FOUND: A Guide to The Most Profitable Service Industry Niches

This should be tagged as “Dangerously Powerful”

At the bottom of this article is a download
containing detailed per-lead pricing for hundreds of industries.

When trying to create niche websites, research is very important. You need to ask the following questions:

• What are the most profitable industries?
• How much can I make or should I charge per lead/sale?
• What keywords should I focus on?

ServiceMagic.com has done all the work for you.

Service Magic provides cost per lead data on virtually all home services-related industries and some others including pet sitting ($10/lead), photo portraits ($12/lead), wedding DJ ($12/lead).

How do I use this information?

• If you are a SEO or web designer that wants to know how much a lead is worth to a customer, here is your answer.
  • You can now more accurately calculate SEO ROI vs. other marketing methods (SEO looks damn affordable compared to ServiceMagic!)
• If you want to create a local home services directory website, this information will tell you:
  1. What industries should I target
  2. How much is a lead worth to my customers
• If you are looking for a niche in home services, this information will tell you where the most money is, and what markets may have low competition (instead of trying to rank for “[location] construction,” you can now try to rank for “[location] garage construction”
• Domainers (people who buy domains and sell them) can use this information for acquiring the most valuable domains

The most profitable service industries

The Master List: All services with price per lead greater than $50

Service Magic has two different pricing structures. The numbers shown are the less expensive program, which involves pre-paid accounts (“Premier Pro”). The pay-as-you-go option is far more expensive (10-35%, an average of ~25% more per lead). This is called Lead Select. Keep in mind that the numbers shown may be 1/3 more than shown.

• Roofing, Siding & Gutters

  • Roofing – Install or Replacement  – $55/$66
    (Same price for Asphalt Shingle, Flat, Foam, Single Ply, Metal, Natural Slate, Traditional Tile, Wood Shake or Composite)

  • Siding

    • Exterior Painting or Staining: Liquid (Spray-On) Siding – Apply – $55/$66
    • Concrete, Brick & Stone: Brick or Stone Siding – Install – $50/$60
    • Vinyl Siding – Install or Replace – $55
    • Wood or Fiber-Cement Siding – Install – $55

• Senior Housing

  • Nursing Home – Medicare/Medicaid – $65
  • Nursing Home – Private Pay – $65

• Additions, Remodels & Renovations – Construction

  • Additions, Building Outbuildings & Structures

    • Addition to Existing Structure – Build – $50/$60
    • Garage – Build – $50/$60
    • Greenhouse – Build – $50/$60

  • Remodels & Renovations

    • Bathroom – Remodel – $50/$60
    • Kitchen – Remodel – $50/$60
    • Pool Enclosure – Build – $50
    • Shelter or Outbuilding – Build – $50
    • Major Renovation – Multiple Rooms – $50/$60
    • Remodel to Accommodate a Disability – $50/$60
    • Disability Elevator or Chair Lift – Install – $50/$60

  • Site preparation

    • Building Site – Preparation and Clearing – $50/$60
    • Demolition – $33/$50
  • Roofing: Roofing – Install or Replacement

  • Recovery Services – Disaster

    • Major Home Repairs (General Contractor) – $50
    • Recovery Service – Earthquake Damage – $50

• Architects, Builders, Designers & Other Professionals

  • Builders & General Contractors
    Custom Home, Log Home, Newly Constructed Home – New Community,  Newly Constructed Home – Older Community – $55
    Modular Home – $50
  • Engineer – Soil – $50

• Heating & Cooling

  • Air Conditioning & Cooling: Central A/C – Install – $42/$51
  • Central Heating System: Central Heating System – Install or Replace – $42/$51
  • Heat Pump – Install or Replace – $42/$51

• Windows & Doors

  • New Windows – Multiple – $42/$51

• Electrical, Telephone & Wiring

  • Electrical for Additions & Remodels – Install – $50/$60
  • Home Automation System – Install / Service – $50
  • Building Automation System – Install / Service – $60
  • Audio/Visual System – Install – $60
  • Generator – Install – $33/$50
  • Solar Panels/Electric System – Install – $42/$51

• Plumbing

  • Faucents, Fixtures & Pipes: Plumbing for Additions & Remodels – Install – $50/$60
  • Septic System – Install or Replace – $33/$50
  • Boiler or Radiator Heating System – Install – $33/$50

• Painting & Staining

  • Exterior Home or Structure – Paint or Stain – $42/$51
  • Interior Home or Surfaces – Paint or Stain $36/$54
  • Specialty Painting: Faux Finishes, Mural or Trompe L’oeil, Textures – $36/$54

• Flooring

  • Hardwood: Hardwood Wood Flooring Install or Replace – $38/$57
  • Tile: Stone (Granite, Marble, Slate, etc) – Install – $33/$50
  • Laminate & Vinyl: Simulated Wood or Stone Laminate – Install – $33/$50

• Carpentry & Cabinets

  • Wood Fence – Install  – $33/$50
  • Carpentry Framing – Install – $50

And the most expensive lead is?

With a per-lead price of $80/lead, real estate developers top the list.

Download the PDFs Here:

ServiceMagic Rate Schedules (289 KB)

How are you going to use this data? Do you think this information is worth what this article says it is?