Free tools
Free stuff that actually helps a shop.
A calculator, then the free tools I’d use myself if I ran a trade business. No email, no signup. Some of this you can pour yourself, like a slab. Some of it I’ll build for you.
Missed-call calculator
What are missed calls costing you?
You’re on a roof or under a sink and the phone rings. Put in your real numbers and see what walks out the door.
Lost every month
$0
·
That’s a rough guess from your own numbers, not a promise. Even if you cut it in half, it’s money you’re leaving on the table.
Want the phone to stop costing you jobs?
A missed-call text-back texts the caller for you in seconds. Maya, my phone receptionist, answers and takes down the job. I’ll build you a free demo first, on your own business, so you see it work before you pay anything.
The hub
Free tools I’d use, grouped by the problem
These aren’t mine. They’re free, they work, and I’d send a friend to them. A few have paid upgrades or card fees, and I say so. Licenses and permits themselves cost what the state and city charge.
Getting found
Customers search before they call. Be in all the places they look.
- Google Business ProfileFree. The box that shows up when someone searches “plumber near me.” Claim it first, fill in every field, add real photos of your work.
- Apple Business ConnectFree. Puts you on Apple Maps, which iPhone users get when they ask for directions.
- Bing PlacesFree. Less traffic than Google, but it takes a few minutes and you can import your Google listing.
- Nextdoor Business PageFree page. Neighbors ask each other for tradesmen on Nextdoor all day. Ads cost money; the page doesn’t.
Or let YFS set this up for you. I set up your Google Business Profile the right way, so it ranks and the phone rings. Free demo →
Quotes and getting paid
Send the estimate fast, get paid fast, and remember who to call back.
- WaveFree invoices and estimates with no monthly fee. If a customer pays by card online, card fees apply.
- HubSpot free CRMA free contact list that shows who you quoted and when. It’s bigger than you need, so just use it as a “who do I call back” list.
Or let YFS set this up for you. I build an instant estimate form and an auto follow-up that texts people who went quiet. Free demo →
Getting reviews
The best sales pitch is a neighbor saying you showed up.
- How to ask for Google reviewsGoogle’s own page on asking the right way. Read the part about what’s not allowed, like paying for reviews.
- QRCode MonkeyFree QR codes that never expire. Make one that opens your Google review page and put it on the truck, the invoice and your card. Test it before you print.
Or let YFS set this up for you. I set up the review text that goes out after every job, plus the QR code for your truck. Free demo →
Staying legal
Go straight to the source. These sites are free to use. The licenses themselves have fees.
- TDLRTexas licensing for electricians and A/C and refrigeration contractors. Check a license or renew yours.
- Texas State Board of Plumbing ExaminersPlumbers: licenses, renewals and the license lookup.
- Texas sales tax permitIf you sell taxable goods or services in Texas, you need a permit. Apply with the state, not a middleman.
- IRS EINYour business tax ID. The IRS never charges for one, and sites that charge you are just reselling it.
- San Antonio Development ServicesThe city’s contractor pages, for registering and pulling permits in San Antonio.
Free help from real people
Mentors who’ve run businesses, for free.
- SCORE Central TexasFree one-on-one mentoring from retired and working business owners. Some workshops cost money; the mentoring doesn’t.
- SBA local assistanceFinds the free business counselors near you, including help with loans and paperwork.
I don’t file license paperwork. I just point you to the right door.
Not sure where to start?
Tell me what’s eating your week and I’ll tell you if it’s a free fix or something worth building.
Ask for a free demo