How do you turn down work?

[climbingmonkey24]

For those of you who are more niche-focused or perhaps it’s just not something you want to bid, how do you go about relaying that to a customer in a friendly and professional way?

For me, most of the jobs I might decline to bid are larger removals. I might say something along the lines of the project being beyond the scope of the services I provide, thank them for having me out to their property, and in some cases maybe give them the name of another company that might be able to better assist.

Pretty much every situation I’ve been in like this the customer is appreciate of me checking out the tree, being honest, and making a referral if I do. Still, it does give me some anxiety about having to decline to bid but it’s certainly better than getting in over your head.

 

[ATH]

(specifically removals) "I appreciate being your first call! However, this isn't what we do best and we try to focus on those things. Here are a couple of companies I recommend."

Those companies know I am passing their name out and they also refer work to me. One is newer and maybe does a little less volume. One is older and does a lot more volume. I know they will treat customers well.

I just got a call this morning about a broken branch still hung up in the tree over their service drop. I don't have a helper available today and next week is pretty booked. I offered to run over today to tie it into the tree...but she sent pics and that's not gonna work...if it finishes breaking, it will swing into the line. Looking at the pics, not something I wanna climb anyhow so I referred them to one of the aforementioned.