Asphalt Sealing Company Business Strategy Guide

Asphalt sealing might feel like a way to escape office life, and in many ways it is. But if you want your asphalt sealing company to stand out from the cowboys in the industry, you still need solid business habits and basic professionalism.

In any trade, perception is reality, and an asphalt sealing company is no exception. That means your truck or trailer should be clean, and you and your crew should be dressed in a neat, professional way. The way you show up affects your sales, your closing ratios, and the price you can confidently charge for every driveway or parking lot.

Most of your early work will come from cold outreach. You might drive through neighborhoods and stop door to door, or you might make calls to line up estimates. However you do it, practice your presentation and develop a simple script so you sound confident and consistent.

There is nothing more effective than being visible on a bright sunny day, talking one-on-one with property owners while you already have a job in progress on their street. Once one driveway is taped off, it is much easier to knock on the next door and show results instead of promises.

Service basics that separate pros from everyone else

1. Appointments - When you book a time and date, be there. Your customer has a full day of other commitments. Showing up on time tells them they picked the right contractor.
2. Prompt service - When the customer says yes, do everything you can to complete the job on the agreed date. If weather or emergencies cause delays, call them early and make a new plan. People are forgiving when you communicate in advance. They are not forgiving when they are left waiting.
3. Any Time, Any Day - Asphalt and sealcoating work depends on weather. When the forecast is good, make hay while the sun shines. Seal on Saturdays, Sundays, or evenings if that is what it takes to keep your schedule full.
4. Repeat Business – Collect full contact information for every customer, including name, phone, email, and address. This is your future marketing list. With a simple customer relationship management system, you can pre-book maintenance work years in advance and grow the value of your asphalt sealing company.

Use quality asphalt and sealcoating products 
The sealer you spray or squeegee on a driveway has a long-term impact on both results and reputation, especially when you want to look like a professional asphalt sealcoating service. During your estimates, explain why you work with higher quality products and what that means for the customer: better appearance, improved durability, and a longer life span for their pavement. Quality products make it easier for an asphalt sealing company to stand behind every job.

Using Asphalt Kingdom products means you can confidently talk about proven performance. When clients understand that you are not the cheapest option because you are protecting their pavement investment, it becomes much easier to justify your price.

Launching a new asphalt sealing company does not have to be complicated, but you do need a simple plan for finding your first customers. When you treat it like a real asphalt sealing company from day one, everything else becomes easier and you can position yourself as a professional asphalt sealcoating service in your market.

Starting with sealcoating marketing basics

Begin with people who already know, like, and trust you. Let friends and family know that you now offer a professional asphalt sealcoating service. They will often be happy to give you your first jobs, and if you treat their driveways like showcase projects, they will talk about you to neighbors and co-workers.

From there, build a basic marketing system around four pillars.

1. People You Know. Start with your warm circle. These early jobs help you build photos, reviews, and confidence.
2. Word of Mouth. Word of mouth is still the strongest and cheapest way to grow. Ask happy customers if they know anyone on the street who might also need sealcoating.
3. Fliers. Fliers work best when you target tight areas. Include a short list of services, a simple offer, and a clear call to schedule a free estimate. A limited-time savings coupon is a proven way to get the phone to ring.
4. Follow-up Service. In spring, reach out to last year’s customers with a tune-up special. Offer to fix any winter damage from snow removal and keep their driveway looking sharp.
   

Starting with sealcoating sales basics

Knowing how to apply sealer is half the battle. The other half is learning to sell yourself so the work keeps coming. A professional asphalt sealcoating service uses a simple repeatable sales process. With the right habits, your asphalt sealing company can stay busy all season.

Here are five core pieces of your sales strategy:

1. Qualify Your Customer: Look for properties that clearly need maintenance instead of trying to convince people who already have fresh blacktop or new sealer.
2. Be Disarming: When you knock on doors, smile, stand back from the entrance, and be respectful so people feel safe opening the door.
3. Sales Tools: Have a clipboard or tablet for notes, and keep before and after photos ready to show your work.
4. Closing The Sale: Do not leave without suggesting a next step, whether that is booking the job or setting a follow up call.
5. Hire A Sales Team: Once you are busy on the sprayer, consider having someone else out selling so your asphalt sealing company never runs out of work.

We will dig deeper into these sales steps later in this guide.

For the best possible start, consider taking the Driveway Sealcoating Kickstart Course. This video course walks you through the exact steps you need to go from zero to a profitable season.

Here is what you get when you enroll in the Driveway Sealcoating Kickstart Course:

1. Expert guidance. Learn from pros with more than 30 years of sealcoating experience.
2. Extensive content. Watch over 3 hours of video that covers everything from prep to final application.
3. Practical tips and tricks. Discover small adjustments that help you work faster and cleaner on every job.
4. Financial benefits. Learn realistic pricing and production strategies so you can aim for $1,000 or more per day in revenue.
5. Bonus downloads. Use templates and checklists to standardize how your professional asphalt sealcoating service operates.
6. Lifetime access. Revisit modules whenever you need a refresher before the new season.
7. Tax deduction. Talk to your accountant about treating training as a tax-deductible business expense.

By investing in training early, you shorten the learning curve and build confidence in both your technical skills and your ability to sell.

The saying that you have to spend money to make money is true, but you can also save a lot if you spend smartly. Here are three areas where a new asphalt sealing company can tighten up expenses without cutting quality.

Understand your finances

Every country and state has its own tax rules, and ignoring them can cost you a fortune. A good accountant is often worth far more than their fee. You can also take a basic course during the off-season to understand common deductions available to a contracting business. When you understand your numbers, you protect the future of your asphalt sealing company.

Two common examples:

• Home based office. If you run your operation from home, a portion of your utilities, property taxes, and even some repairs can be deductible. Keep receipts and talk to your tax professional.

• Multi use vehicle. If your truck is used for both personal and business driving, track miles carefully. You might be entitled to a higher write off than the default percentage the tax agency assumes.

Spend more to save more on sealer and equipment

Sealer is your most used supply. It is also one of your biggest costs and your best profit center. The way you buy and handle sealer can make a big difference to your bottom line.

• Bulk rate pricing. Good suppliers discount asphalt sealer when you buy in quantity. That puts more money in your pocket over the season.
• Larger storage tanks. Fewer trips to the plant means less time and fuel wasted. A larger tank on site keeps your crew working instead of driving.
• Equipment that saves time. In this trade, time is money. With the right equipment, you can complete more jobs each week, which is critical for a growing asphalt sealing company.

Consider upgrading your spray system when maintenance costs and downtime start to climb. Accessories such as a high quality ball valve spray gun or better filters often pay for themselves in a few weeks of faster, cleaner production.

Qualifying your customer: who needs your help?

The first step in marketing is knowing who you are looking for. If a driveway was just sealed last season, that is not a good lead. A better focus is newer neighborhoods where the asphalt is one to three years old. These owners have a big investment in their driveway and often do not realize how important preventive maintenance is.

A professional asphalt sealcoating service uses simple tools to spot good prospects:

• On rainy days, notice which driveways no longer bead water. That is a sign it is time to seal.
• Use Google Earth to scan an area before you drive it so your canvassing is efficient.
• When you finish a job, look around. Neighbors can see your results in real time, which makes them more open to a quick estimate.

Approach every door as if a new parent is home alone with a baby. Be respectful, stand back from the door, and wear something that clearly shows your company name and logo. Then follow a simple pattern.

• Compliment the property. You are about to point out neglected asphalt, so start by noticing something positive like flowers, windows, or a tidy yard.
• Respect their space. If your hands are dirty from work, do not reach for a handshake or touch the doorbell directly. Tap the bell with a pen and explain that you have been working.
• Use nearby work as proof. Mention the address where you are working that day. For example, “You may have noticed the Smiths down the street had their driveway sealed. That is our work.”
• Get to the point. After a short introduction, explain clearly what you do and what you are offering that day.

For a live demo of this style, watch the door to door sales video from Asphalt Kingdom president Judd Burdon in the original article.

When you are on a sales call for your asphalt sealing company, you need to be ready to do three things:

1. Capture contact information and schedule appointments.
2. Provide your business details so people can check you out later.
3. Show proof of your work with photos or videos.

An iPad or tablet makes this easy. You can pull up pictures, collect information, and even send quotes from the driveway.

You should still carry printed materials such as fliers or business cards. A simple binder with before and after photos still works well if you do not want to use a tablet.

Tips for your sales tools:

• Put phone number, email, and web address on every flier and card. A website is a really good idea so people can see more of your work and reviews.
• When you book an appointment, record both address and phone number in case weather forces a reschedule. Set a yearly reminder so you remember to follow up for future maintenance.
• Show a variety of services. Include photos of crack filling, patching, and striping if you offer them, not just sealcoating.