Tool
Speed-to-lead calculator
By Umair Nawaz, founder of Lirevon Updated How we test tools
How fast you reply to a new lead decides how many of them you win. Enter how fast you reply today, how many leads you get and your own guess of how many you would win with a 5-minute reply. See the difference in jobs and dollars each month.
Related: Speed to lead · Missed-call text-back · Missed calls guide · For owner-operators.
Extra jobs a month
–
Revenue gap a month
–
Revenue gap a year
–
Estimate only, built on your own guesses. Revenue is not profit. The real gap depends on your area, your prices and the kind of work.
How the math works
Leads = web leads + missed calls. Jobs now = leads × your win rate now. Jobs at 5 minutes = leads × your 5-minute win rate. Extra jobs = the difference. Revenue gap a month = extra jobs × job value. A year = the month × 12.
Why speed matters, in plain words
- People reach out when the problem is in front of them: a limb on the roof, a tree leaning over the house. That is when they decide who to hire.
- If nobody answers, the next tree company is one tap away on the same Google page.
- The first company to reply gets the first estimate visit, and many homeowners book the first company that shows up and seems fair.
- A late reply often reaches someone who has already booked. "Thanks, we found someone" is a lead you paid for and lost.
- Most callers do not leave a voicemail, so a missed call with no reply can be a lead you never even hear about.
Questions people ask
Where do the 15% and 35% defaults come from?
They are placeholders, not research. Replace them with your own guesses. Think about the last 20 leads you replied to late and the last 20 you replied to fast, and how many of each you won.
Why does reply speed matter so much?
When a tree is down or leaning, the homeowner wants it handled now. If you do not reply, they call the next company on Google. The first company that answers often books the estimate, and the others never get the chance.
What counts as a reply?
A real message or call back that moves the job forward: a question about the tree, a time for the estimate, or a booking link. An automatic "we got your message" alone helps less than a reply that asks what they need.
I am up a tree all day. How can I reply in 5 minutes?
Not by hand. A missed-call text-back replies within 30 seconds and asks what they need. An AI receptionist can answer the call, take the address and book the estimate, then send you a summary.
Do missed calls count as leads?
Yes. A missed call is a customer who tried to reach you. Most do not leave a voicemail, so unless something replies, you may never know who they were.
Should I count every lead or only good ones?
Count the leads you would want: people in your area asking for work you do. Leave out spam and calls about things you do not offer.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. The calculator runs in your browser and saves your numbers on this device only.
How do I find my real reply time?
Check the time stamps on your last 20 web form emails and missed calls, and the time you first replied to each. The average of those gaps is your reply time. The free audit can check your after-hours response for you.
How fast should a tree company reply to a new lead?
As fast as you can. A homeowner with a tree problem often contacts more than one company. A missed-call text-back replies within 30 seconds, even when the crew is up a tree. There is no fixed rule, so use the calculator to compare your own numbers.
What is speed to lead?
It is the time between a customer reaching out and your first real reply. Faster replies give you the first chance to book the estimate. About 27% of calls to home-service businesses go unanswered, and under 3% of those callers leave a voicemail (Invoca).
Related free tools
- Text-back script builder: the missed-call text and follow-up, filled in with your details.
- Hiring cost calculator: an office person vs text-back and an AI receptionist.