non compete agreements are not that enforceable.

[@gregoryjhickman]

@@ilamalihilustan22 Agreed, hence the second part of my statement. :)

[@joemat00]

Tip # 11: Don't Get Comfortable.

[@smmwithmandeep]

🚀📈

[@eliblum9461]

Hi can I get in touch with him? Any numbers?

[@gregoryjhickman]

Get in touch with who?

[@markpotter8756]

Don’t be a yes man! Easy trap chasing cash flow

[@gregoryjhickman]

Truth!

[@kennethporst4359]

If he ain't bringing in millions don't listen to him

[@flavianakalanzi7428]

So sorry

[@google-ads-for-estate-agents]

Great video Greg, relevant even today in 2021.. know your frigin numbers..... so frigin true

[@gregoryjhickman]

Yup!

[@soloclickads8829]

fall in love with the solution.

[@TerryHatfield-l9p]

Streamlined my Fiverr business. Helped a ton! Thank you!

[@gregoryjhickman]

You bet