How to Start an Online Home Service App in 2021: A Beginner’s Guide

Doesn’t it feel annoying when the shower suddenly breaks down in your washroom? Or what happens when during a hot summer day, the air conditioner suddenly doesn’t work? By default, you will have to find help from your local electrician or plumber. Now getting a serviceman coming at an emergency notice is a very unreliable and often unsuccessful way. To solve these emergencies, many home service startups have come into existence. These handyman services are leveraging the on-demand economy and on-demand home services app development. Idea Usher brings you an interesting insight into how to start an online home service app.

The on-demand services’ arrival is replacing conventional businesses faster than we anticipated. Online services, when grouped with the apps, empower instant provisioning of services.

Urbanization has changed the way businesses perceive

Startups like UrbanClap, Zimmber, AtoZ Service have evolved in the past few years. It may seem like a noisy contest against a business model running efficiently for centuries.

An on-demand services survey by Burson-Marsteller suggests:

  86.5 million or 42% of Americans have accessed at least one of the on-demand services.

There is no doubt in these startups grabbing continuous investments. They are trying to obstruct every traditional business model they could. And transform it into the on-demand economy.

What is a Home Services App? And what is its Significance?

A home services provider app is essentially a platform that provides the facility of engaging with the customers to servicers. The usual workflow goes like this:

1. A Customer will raise the service request, and
2. Service providers will mention the service charges to the customers. 

And you act as an aggregator.

The business aggregator (i.e. mediator) plays a vital role in a home services app. A mediator coordinates the service people and trains them to work diligently in an organized system.

The on-demand service market is a huge one. 

Many small-scale vendors are a part of this Market, which further leads to a highly competing ecosystem. Service providers need to differentiate their services in a unique value proposition to sustain in this Market.

Why are home services apps popular in the USA and Europe?

Research performed by Transparency Market Research suggests that the home services market is fragmented into 

• North America,
• Latin America,
• Europe,
• The Asia Pacific,
• Middle East &
• Africa.

Among all of these regions, North America and Europe remain the top two locations that dominate the on-demand home services market. There are a variety of reasons supporting this. A major aspect is the ease of access to online products and services. The enhancement of technology and faster payment options add up to the cause.

• The rising demands of customers to get a variety of services offer blooming opportunities.
• Customers now want everything from food to medicines and now home services to be accessible at a few taps on their phones.
• It is now creating some lucrative chances for new companies to cater to these demands.
• The booming demand is so far a major element in serving the overall expansion of the market.
• The effortless access to products and services has boosted the technology to build a bridge between consumers’ needs and service providers. 
• Moreover, on-demand platforms are enabling customers to get high-quality services at a competitive price.
• As stated earlier, the increase in usage of smartphones is the major trigger leading to the acceptability of on-demand home services.

How to start an online home service app: which services to offer?

Whenever you read about how to start an online home service app, these are common denominators with regards to features. A large variety of services are available in a Home Services app. Some of them are On-Demand:

• Home Cleaning Service
• Laundry Service
• Plumbing Service
• Gardening Service
• Pest Control Service
• Pet Care Service
• Carpentry Service
• Electrical Appliance Repair Service
• Vehicle Repair Service
• Home Shifting Assistance
• Walls Painting Service

And many other home services. 

Which are the must-have Handyman App Features?

There are essentially two panels to any home services application like Urban Clap (Urban Company):

1. User Panel
2. Admin Panel

We will discuss both of these one by one.

#1 Features for Users in an On-Demand Home Services App

1. Registration and Login

Normal user signup takes less than a minute using the required credentials. Additionally, When the need for any of the services arises, a user can log in and ask for the required services. Pro tip: your app can make them log through their email or directly via social media profiles.

2. Advanced Search

A user can browse directly from the services list as per the required service and diverse preferences. As various home services exist, a home services app needs to incorporate this feature for filtering the service choices. 

3. Service Scheduling

This feature enables users to quickly schedule the timing for the service. Additionally, they can also opt to get a revisit, reschedule, or a cancellation request as per their requirements.

4. Services Tracking

Users can effortlessly track their service by integrating a GPS tracking component, which is accessible in the application. Moreover, say if the user asked for a plumber, they could monitor his live location. This will help the user track where he has reached. Hence, they can assess his arrival time and take decisions accordingly.

5. Rating and Review

This is a vital feature for modern applications. The hiring or purchasing decisions of upcoming customers will depend entirely on user reviews.

#2 Features for Admin in an On-Demand Home Services App

1. Dashboard

A dynamic dashboard offers the admin easy access to monitor various activities like the number of orders, transactions, canceled orders, and rescheduled orders.

2. Service List Creation and Management

Admin can establish the required service list. Moreover, they can easily manage them by adding or removing the offered services.

3. Verify Service Providers

Using this functionality, companies can effortlessly verify the service providers and organize their details.

4. Price Tagging

The admin has the option to integrate pricing with every service. Additionally, they can also mention the added costs.

5. Request Acceptance or Rejection

The request status feature enables the admin to accept or reject the order. They are free to act as per the obtainable vacancies.

6. Offers and Promos

Offering discounts, offers, or service promotions to customers makes them feel rewarded. Additionally, the customers become loyal when they are satisfied.

7. Manage Reviews

Admins have the power to manage customer feedbacks by review and rating features. They can alert service providers in cases of customer complaints. Or, in the case of declining performance of service provider.

8. Access Reports and Statistics

Admin possesses the power to track analytics and access business insights. They can simply view or download reports regularly as per requirements. There is a provision to access weekly, monthly reports.

9. Application Use Tutorial/ Customer Support

As an organization, you should offer tutorials about the usage of the application. Users should know how to request services and access offers through promo codes and vouchers.

More Features of an On-Demand Home Services App

1. Payment Gateway Integration

Every home services application must offer multiple payment choices like digital payments, credit cards, PayPal, cash on delivery to assist more customers.

2. Push Notifications

Another engaging feature is it reminds about offers, new services, provokes new deals. It is majorly used for discounts along with successful or failed payments.

3. Chat Support

This integration provides real-time communication between the users and the service providers. Users can receive answers to all their queries on time with this chat option in the app.

4. GPS Tracking

It is a highly looked upon functionality. It is engaging for users as they can monitor and track the orders with the live updates of their placed orders.

The 6 Steps guide on how to start an online home service app?

Step 1: Research the Market

A brief market survey should be the priority aspect before learning about how to start an online home service app. It is vital to study everything you do. Furthermore, you need to relate to the existing market offering. You may use this experience to cover a loophole in the solution to your problem and provide a fresh new, efficient solution.

A comprehensive market survey will assist in knowing about:

1. Who exactly are your contenders/competitors?
2. What is an optimal strategy?
3. Learn about contenders’ strengths and weaknesses?
4. What are their target customers asking for?
5. What is their unique selling point?

You should be able to solve issues raised by the audience. Moreover, double up your strategies and clearly identify your solution to the problem and the direction you follow while solving those loopholes. As of date, More than a million iPhone apps are accessible. You have this chance to make sure that yours is the chosen one.

Step 2: Pick one for your type of your App – Hybrid or Native?

A few functional aspects need to be selected in advance, so this is a vital decision. There are also suggestions for the potential growth and management for deciding between the natural, hybrid, or mobile app. For that reason, it is essential to optimize your market analysis. Moreover, learn about your key goal and capabilities so that you can make the right decision.

Native applications 

Native apps are optimal for heavily loaded applications. For instance, we can consider videos, images, and audios. However, web applications are still an optimal option for frequent quick upgrades, but if users do not wish to access the native functionality of the application.

Hybrid apps

They are optimal in both aspects: they utilize the same codes for the two platforms, get the functionalities of the device, and reside in both app stores. We can also rely on hybrid applications with most systems and aspects like efficiency, ease, and business applications.

Step 3: Plan Monetization Options

It is really unpredictable how big a role is played by an app in your organization. It is purely evident to generate money directly from your app, while others might be an asset for your public. Additionally, some apps are also aimed at the sales process indirectly and expand the productivity of your company.

Step 4: Business Plan Formation

Looking at the current competition, it is high time you should make more direct and clear plans- to launch a successful application. A planned strategy is a handsome start. It allows you to avoid unimportant costs or to save your capital.

The steps and tactics of your business plan may incorporate the core idea of your brand. Moreover, it is very hard to implement a plan from our experience at once. Still, you should do short-term planning, and it will help in preparing for bigger decisions.

The most vital thing is not leaving the core plan. One should always remember that software provider is, in any case, profitable and innovative. You can have a scalable and long-term approach should not waste time in decisions.

Step 5: Build Your Pre-Launch Strategy

Now, it all comes down to promotion and extension of your service. It is starting from branding to PR, pre-launch activities, outreach, and merely a general online presence. Additionally, any aspect that has a significant impact on your app’s success.

Now you might be wondering if it’s too early to plan about strategy before you start building. However, if you start spreading your product’s buzz before releasing it, your efforts will prove to be fruitful in the long term.

Step 6: Security Measures

At long last, if the app separates personal information from shoppers, you should have a privacy strategy. The technique should incorporate the information assembled and how it is taken care of. 

The advantage of taking this move so early is that you will set aside some effort to get the necessary lawful insight and get ready and implement security safety measures in an app. 

A portion of the central issue is the strength of the gadget, and you need to ensure that it is introduced early. The data of the customers is the main item, so you can ensure that you have frameworks set up to catch, administer, save, thus alleviate all conceivable wellbeing dangers. 

When you are traveling through these preparational steps, you are prepared for the fruitful conveyance and dispatch of your gadget development without disturbances!

Why can’t customers live without On-Demand Home Services Apps?

The On-demand home services app is a robust and scalable platform that delivers quality and convenient services at the user’s doorstep.

Therefore, if you are still wondering why a Home Services app like Urban Clap is important for your business, then our analysis will help you understand its vital benefits and make a better decision.

Enhance Visibility In the Market

At present, mobile applications act as a medium to attract customer’s attention and gradually surpass the traditional selling schemes. Visibility to your target customer helps you to create the right connections. On-demand apps for business help in expansion and also bestow commercial growth. 

Boost Direct Marketing

Mobile Apps offers direct marketing opportunities for current and potential customers. The apps like Urban Clap serve many functions like providing general information, rates, booking forms, user accounts, news feeds, search options, and more. The app notifications alert customers about discounts and upcoming promotional offers to boost sales.

Strengthen Brand Name

In today’s competitive world, it is of utmost importance to leverage opportunities to educate the target customer about your brand and build a powerful image of your brand. Mobile Apps will increase your brand’s recognition and also strengthen the venture’s Name as well as the Position in the Market.

Better Communication with Customers:

One of the prime advantages of the mobile application for business is the increased efficiency of communication channels. Customers can resolve their queries and issues via the app. This increases customer engagement.

How to make money with home services apps in 2021: 3 business models with case studies

1. Lead Generation Business Model

Customers gather cites from makers who have paid for their delivery with a lead-based model. A customer, for instance, can like a re-named rooftop. The site or aggregator set up an assortment of experts who apply for the arrangement that is accessible on the off chance that they are accessible, and shoppers will pick the statement they believe is ideal. 

They get an online show and a thought of industry elements and evaluating from a provider’s perspective. From a purchaser’s perspective, it is feasible to settle on a more good choice by gathering cites from many contending sellers. 

From the aggregator’s see, the customer base is progressively developing as the engineer isn’t answerable for cites. This huge customer base additionally empowers merchants and the number of providers alongside customers to join the organization. 

Case Study: Thumbtack

Thumbtack had fiddled with a membership and a transaction model prior to picking on the lead-based arrangement, quite possibly the most mainstream marks in the lead-based model approach. Thumbtack is as of now paid by experts to arrive at customers utilizing Thumbtack credits, and talented customers at that point submit cites. Administration providers are just payable on citations. Aside from work that they do or expected work for a similar customer with the exception of references, Thumbtack doesn’t charge any expense.

2. Commission-Based Business Model

The aggregator or specialist co-op available takes a segment of every sale that is paid by the organization under a transaction-based help model. All in all, the more sales you paid, the more benefits you got. These aides make your foundation versatile. 

This model is generally excellent for shoppers since customers pay just when anything is required. And sellers are utilized as it were, which brings down the beginning up costs with low benefits and dangers. This adds up to an ascent in supply and glory for the two makers and shoppers. 

Let’s consider TaskRabbit, as an illustration, is a company that started in Boston in 2008 as a need to fabricate a gathering for the individuals who required assistance and the individuals who needed to give their time for those services. In the course of recent years, TaskRabbit has moved from an idea to a business procuring in excess of $40 million with more than 2,000,000 dynamic customers and a huge number of merchants in 40 areas around the United States and abroad. Taken as an entirely possessed free IKEA auxiliary in 2017, TaskRabbit was authorized by the IKEA Company.

3. Subscription-Based Business Model

For works that don’t need an oddball charge like clothing or homegrown help, customers offer offices at their tact on a repeating premise while regularly paying for them. 

The incredible thing about a membership administration for a specialist organization is that the chances of keeping customers are awesome. Strategically pitching and promoting have an exceptionally high reach and sales assessment is essentially direct. 

From a customer’s perspective, this takes the dissatisfaction of constantly searching for and paying for utilities. Basically, the month-to-month bill for activity implies that the work is finished without trouble. It likewise brings down the cost of booking administration independently for customers. 

Alfred, a New York-based partnership, was granted prizes and more than $60 million in financing by Marcela Sapone and Jess Beck in 2014. A champ of the SF TechCrunch Disrupt 2014, Alfred has furnished individuals with the help that they once expected to accomplish something they didn’t have the opportunity to do. Hi, Alfred conveys home upkeep services and is pleased to clarify what about 50,000 requests ought to have been made, which would have taken around five years to accomplish in under eight months.

Team of professionals who can develop a home services mobile application

• App developers
• UI UX designers
• Project manager
• Tech architect
• Testing team and debugging team
• Dev ops team

How can Idea Usher help in kickstarting your business?

Idea Usher carries years of experience in building customized applications and especially in on-demand home services app development. We serve our clients with complete business solutions to align businesses to success. Get in touch with us at contact@ideausher to get free quotes.

Wrapping Up

On-Demand Home Services apps have the potential to uplift the traditional home services business.

There is an abundance of the scope of these on-demand apps in the market. The committed home services startups with professional and skilled personnel can repair and fix everything around your home in an efficient manner.

All that is required for your business is a home service app development company- that helps your business get more customers. We hope this guide on how to start an online home service app was helpful to you. 

The home service marketing niche is in the nascent stage. It is just the right time to launch your own home service company by developing a high-quality home service app right now!

FAQs

1. How to start an online home service app in 2021?

Firstly, you will have to begin by creating a business model. And then, to turn that idea into reality, you may create a home service app for it. Finally, you should market your app to reach more audiences.

2. How much time will it take to build my home services app?

If we talk about developing with core features of your home services app, it may take anywhere between 800 to 1,200 hours. 

3. What are the features of a home services app?

Your home services app will have three panels, namely: customer app, service partner app, and the admin panel. Each of them has its own set of unique features.

4. Can I customize my home services app the way I want?

That would be amazing! Your originality matters to us. You can add custom features such as same-day premium services, advanced scheduling of services, and much more.

5. Which platform should I choose for my home services app?

You’ll have the flexibility of choosing between native and hybrid apps and your app’s operating system, such as Android and iOS, or both. 

6. What is the cost of home services app development?

The average industry rate of a home services app from conception to launch is approximately $425,000. However, our packages are a lot more economical as we believe in scaling up startups.