Do We Really Need This?

Hello home service operators,

Every month, I go through all recurring expenses in my business and ask one simple question: do we really need this?

There are three possible answers:

• Yes

• No

• Can we negotiate it down?

This habit has saved my business thousands upon thousands of dollars. I’m confident it can do the same for yours.

Check out these resources before we talk more about recurring expenses…

• Bring your calls, texts, and contacts together in one AI-powered shared space (at a 20% discount)

• Don’t forget to watch my “30 Day Double Your Profit” series

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• Here’s how 60k+ businesses manage their calls and texts in one central location

• ServiceTitan announced a series of new AI-powered products and features at its Pantheon 2025 event

• We’re still filling the final spots for our $0–5M and $5–10M OAO Pro peer groups

Handoff Lead Gen to the Pros

There’s nothing wrong with generating leads in-house, but there’s something you need to know: if you want to scale, you need outside assistance. Trust me, I learned it the hard way.

There’s no shortage of external tools, resources, and agencies that can help you generate more leads. But they’re not all created equal.

My suggestion is simple: contact Service Scalers.

Not only are they good at what they do, but they truly care about their customers. They want you to reach your goals and help you do that through:

• PPC & Local Service Ads: Get high-quality leads every week, not random clicks.

• SEO that scales: Grow your presence and attract the right customers.

• Lead audits: Save money by cutting out wasted spend on junk leads.

If you’re ready to get started (or just want to learn more), reach out to Service Scalers today. Mention my name and you’ll receive one month free on any 12-month contract.

Ruthlessly Cut Recurring Expenses

How much money are you wasting on recurring services?

Most companies don’t know, because no one tracks or questions them. These costs pile up quietly, eating margin month after month.

The way to fix it is simple: make the process so inconvenient that fewer of them ever get approved.

Make It Painful on Purpose

If you have a long list of recurring services, that’s already a problem.

The first step is to create a report that tracks all of them. And here’s the trick: it should feel annoying to put together. That inconvenience is intentional. The harder the process, the less likely you are to add even more recurring services to the pile.

The frustration works as a filter. Every time someone thinks about adding a new subscription, they know it will show up in that report. That alone cuts down the noise. By designing the process to be painful, you create natural resistance and reduce waste.

Review Relentlessly

Once you’ve built your list and tied each service to a vendor card, review them constantly. Monthly reviews should be the baseline, and for services that bill more frequently, you may need to check in even more often.

These reviews aren’t just about tracking the expense. They’re about asking hard questions:

• Is this tool still useful?

• Does anyone actually rely on it?

One of the best ways to find out is to cancel the card linked to the service and see if anyone notices. If no one complains, it wasn’t worth keeping. That kind of testing helps cut through excuses and reveals what is truly necessary.

Renegotiate Constantly

There is no such thing as renegotiating too often. In fact, renegotiation should be part of your routine. Every time you look at a recurring expense, ask if the price can come down. Vendors are often willing to cut deals, but only if you push.

And here’s the part many owners miss: renegotiating can be fun.

Business doesn’t give you many chances to be hard-nosed without consequences, but this is one of them. It’s one of the rare times you can push aggressively, knowing that your position is strong. Every discount, every reduced rate, drops straight to your bottom line.

Assign Budget Owners

Recurring costs should not be easy to approve. That’s why assigning budget owners is so effective. Give department heads direct responsibility for the recurring costs in their areas. Then make the approval process as inconvenient as possible.

The more painful it is to add a new recurring service, the less likely your team is to treat it casually. Ownership creates accountability. And when leaders know their name is tied to a cost, they will think twice before signing off.

Over time, this pressure builds a culture of discipline around spending.

Reinvest the Savings

Cutting recurring costs only matters if you use the savings wisely. The best place to reinvest is in your people. High-profit companies can put money back into their teams, which makes the company even more profitable in the long run.

Here’s one way to do it: when a budget owner trims costs, reward them. Share part of the savings as a bonus. That recognition keeps leaders motivated to keep cutting. It also sends a clear message: money saved isn’t just about profit for the company, it directly benefits the people who make the cuts possible.

The Lesson

Recurring expenses add up fast. By making the process intentionally inconvenient, reviewing and renegotiating often, and giving budget owners full accountability, you build a system that naturally cuts costs.

A Big Reputation for Promoting Your Reputation

You’re good at what you do and you want everyone to know it. There’s no shame in that and there are many ways to spread the word.

Big Reputation was built on the premise that it should be simple to collect customer reviews on autopilot. As you do so, your online reputation grows and you’re no longer overshadowed by competitors. You become the go-to home service provider in your area.

Book a demo below and Big Reputation will waive your setup cost and give you one month free.

Recurring expenses are (probably) cutting into your bottom line. It’s time to take action.

👊 John

Disclosure: Some of the content and links in this newsletter are sponsored or affiliate links, which means we may receive payment or earn a commission if you click through or purchase. However, all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

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