Every December, people struggle to find a useful gift for parents who need help around the house, friends who just bought a home or a busy couple with no time for chores. A gift certificate for a gutter cleaning, a handyman visit or a deep cleaning solves that problem. For the contractor, it brings cash in December, when many jobs slow down, and puts a new customer in front of you in January.
In this article
Package services people understand
Do not sell a vague dollar amount only. Create simple, named packages that make sense as a gift:
- handyman hour pack: two or three hours for small repairs;
- gutter cleaning: one visit for a standard home;
- deep cleaning or window cleaning: one visit, size of home stated;
- dryer vent or HVAC tune-up: a seasonal service with a clear price.
A dollar-value certificate can still be offered for people who want to choose.
Pricing and bonus offers
Keep the gift at your normal price and add a bonus for the buyer: buy a $200 certificate and get a $25 certificate for yourself. The bonus moves people to buy and brings a second customer to your calendar.
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Who buys them
- adult children buying for parents who live alone;
- real estate agents gifting new homeowners;
- companies buying for employees or clients;
- your own past customers buying for family and neighbors.
Promote it in December
- email and text your past customers in the first week of December;
- add a "Gift certificates" button to your website and Google Business Profile;
- post on Facebook and Nextdoor with a clear deadline for delivery before Christmas;
- offer real estate agents a bulk price for closing gifts.
Make delivery easy
Send a printable PDF and an email version the same day the buyer pays. Use a nice design with your logo, the service, a unique certificate number and how to book. Last-minute buyers love an instant gift.
Redemption rules
Write the service area, what is included, how to book and whether the certificate can be used for a larger job. Track every certificate number in a simple spreadsheet or your field service software, with the buyer, the recipient and the status.
Turn recipients into customers
When the recipient books, treat them like a VIP. At the end of the visit, the technician points out other needs, offers a maintenance plan and asks for a review.
An example
A handyman company in North Carolina sold three gift packages from December 1 to December 23 and added a $25 bonus certificate for buyers. It sold 74 certificates worth $13,900. By March, 61 had been redeemed, and 22 recipients had booked a second paid job.
Common mistakes
Selling only dollar amounts, printed expiration dates that break state rules, no tracking, slow delivery of the certificate, recipients who cannot book easily and no follow-up after the first visit.
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Frequently asked questions
Do gift certificates for services expire?
It depends on your state. Federal rules and many state laws limit expiration dates and fees on gift cards and gift certificates, and some states do not allow them to expire at all. Check your state's rules before printing an expiration date, and write clear redemption terms instead, such as service area and how to book.