How to Get Reviews for a New Home Service Company with Low Job Volume

How do you get reviews for a new home service company with low job volume when you don’t have many jobs lined up yet? This is one of the biggest early challenges for any home service business just getting started.

You need online reviews to build trust, create a strong online presence, and show up in Google’s search results. But when job volume is low, collecting customer reviews feels out of reach. 

In this guide, I’ll walk you through two effective strategies we’ve seen work for service businesses in this exact situation. One of these has helped new home service companies generate 30+ positive reviews early on, without misrepresenting experience. 

The goal is to build momentum, improve online visibility, and start competing with local competitors.

Key Takeaways

• Low job volume doesn’t mean you can’t get more reviews. It means you need a review process designed for where your business is today.
• Strategy #1 focuses on collecting customer reviews through character references from people who know your professionalism. This helps you earn positive testimonials without pretending you’ve completed work you haven’t.
• Strategy #2 increases volume by offering discounted services in local groups. It can generate more customers and more reviews quickly, but positioning matters. 
• Both strategies, timely requests, organization, and one follow-up, are what turn outreach into enough reviews to build social proof.

The 2-Strategy Plan (And the Rule: Stay Aligned with Google)

New home service businesses face a different challenge than established home service providers. Fewer completed jobs mean fewer satisfied customers who can leave Google reviews about your services.

At the same time, reviews directly impact search engine optimization, local listings, and how your business page appears in Google’s search results. You still need your Google Business Profile to look legitimate to potential customers, even before you’ve served many clients.

These two strategies are effective, but there’s a critical rule. Everything must stay aligned with Google’s guidelines. Don’t misrepresent your home service company, don’t fake experiences, and don’t try to hide intent. You need customer reviews, but you need to collect them the right way.

Below are two strategies you can use. Strategy #1 uses character references from people who know your work ethic. Strategy #2 creates job volume by offering discounted services through Facebook or Nextdoor.

For additional ideas, you can reference our guide on four ways to get more reviews for your home service business.

Strategy #1: The Character Reference Review System

Why Character References Work When You Don’t Have Many Jobs

When job volume is low, there’s no one yet who can speak directly about your services. That’s the gap character references fill.

People who know you professionally can leave reviews that speak to your reliability, communication, and professionalism. This is similar to job references. These reviewers aren’t claiming work that didn’t happen. They’re offering honest customer feedback about what it’s like to work with you as a person.

This approach supports your online reputation and helps potential customers feel confident choosing you. 

As long as reviews are honest and aligned with Google’s rules, character-based customer reviews are acceptable and effective. We explain the SEO impact further in our article on how online reviews drive local SEO for home service pros.

Get Organized First (Spreadsheet + Checklist + Tracking)

Organization is what turns review requests into results. Before you ask for reviews, set up a simple tracking system.

Create a spreadsheet with names, contact details, and outreach dates. Track who you sent review requests to, who left one review, and who needs a follow-up email or follow-up call. This keeps the review process clean and professional.

Tracking matters because automated review requests and timely requests convert better than guesswork. You’ll know exactly where you stand, improve your conversion rate, and avoid over-messaging anyone. 

If you want to scale this later, our guide on how to automate your customer review process shows how automation fits in.

Build the List: 50 People Across 3 Groups (Friends, Family, Colleagues)

Start with a list of at least 50 people. That volume gives you a realistic path to enough reviews without pressure.

Include three groups. Friends who want to see your home service business succeed. Family members who can speak to your reliability. And colleagues from the home service industry who know your work quality firsthand.

Not everyone will respond immediately. Some will leave reviews right away, others after a follow-up. Tracking ensures you get to more reviews without annoying people. For long-term scaling, see our overview on review marketing automation.

What a “Character Review” Should Actually Say (And Why It Helps)

A character review focuses on how you show up professionally. It’s not about a final invoice or a specific job.

Strong reviews mention communication, timeliness, cleanliness, and attention to detail. They highlight providing exceptional service, even before customers hire you. These positive testimonials help showcase reviews that build trust early.

When potential customers read reviews like this, they understand the positive experience they can expect. That clarity helps turn visitors into happy clients.

Strategy #2: Create Job Volume with a Steep Discount

Where to Find the Early Jobs (Local Groups)

If you need volume, local groups can help. Facebook groups and Nextdoor are common places local businesses find early customers.

The approach is direct. Offer discounted services, be clear you’re new, and explain that you’re building reviews for your Google Business Profile. Transparency builds trust and avoids bad reviews or negative feedback later.

For posting mechanics, see Nextdoor’s guide on creating a business post or Meta’s overview of Facebook groups.

How to Frame It (Upfront Clarity and Cap the Offer)

Be clear about the exchange. You’re offering a limited discount in return for a review on your review page or review site.

Cap the number of discounted jobs so you don’t undervalue your services. Clear expectations lead to more customers actually leaving reviews. When expectations are set upfront, customers are more likely to leave a review after a positive experience.

The Positioning and Emotional Downside

This strategy works, but it’s not perfect. Discounting can hurt positioning, and it stings when someone doesn’t follow through.

Some customers may promise a review and never leave one. That’s frustrating, especially when margins are tight. Still, the upside is legitimate Google reviews, increased online visibility, and social proof on Google Maps that helps you compete long-term.

Expectations (So You Don’t Get Discouraged) and the One Follow-Up Rule

With character references, expect a handful of quick reviews and more after one follow-up. Don’t go beyond that.

With discounted jobs, understand that some customers won’t leave reviews even if they said they would. That’s part of collecting customer reviews at scale.

“One thing you might want to note is that without incentivization and without being clear about what you need upfront, you can expect about 15% of people to leave a review online at the most.”

Timely requests and clear communication increase your odds, but no strategy guarantees 100 percent participation.

Pick Your Starting Move and Get Your First 30 Reviews on the Board

Both strategies work when applied correctly. Strategy #1 builds reviews through organization and character references. Strategy #2 builds volume through discounted services and clear expectations.

The next step is to put a system in place so reviews don’t rely on memory. For help with review automation or a broader digital marketing strategy, you can visit our contact page or book a time on my calendar. We’ll help you build a system that supports lead generation, quality leads, and long-term growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a brand-new home service company get Google reviews without many jobs?

Yes, a brand-new home service company can still get Google reviews even with low job volume. When you don’t have many completed services, character reference reviews help fill the gap. These reviews come from people who know your professionalism, work ethic, and reliability. They support your online reputation and help your Google Business Profile look legitimate to potential customers. As long as you’re not misrepresenting work, this is an acceptable way to start collecting customer reviews. It helps new home service providers build early social proof.

Is it allowed to ask friends and family to leave a Google review for a new business?

Yes, it’s allowed to ask friends and family to leave reviews if the feedback is honest and accurate. The key is that the review should not describe a service that didn’t happen. Instead, it should focus on professionalism, communication, and reliability. These types of positive testimonials help your business page build trust. Google cares more about honesty than who wrote the review. This approach helps many home service businesses get enough reviews early on.

What should a character reference Google review say for a home service owner?

A character reference review should focus on what it’s like to work with you professionally. This includes communication, timeliness, attention to detail, and providing exceptional service. Reviews might mention that you explain things clearly or are easy to work with. 

These details help potential customers understand the positive experience they can expect. Even without job-specific details, these reviews still influence online visibility. They also help showcase reviews that build confidence early.

How many people should I reach out to when I’m trying to get my first reviews?

A good starting point is reaching out to at least 50 people. Not everyone will respond, and not everyone will leave a review right away. Some will leave one review immediately, while others may need a follow-up email or follow-up call. This volume gives you a realistic chance of getting enough reviews to look credible. Most home service companies see better results when they track review requests. Organization makes collecting customer reviews much easier.

How do I ask for reviews in local Facebook groups or Nextdoor without sounding spammy?

The key is being clear and upfront. Let people know you’re a new home service business and that you’re offering discounted services to build reviews. Explain that reviews will be left on your Google Business Profile or review page. Transparency helps avoid negative feedback or bad reviews later. Limit the offer so it doesn’t feel desperate or ongoing. This approach helps local businesses attract more customers while protecting their reputation.

How can Digital Harvest help a new home service business get more reviews faster?

Digital Harvest helps new home service businesses get reviews by setting up a simple, ethical review process. We help you organize review requests, improve your Google Business Profile, and avoid common mistakes that slow early momentum. 

You can reach our team by calling (505) 365-1545 or by filling out the contact form on our website. The focus is on building credibility and traction the right way.