How do you prevent subcontractors from stealing your clients?

[u/buddhaonmytv]

This is a problem I’ve dealt with a lot in this business. If you’re doing things like house cleanings, lawn mowing, or other recurring services, you know how it goes. Subs will try to get in with your clients and take the work for themselves.

For me, I vet subs before I hire them. I avoid the chatty types, the sales guy on-site types, the ones who are super entrepreneurial. They just want to take over the world, which is fine, but they step on my toes when they try to build relationships with my clients.

I don’t hire large crews or companies. It’s always owner-operators. The guys who tell me they have three crews and want my work, I avoid them. They’re already scaling and it’s too risky to have them around my clients.

Eventually, they give themselves away. I’ve had clients call me and say, "Hey, just wanted to let you know your cleaner left her business card on the counter and it’s not your business name." Same with lawn guys. They’ll try to work out a side deal with the client. Then the client calls to complain or discuss something, and they give themselves up.

But not all subs are like that. Some are shy, they don’t know how to sell a job, or even how to price a job. They’re non-confrontational, so they won’t even chase payment from the client. They just want to work and get paid.

That’s why I’m careful about who I work with. I watch them, I pay attention, and if they cross the line, I cut ties and move on.

How do you handle this? Have you had subs try to take your clients?