When Mike started his handyman business in Greenwood, he had zero customers—and zero Google reviews. Every time he'd search for his own company name, nothing came up. Not a single star. A neighbor in Irvington told him straight up: "I'd hire you, but I want to see at least a few reviews before I let someone work on my house." That hit hard. Mike knew he did solid work—he'd fixed a dozen leaky faucets and patched more drywall than he could count—but without those little gold stars, folks just scrolled on past.
If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Figuring out how to get first google reviews new business feels like trying to start a fire with wet sticks. But it doesn't have to be a struggle. Here's the exact, everyday-English playbook Indianapolis service businesses—HVAC, roofing, landscaping, cleaning, you name it—use to collect their first 10 Google reviews without bending any rules.
Claim Your Google Business Profile Like You Own It
Before you ask for a single review, you need a profile that looks real. Not some half-baked listing with an old address from your cousin’s basement. A complete, verified Google Business Profile (that's the thing that shows up when people search). Start by claiming yours if you haven't already. Fill in every field: your business name exactly as it appears on your van, a local Indy phone number, your actual service area—maybe "Indianapolis, Fishers, Carmel, Greenwood" not "all of Indiana." Pick the right category (say, "Handyman" not "Construction Company"). Upload 10 to 12 real photos: your work van parked on a quiet Meridian-Kessler street, a before-and-after of gutter cleaning outside a classic Broad Ripple bungalow, or a neatly repaired deck in a Zionsville backyard. No stock images. People can smell fake photos a mile away.
This profile is your digital storefront. If it’s messy, nobody’s going to want to leave a review—let alone hire you. I've seen guys skip this step and then wonder why their review link goes nowhere. Don't be that guy.
Make Leaving a Review So Ridiculously Easy They Can't Say No
Here's a thing most new business owners miss: nobody owes you a review. You have to make it so stupid-simple they can do it while waiting for their coffee to cool. Google gives you a direct review link—find it in your Business Profile dashboard or use a google review link generator online. That link, when tapped, opens right to the review pop-up. No typing, no searching. Two taps and they're writing.
Then, put that link everywhere. Print it on a little card you leave on the counter after a job (think: a clean envelope on a porch table in Irvington). Add it as a QR code on your invoices—people in Indy love a quick scan while standing in their driveway. Stitch it into your email signature. And the big one: send it as a text. Here in Indianapolis, homeowners often prefer a short text over a phone call. After you finish a job in Fountain Square, shoot them a message before you even pack up your tools: "Thanks for letting us fix that leak! If you've got a sec, here's a quick link to leave a review—takes less than a minute: [your link]."
I’ve seen a landscaper in Fishers double his review count just by sticking a QR code on the back of his business card. High-tech? Not really. Effective? Yep.
The First-10 Review Sprint: A No-Nagging Sequence
Alright, you're ready to start gathering. Instead of randomly pestering people, run a quick sprint. For each job you complete, follow this timeline:
- At the handoff: Ask in person, casual-like. "If you thought we did a good job, we'd love an honest review. Here's a card with the link." Don't ask for 5 stars—Google's rules are clear, you can't incentivize or only ask for positive reviews. Just ask for their genuine feedback.
- Within an hour: Send a text. Make it warm, not robotic. "Hey, hope the new AC is cooling things down! If you have a moment, your review helps a local business out: [link]"
- The next morning: Shoot an email. Same friendly tone, maybe a photo of the finished work (a gleaming kitchen in a Carmel ranch house).
- 7 days later: A gentle nudge. "Hey, I know life gets busy. If you haven't had a chance to leave a review yet, no pressure—just wanted to circle back. Have a great weekend!"
Some people will worry: "Is this review gating?" Nope. Review gating is when you filter customers—only sending the link to happy ones. That's against Google's review policy. Send the link to every customer you serve, and let the chips fall. If you're doing good work, most will be positive.
Here's a story: a roofer in Indianapolis after a heavy spring storm—those wind-blown shingle jobs in Broad Ripple—used this exact sequence and got 8 reviews in 10 days. One even mentioned "quick response after the storm" which helped him show up when people searched for emergency roof repair. Those kind of review details are gold.
When That First Review (Maybe Not Great) Lands
You'll get a notification. Maybe it's 5 stars and a glowing comment about how you saved their basement from flooding in Meridian-Kessler. Or maybe it's 3 stars and a complaint about showing up 15 minutes late. Either way, respond. Fast. Within 24 to 48 hours, type out a reply that's human.
For the good one: "Thanks, Sarah! Glad we got that sump pump working before the next big rain. It was a tricky job in that tight crawlspace, but we're happy to help." Notice how I dropped the neighborhood and job detail? That signals to Google (and future customers) that you're real and local.
For the not-so-good: "We appreciate your feedback, and we're sorry we ran late. Please reach out to us directly at [phone] so we can make this right." Then, after you do fix the issue, you can politely ask if they'd consider updating their review. No begging. Just a follow-up once things are sorted.
A small HVAC company in Carmel had their first review be a 2-star because of a miscommunication about a filter size. They responded, fixed it, and the customer changed it to 4 stars a week later. That actually boosted their credibility more than if they'd only had perfect reviews. People trust a mix.
Set It and (Mostly) Forget It
Once you've got your first 10 reviews, don't stop. But you don't need to be a review-chasing hound either. This is where a little automation saves your sanity. If you're using any kind of job management software or CRM, set it up to trigger a review request the moment you mark a job complete. You can even plug in a tool like Zapier to send texts automatically. (We've got a whole post on automation tools for small businesses if you're curious.)
The goal isn't just 10 reviews. It's a steady trickle. Why? Because Google's algorithm notices when a business consistently gets reviews over time. That helps you pop up in the local pack—you know, the top 3 results with the map? That's where you want to be when someone searches "plumber near me" from their kitchen in Irvington.
And don't worry if you're seasonal. An air conditioning guy will see a surge in July and a dip in January. That's normal. Lean into your busy months, ask a little more, and coast during the slow times. Just keep your Google Business Profile updated with fresh photos and maybe a post about winter maintenance tips (and yes, we can help with that too).
Show Off What You've Earned
Finally, don't hide those reviews. Grab a quote from a happy customer and stick it on your website's homepage. Share a review on your Google Business Profile as a post. If you've got before-and-after photos—like a driveway power wash in a Greenwood suburb or a deck stain in a Zionsville backyard—pair them with a line from the review: "Ed was amazed how clean the siding looked after just one day." That kind of stuff turns lookers into bookers.
Just remember: no fake reviews, no paying for reviews, no reviewing yourself from your mom's phone. Google's smarter than you think, and getting flagged early can tank your profile before you even start.
One more thing—you might be wondering, "How many reviews do I need to actually make a difference?" Once you hit 10, you're past the scary blank-slate part. But even 5 can get the ball rolling. The important thing is to keep going and respond to all of them.
So there you have it. Mike from Greenwood? He's now at 27 reviews and turning down work because he's booked solid. His neighbor in Irvington? They ended up hiring him after reading a review that mentioned "on time, clean, and even played fetch with my dog." That's the power of a real review from a real person.
If setting all this up sounds like one more thing on a long list, let's talk. SmallOP helps Indy service businesses build review systems that work without feeling salesy or spammy. Hit us up for a no-pressure chat at /#quote, and we'll walk through a plan that fits your business—whether you're just getting started or trying to climb out of the zero-review hole.
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