#16 most asked· 3× cited on Reddit· Recurring service, retention & referrals
Last year's customers, booked again on autopilot
Twelve months after the job, an automatic SMS asks if it's time for the annual service. One tap and it's booked.
By Daniel Hall · Automation builder at Made 4 Tradies
Recurring revenue is the easiest revenue a tradie has, and the one most never get around to setting up. This automation watches the calendar for you: exactly 12 months after a hot water unit, aircon or gas appliance was last serviced, it texts the customer a friendly reminder with a one-tap booking link. They pick a time that suits, it lands in your diary, and they get a day-before reminder. No list to keep, no calls to make, no jobs slipping through the cracks. The customer keeps their warranty intact and you turn a one-off visit into a yearly booking, the same playbook that has owners reporting strong follow-up rates from simple retention nudges.
See it in action
The flow, end to end
What your customer sees
The job it does
Turns last year's customers into this year's bookings
Recurring revenue is the easiest revenue you have — and the one most tradies never get around to setting up.
Reported in the wild
41%
of contacts scheduled a follow-up service by Day 90 in one owner's retention program. Reported on Reddit — your real rate depends on your customer mix.
Why the reminder lands
An annual service runs around $250versus an $80 DIY filter — figures debated by HVAC owners in the cited threads. Booked on autopilot, that's revenue you never had to chase.
How it works
Trigger → actions → outcome
- 1
Trigger
It hits 12 months since a customer's last hot water or aircon service, so the system flags them automatically.
- 2
Action 1
An SMS goes out: time for the annual check-up to keep the unit under warranty, with a one-tap booking link.
- 3
Action 2
The customer taps a time that suits and the job drops straight into your diary, no phone call needed.
- 4
Action 3
A reminder goes out the day before so they don't forget and you don't get a no-show.
- 5
Outcome
A one-off visit becomes a yearly booking, and the recurring revenue you'd normally forget to chase runs itself.
What this means for your business
The numbers behind it
41%
Scheduled a follow-up
Reported by one owner by Day 90, depends on your mix
~$250
Typical annual service
Figure debated by HVAC owners in cited threads
12 months
Hands-off trigger
Fires on its own from the last service date
Questions
Common questions
- What does the "Annual service reminder" automation do?
- 12 months after the original job → automatic SMS 'time for your annual service' with a one-tap booking link.
- Why would a tradie business want this?
- Recurring revenue is the easiest revenue tradies have, and the one they never get around to setting up.
- How many Reddit threads asked for this?
- 3 verified Reddit threads cite this automation, sourced from trade-owner subreddits.
The evidence
3 verified Reddit threads
Every quote is traceable to a real Reddit thread. Click any source to read the original tradies asking for this.
- r/Plumbing
'Why don't you plumbers do annual water heater/service inspections?'
- r/hvacadvice
$250 annual service vs $80 DIY filter — debate on annual servicing requirement.
- r/growmybusiness
'73% responded positively to the Day 30 call' and '41% scheduled follow-up services by Day 90.'
More in Recurring service, retention & referrals
Related automations
Dormant-customer reactivation campaign
Customer hasn't booked in 18 months → automatic 'we'd love to see you again, here's $50 off' SMS / email.
See the demo →Referral request with tracking link
After a job completes: 'Mate who needs this done? Forward this link, you both get $50 off.'
See the demo →Want this in your business?
Tell us a bit about your setup and we'll come back with a quote and a build plan. Usually within 24 hours.
Get this built →Built only after a scoping chat. No surprise invoices.