Are we selling ourselves short

I've thought of that too.

But it would be more of a lead sales thing. I will sell the plumber: 3 leads per week at $150 each or whatever.

I wouldn't want to get all tied up in what he is charging, or trying to charge customers and subcontracting work because I know NADA about it.

Although it could work what are you thinking of doing bidding on plumbing jobs and then splitting it? Nah too much.

Brilliant.

If you want the quality service providers to continue to do work for your leads, you'll need to give them a much higher percentage.

But yes...this is seriously big thinking.

I would agree with rugman, you are too involved with the business end of things of which you admit you know nothing about. What if the guy does not show up, you get the call? What if he does a crappy job and they come after you? Who pays who? How do you end up getting your cut?

Just build a good site and sell it or lease it. Stick with what you are good at and stay out of someone else's business.

It would be your name/reputation in some one else's hands.

You also might get undercut, told the job didnt pan out (when it did) and then taxes ,etc for that.

It is a good idea, but even the big boys take a fee (Servicemagic) and continue to do what they do best, marketing.

Abdi,

I agree with Rugman and Tim and would strongly reccommend leasing the website to the service professional on a long term basis, especially if you're just getting started. If you need cash flow, then definitely don't tie up your money into their performance.

Yes, it's a much smaller pay day, but at least it's a pay day.

Plus, at least for me, leasing a website is a much easier sell when the website is already ranked and generating leads.

However, the main problem that you may run into is finding a reputable service professional that will pay on time and not get all weird on you after a couple of months.

I ran into that problem when I first started and that's when I started using my marketing materials to disqualify potentially bad clients.

I spend $50 - $100 to mail out postcards, emails or use little local ads to drive traffic to a squeeze page or hotline with recorded message. Then they get a free report or video which includes my contact information at the bottom.

This way I only get people who want to be contacted. I spent six months, got discouraged and wasted a ton of money with one niche before I finally did what the marketing guru's told me to do to attract prospects to me.

I was lucky to have figured that out while I had other sources of income, so I had the time and patience to do that.

Chris

It sounds like the brokering business! I would want to sell leads to plumbers and match them up with customers but I would charge them a leaf based upon what customer wanted. That way if it's a bug job you could say charge ten to fifteen percent cost of job on that lead as compared to just selling a lead based upon a flat charge. You would have To know price breakdowns by industry but way more Lucrative than flat leads sales. For instance -uncle Harry's appliance repair has a price breakdown. Sheet for services rendered. In that case plumber has nothing to lose. He pays you -he gets his money from. Customer. Everyone is happy. Only catch -you have to supply great prefiltered leads!

As for leasing, I can get higher rates with open-end rental agreements.
They will pay more if there is no long term commitment. I get two months
up front, then they can quit at any time. Hand-shake deal.

Hugh