The problem
Winter work for contractors, such as ditching, fencing, hedge laying and yard scraping, is quoted to farmers who are busy and slow to reply. A contractor sending 15 quotes a month from October to March who never chases them loses work to whoever rings back first. If 2 more of those 15 a month were accepted after a nudge, at $1,596£1,200€1,428A$2,304C$2,256 for a ditching or fencing job, that's $3,192£2,400€2,856A$4,608C$4,512 of work a month.
What the AI does
Tradify's Pro plan lists quote and invoice reminders, described as quotes and invoices that chase themselves for approval and payment, and quote options with online acceptance so customers can choose extras. Send every quote from Tradify, with options where the farmer has a choice, such as the roadside hedges or not, and turn on reminders. The page doesn't give the reminder timings, so set them in the app's settings. You hear back when the farmer accepts online or replies.
A worked example
A one-person contractor in Devon with a hedge cutter, a digger and a post knocker sends about 15 quotes a month from October to March, averaging $1,596£1,200€1,428A$2,304C$2,256 mostly for ditching, fencing and hedge laying.
Before
Quotes chased only when remembered, with about 4 of 15 accepted
After
Every quote chased automatically, with an assumed 2 more accepted a month, worth $3,192£2,400€2,856A$4,608C$4,512
What it's worth
About $958£720€857A$1,382C$1,354 a month in profit through the winter, at an assumed 30% margin on $3,192£2,400€2,856A$4,608C$4,512 of extra work (2 more quotes accepted at $1,596£1,200€1,428A$2,304C$2,256). That is against $49£37€44A$71C$70 a month for Tradify Pro for one user. The 2 extra wins are an assumption, so compare your acceptance rate before and after.
How to set it up
- Start the 14-day free trial and set up your quote template with your rates and terms.
- Send every quote from Tradify, with options where the farmer has choices.
- Turn on quote reminders and set the timing in the app's settings.
- Edit the reminder wording so it sounds like you: short and to the point.
- When a quote is accepted, book it into the scheduler straight away and tell the farmer roughly when.
What goes wrong
- Reminders only chase quotes sent from Tradify. A price given at the farm gate or by text won't be chased.
- Farmers who are chased too often stop answering. Keep reminders modest.
- Weather and ground conditions decide when winter work happens; say so in the quote.
- Pro is per user, so a second person on the account doubles the cost.