How to Get Your First 10 Customers for a New Service Business (2026)

General information only. This guide isn’t legal advice. Marketing and privacy rules depend on what you send, to whom and how, so check your own situation with the official sources linked here.

The first 10 customers are the hardest. You have no reviews, no word of mouth and no idea yet which marketing actually works. You don’t need a big budget to get them. You need a few channels done properly, and an easy way for people to say yes.

1. Make it easy to say yes

Before you tell anyone about your business, fix the moment they decide. If the only way to book is calling while you’re on a job, many people won’t leave a message. Give them:

• One booking link that shows your services, prices and real free times, and works on a phone.
• A clear service menu. Three to six services with honest prices beats a long list of “call for a quote”.
• Proof you’re real: your name, your ABN, photos of your own work and your contact details.

Put the link everywhere: your Instagram bio, your Facebook page, your Google profile, your email signature and your business card. Here’s how to add a Book now button to Instagram and Google.

2. Start with the people you already know

Your first customers are often friends, family, former colleagues and neighbours, or people they recommend. Post about your launch on your own social media and ask people to share it. Tell people in person what you do and who it’s for: “I’ve started a dog grooming business that comes to you” is easier to pass on than “I’ve started a business”.

3. Set up your Google Business Profile

When someone searches for your service plus their suburb, the map results are where local service businesses get found. Set up a Google Business Profile, choose the right category, add your services, photos and hours, and add your booking link. If you work from home or travel to customers, you can hide your address and show a service area instead: see Google Business Profile without a shopfront.

4. Show up where locals ask for recommendations

• Local community groups online, where people ask “can anyone recommend a cleaner?” Follow each group’s rules on business posts, and answer helpfully rather than spamming links.
• Noticeboards at local shops, gyms and community centres, with a QR code to your booking page.
• Letterbox flyers in the streets where you most want to work. Keep it simple: what you do, an honest starting price and how to book.

5. Team up with businesses that serve the same customers

Some of the best early customers come from businesses whose customers also need you. A few examples:

• Cleaners: property managers and real estate agents (end-of-lease cleans), removalists and Airbnb hosts.
• Mobile detailers and car washes: car yards, mechanics and businesses with work vehicles.
• Hair, beauty and nails: bridal shops, wedding planners, photographers and gyms.
• Tradies and handypeople: property managers, real estate agents and strata managers.

Introduce yourself in person with a short card that has your booking link, and make the arrangement simple: you look after their customers well, and they keep recommending you.

6. Make a fair first-customer offer (if you want one)

A launch offer can give people a reason to try you, such as a set price for a first clean or a free add-on on the first visit. Keep it honest and simple: state exactly what’s included, who it’s for and when it ends. Don’t make the “usual” price look higher than it really is. business.gov.au’s marketing guidance links to the legal rules for advertising, competitions and direct marketing.

7. Ask every customer for a review

Reviews are the proof you don’t have yet. Ask every customer, not just the happy ones, and make it easy with a direct link or QR code from your Google profile (Google: create a review link or QR code). The rules:

• Never offer anything for a Google review. Google says offering free or discounted goods or services in exchange for reviews is strictly prohibited (Google: get more reviews).
• No fake reviews. The ACCC says it’s against the law to create fake or misleading reviews or arrange for others to, including reviews from family or staff that don’t disclose the connection (ACCC: online reviews).
• Don’t hide the bad ones. The ACCC says suppressing or removing genuine negative reviews can mislead consumers. Reply politely instead.

8. Ask for referrals

A happy customer telling a friend is still one of the best ways a service business grows. Ask directly at the end of a job: “If you know anyone who needs this, I’d really appreciate the referral.” Leave a card with your booking link, so it’s easy to pass on. If you offer a reward for referrals, put the terms in writing so there are no surprises.

9. Turn first-timers into regulars

Ten one-off customers aren’t a business; ten regulars are. At the end of each job, suggest when the next one would make sense, and invite them to book it there and then from your booking page. A short thank-you afterwards, with your booking link, keeps you front of mind. If you want to send marketing emails or texts later, get their consent first and keep a record of it.

10. Track where each customer came from

Ask every new customer how they found you, and write it down. After 10 customers you’ll know which channel works for your business, and you can spend your time there. Look after the details customers give you: even if your business is under the Privacy Act’s $3 million small business turnover threshold, some businesses are covered regardless, such as health service providers (OAIC: small business).

How do I get my first customers with no money?

Most of this costs time rather than money: your own network, a free Google Business Profile, community groups, partnerships and asking for reviews and referrals. The paid items worth considering early are business cards or flyers and a simple way to take bookings. Our booking software cost guide compares what booking systems really cost.

See how online booking works for cleaning businesses, salons and barbers and car washes and detailers, or try the live booking demo. Starting a cleaning business? Read how to start a cleaning business in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources checked on 19 October 2026. Rules change; confirm current details on the linked pages.