How to Grow Your HVAC Business

Success is defined by achieving a goal. But sustainable success is continually improving to reach new and profitable milestones.

To secure sustainable success, you need to know how to grow an HVAC business. You need strategy, guidance, and proven tactics that work—and don't break the bank.

This quick-start guide has you covered.

First, we'll explain why you need to grow your business. Then, we'll touch on optimized marketing and ongoing services that boost customer retention.

We'll explore how technology can help you streamline operations and how to form mutually beneficial partnerships with local businesses.

We'll discuss how you can leverage your existing customers to attract new ones. Finally, to conclude, we'll give you four steps to take today to get moving.

The next evolution of your business is just around the corner. Learn how to grow an HVAC business and shoot for the stars!

The Need for Expansion in a Competitive Market

The HVAC industry is extremely competitive. The barriers to entry are low. This means many new companies pop up and fight for their local market share.

In response, you have two options:

Hope that your existing customers will stick with you and continue business as usual.
Adapt, evolve, and make growth your goal.

The first option will leave you stagnant. The best possible outcome is more of the same.

The more likely outcome is you'll be overtaken by your competitors. You'll miss out on opportunities to nurture loyal relationships with your customers.

The second option will see your business reach new heights. You'll expand your customer base and increase your revenue. You'll invest in new innovations, build your skills, and create a legacy to be proud of in your community.

That's why expansion is so important in the HVAC world.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: How to Scale Your HVAC Business

Optimize Your HVAC Marketing Strategy

Growth doesn't happen by accident. It's about shaping an intentional and informed strategy. It's about using data to tweak and optimize your approach.

Here are some ways you can leverage digital marketing channels to attract customers and boost brand awareness:

Learn Local SEO Basics

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a process that aims to increase your business's visibility in search results. When someone Googles "best HVAC company," you come up.

Local SEO is similar. But it aims to help you rank highly for location-related keywords. So, instead of the example above, you might add this keyword to your website: "best HVAC company in [Your City]."

Claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile is also essential.

Choose High ROI Channels

The marketing strategy that works for one company might fall flat for another. It's not one-size-fits-all. So, choose just two or three instead of spreading your resources across many channels.

For example, you might focus on email marketing and social media. Email marketing famously has the highest average return on investment (ROI)—$36 for every $1 spent.

Social media is a must-have for local businesses.

According to HubSpot:

As time goes on, younger generations will become a larger share of your client base. Meet them where they're at with a compelling, trust-inspiring social presence.

"While just 15% [of consumers] prefer social search over search engines, 29% of Gen Z and Millennials combined prefer social."

Try Paid Ads

Paid advertising delivers results—and quickly.

First, select the platform that works best for your business. Google Ads and Meta ads are both smart choices.

Then, create a target audience based on what your ideal customer looks like. What are their interests, age range, gender, location, income level?

Write a compelling ad. Imagine speaking directly to the audience you built. What would they want to hear?

Finally, set a budget. Start small and keep an eye on your results. Costs can rack up fast! If you've come up with an ad that works well, consider increasing your spend.

RELATED ARTICLE: 7 More HVAC Marketing Ideas

Enhance Customer Retention with Maintenance Plans

The goal of growing your HVAC company is to increase your revenue, right?

Expanding your customer base is one way to do this. Increasing your customer lifetime value (CLV) is another.

CLV is the average amount a customer spends with your business over the duration of your relationship. It goes without saying—the higher this figure is, the better.

You can increase your CLV by introducing service agreements and maintenance plans.

These services are ongoing. They lock in a steady income stream. Your cash flow becomes more reliable, which means you can plan ahead with confidence.

They also strengthen your relationships. Your clients become more engaged. You get to know them on a deeper level. And you have more opportunities to exceed their expectations.

You can build a strong connection so they'll call you if they need an HVAC service outside the scope of their service agreement or maintenance plan.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: 8 Tips for HVAC Customer Retention

Use Technology to Streamline Operations

HVAC management software, mobile apps, and automation tools can all deliver time-saving efficiencies. With less time spent on admin work, operational costs drop.

Cost-savings are just one benefit. Others include:

Fewer mistakes and less human error
More time to focus on growth-driving tasks like marketing
Improved customer communication thanks to automated messaging
Enhanced customer experience, as techs have all the information they need to do exceptional work
More data to inform smart decision-making
Customer insights you can use to personalize your services

Field service management software like Kickserv delivers these advantages and more. The all-in-one system helps you simplify operations, get paid faster, and book more jobs.

Partner with Other Local Businesses

Another way to grow your HVAC business is to form mutually beneficial partnerships with local businesses. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

Partner with a real estate agent. You can service all the properties on their books.
Join forces with builders. They can refer their clients to you.
Consider other contractors who offer complementary services to yours, like electricians. Approach them and suggest creating a referral program between the two of you. You can grow your client base, and they can grow theirs.

Leverage Your Existing HVAC Customers

Your existing HVAC customers can become your best growth marketers. Here's how:

Their reviews speak volumes. And you can bet your prospects are reading. A whopping 98% of people read online reviews for local businesses. Ask for reviews by sending a brief, friendly follow-up email. Add a link to your Google Business Profile to make it even easier.
Word of mouth works, so incentivize it with a referral program. Reward your customers for recommending your business to others. You might give them a discount on a future service or a gift card for every person they refer that becomes a paying customer.
Encourage your customers to share their experiences with your business on social media. You could even create your own hashtag!
Publish case studies on your website. Explain the problem at hand and how you overcame it. This gives your visitors a chance to see your expertise play out in a real scenario.

First Steps to Expanding Your HVAC Business

Take these steps today to kick-start your growth journey:

Add a location-specific keyword to your home page. Make sure it reads naturally. If you can, add it to your site's main heading (H1).
Decide whether ongoing services are right for you. Do you have the systems in place to offer them? If so, make it your mission to add them to your offerings.
Research software. Make your life easier with field management software like Kickserv. Do some investigating, read reviews, and request a live demo.
Work on your Google Business Profile. If you don't have one, claim your business now. Double-check to ensure the information is accurate. Consider publishing a new high-quality photo.