The contractors who are crushing it now are not just surviving, they are thriving by welcoming change and staying ahead of the curve. If you want to run with the best asphalt contractors instead of chasing them, this guide will show you, with super specific advice, exactly how to ride the wave and take your asphalt business from good to legendary. Let us get started.

Start Here First

Trends come and go. You do not need to chase every trend, but you do need to know what they are and keep up with the ones that matter. When it comes to running your asphalt business, hard work is still the name of the game if you want to grow into the best asphalt company in your service area. The number of calls you make, proposals you send out, and follow ups you do every day will make or break your success. That is it.

There is no magic here, just dedication. The top dogs in this industry are thriving by putting in the effort, and there is nothing stopping you from doing the same. The owners who stay consistent with the basics are the ones who eventually get talked about as the best asphalt company in town. Look yourself in the mirror every night and ask yourself if you did enough today.

If you do that, that is most of the battle. With that being said, let us get onto some expert tips to help you boost your leads and leave your competition in the dust in 2026. Use them daily and you will start to move into the same lane as the best asphalt contractors in your market, step by step.

Know Your Numbers — Seriously

Cold calling might not be glamorous, but it really is all about the numbers if you want to be the best asphalt company instead of just another bidder. It is simple: the more calls you make, the higher your chances of landing sales.

An equation we like to use is:

For every prospecting call you make, 30% will ask for a quote (RFQ, or Request for Quote).

For every RFQ, 20% will go through with the service.

So, with that in mind, take a look at these scenarios:

Request For Quote conversion rate

So, if you want 3 new sales a week, 50 calls a week, or 10 calls a day is the work you need to do. No ifs, buts, or maybes. If you want new clients, put in the work by making 10 prospecting calls a day, just like the best asphalt company owner in your city would.

From there, knowing your numbers helps you set clear sales goals, the same way the best asphalt contractors do. For instance, to hit $50,000 in revenue, you could either make:

  • 1,667 calls for $500 jobs, or
  • 17 calls for $50,000 jobs.

It is simple math, and the more calls you make, the more opportunities you create. If you contact prospects that have larger jobs, that is more revenue per job to make life way easier. The best asphalt contractors make a habit of tracking these numbers so they do not guess about growth.

To sum it up, work smarter, not harder. Focus on calling high value targets every single day if your goal is to be seen as the best asphalt company in your market.

Tech Up or Get Left Behind

In 2026, you do not need to waste time by meeting face to face to close deals for your asphalt business. Get stuck into technology to save time and boost productivity so you can operate more like the best asphalt company in your region.

For example, you can use simple video notes to pitch your services and make your proposals stand out. It can be as simple as this example:

Judd Burdon - Asphalt Kingdom and Leigh Kuhn - RynoWorx

 

Listen to Leigh Kuhn, President of RynoWorx, on why this works:

Judd Burdon and Leigh Conference Thumbnail

 

Tools you will need:

  • Video Conferencing: Zoom, GoToMeeting, or Skype for virtual meetings and recordings.
  • Proposal Tools: AK Dash for creating, tracking, and closing professional proposals.
  • CRM: AK Dash's CRM for customer tracking and proposal management specific to asphalt businesses.

These days, it is a simple equation. Be part of the digital world or risk falling behind the best asphalt company competitors in your region. Leading with technology will set you apart and help you look and perform like the best asphalt contractors your clients have ever hired.

The Asphalt Maintenance Sales Process Step-By-Step

Okay, onto how to get that revenue pipeline flowing. Here is the sales process at a glance:

sales-process

Easier said than done, right. Okay, let us break all of this down step by step to get you rolling like the best asphalt company on the block.

1. Hunt for Prospects 

We get it, picking up the phone for the first time is nerve wracking.

But try and think of it this way. The person on the other end of the phone does not know, or care, who you are. If they say no, they will forget about the call five minutes later. Just do your best to put on a character who is the most confident version of yourself, and who does not care if the person says no. It might sound dumb, but we promise, it works.

To help you a bit more with the details, here’s a cold calling script you can use. Personalize it for your own style so it does not sound forced. Your Mom was right, just be yourself.

Now here is the kicker to make it really easy, and this is where the best asphalt contractors really stand out. If you are with AK Dash, you can offer your prospects a free professional evaluation using our exclusive Pavement Assessment feature. By assessing their pavement and giving it a PASER scale rating, you can show you are a pro who is looking out for them right from the start. This free gift gets your foot in the door and shows your value as their go to pavement expert.

During the assessment, you will point out any urgent repairs and maintenance needs. Think of it as a health report for their pavement. You get to tell your clients exactly what their pavement needs and prove you have the goods to be their go to contractor. That is the kind of trust the best asphalt contractors build every day.

Sell this hard — it works!

 

Prospecting Commercial Properties

Who should you call to offer your sealcoating or line striping services. Start with facility managers or property owners of busy, year round establishments like:

  • Distribution centers
  • Supermarkets
  • Hospitals
  • Airports
  • Delivery companies (for example Amazon or grocery stores)
  • Restaurants, fast food chains, and event locations
  • Schools, especially during winter and summer breaks

These clients need their parking lots safe, protected, and looking fresh since they are constantly in use. If you want your name to come up when they talk about the best asphalt company they have worked with, you need to be on their radar before there is an emergency.

Prospecting Consumer Properties

Next, look at residential prospects:

  • Start with people you know: family, friends, neighbors.
  • Ask for referrals from previous clients.
  • Cold call neighborhoods after completing a few jobs.
  • Contact realtors about properties going on the market.

Using these methods, you’ll connect with the right people and make a lasting impression to land new business.

2. Turning Leads into Gold

Generating and managing leads properly is crucial for turning prospects into paying customers. Normally this bit takes a lot of time, but with AK Dash you can do it quickly while actually boosting your professionalism. Here is how to handle your leads like a pro and move closer to running the best asphalt company in your area:

leads

  1. Track and Qualify Leads:
    • Enter your leads into AK Dash.
    • Qualify each lead as cold, medium, or hot, based on how eager they are to do business based on your pavement assessment.
  2. Engage and Follow Up:
  3. Use Technology:
    • Do not worry about manually measuring each site. AK Dash has built in, HD satellite imaging so you can just drag and drop to measure the site down to the last square foot. Those images are automatically put into your proposal to make it look super slick.
    • Take photos of specific problem areas of the site, and AK Dash will automatically upload them to your proposal.
  4. Personalize Your Approach:
    • Record video messages for your leads and include these in your proposals for a personal touch.
    • Schedule virtual meetings to review proposals and address any questions.
  5. Close the Deal:
    • Ask for the close during your meeting. Do not be shy.
    • Use AK Dash's digital signing feature to finalize agreements.

 

By following these steps, you will gently coax your leads toward a sale and boost your chances of converting them into loyal customers for that long term revenue, just like the best asphalt contractors in your region. The best asphalt contractors treat this like a system instead of a guessing game.

3. Seal the Deal

Your lead is ready to move forward, which is awesome. Here is how to seal the deal:

  1. Finalize Everything:
    • Make sure the customer signs off on your proposal, and you counter sign it. Mark the proposal as Won in AK Dash, which feels good every time.
  2. Set Up the Job:
    • Use AK Dash’s Scheduling App Feature to schedule service dates. Do not forget to remind the customer to clear the parking lot or job site.
    • AK Dash’s Scheduling App Feature can also create detailed work orders for your crew, so everyone knows what to do.
  3. Complete the Project:
    • Execute the job carefully and cleanly, as you always do.
    • Get the customer's approval for the job, and then send an invoice. That is how you create a smooth experience that people expect from the best asphalt company in town.

4. Grow Without the Pains

Once you have completed your first few jobs, it is time to scale up and act like the best asphalt company even if you are still small. Follow up with your customers to get business reviews and testimonials. Do not worry too much about asking. Happy clients are usually willing to help you out.

If they are okay with it, record their testimonials via Zoom and use them on your website and social media. Do not forget to ask for referrals. Happy customers can introduce you to new prospects, helping you expand your reach without the growing pains. The more you ask for reviews and testimonials, the more momentum you will get with easy new business. This is exactly how the best asphalt contractors build strong reputations without spending a fortune on ads.

5. Keep the Wheels Rolling

Keeping your clients happy and loyal is key to growing your business and staying on top as the best asphalt company in your local market. Whether they are commercial or residential customers, staying on their radar helps to make sure they come back and recommend you to others. Here is how to keep those relationships strong:

  • Thank You Cards: Send handwritten thank you notes to show your appreciation.
  • Video Messages: Shoot a quick video message to check in and see how they are doing.
  • Holiday Wishes: Reach out during holidays to wish them well and keep in touch.

Oh, and if you want to put this stuff on autopilot, AK Dash’s Workflow Email Automations Feature will send your clients thank you notes, holiday greetings, and even educational worksheets automatically. It is powerful leverage if you want to run the best asphalt company without burning out.

Yes, Artificial Intelligence Is Helpful, Even for Asphalters

Believe it or not, AI is not just for tech people or the best asphalt contractors who already have big teams. If you use it properly, it can be a serious game changer for your asphalt business. Tools like ChatGPT can make your marketing and sales efforts more efficient. It is not scary or hard to use at all. You just tell it what you want to do.

It can be a game changer for your asphalt business if you lean into it the same way the best asphalt contractors are starting to do. Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can make your marketing and sales efforts more efficient. Here is how:

  • Create Content: Type in "Create a one year editorial calendar for my asphalt business" and see what happens.
  • Job Listings: Planning to hire. Type in "Create a job listing for a vacant position in my asphalting business."
  • Marketing: Type in "Write a marketing page for my asphalting website about ADA compliance services for businesses."

If it does not come out exactly how you want it the first time, just give it some extra information until it nails it.

The more you mess around with it, the better you will get, and you will be able to write content whenever you need it. The whole idea is to save you time and money whenever possible, so spend five minutes after you read this article and think about how AI tools could help you grow into the best asphalt company in your city.

Where to Next With AK Dash

We have laid out the steps to thrive in the asphalt business in 2026. From tracking your numbers to using tech to lift your game, you know what to do. All you have to do is put in the work. Follow up with clients, ask for referrals, and keep improving. Of course, it is going to be harder if you do not have AK Dash in place, but there is an easy fix for that.

Why not try out AK Dash for free? Find out for yourself how it can transform your business. Sign up today and see how easy it is to track leads and create professional proposals that win contracts and boost your revenue. From there, you have the tools to build a real legacy your family will be proud of. That is the mindset that turns a small operation into the best asphalt company in the region.

FAQs

1. How can asphalt contractors use technology to improve their business in 2026?

Use video conferencing tools like Zoom for virtual meetings, AK Dash for creating professional proposals, and asphalt specific CRM systems like AK Dash to manage client interactions and boost productivity. This kind of tech stack is one of the big differences between an average outfit and the best asphalt contractors in any market.

2. What are some ways to generate and manage leads in the asphalt industry?

Track leads with AK Dash’s CRM, engage on social media, use AK Dash’s Proposal Generator Engine for quotes, and follow up with personalized video messages. If you keep that system running consistently, you will stay in front of prospects and build the kind of reputation people expect from the best asphalt company in their area.

3. How can AI tools like ChatGPT help asphalt contractors?

AI tools like ChatGPT can create marketing content, job listings, and editorial calendars, saving time and making your marketing and sales efforts more efficient. The best asphalt contractors use these tools to get more done without adding more people to the payroll.

4. What is a PASER scale rating, and why is it useful?

A PASER scale rating assesses pavement conditions, helping contractors provide accurate maintenance recommendations and build trust with clients. If you want to be seen as the best asphalt company for long term pavement care, you need simple tools like this that make your recommendations clear.

5. How can offering free pavement assessments help win more business?

Free pavement assessments showcase your expertise, build trust with potential clients, and set the stage for future sales. They are also a simple way to position yourself as one of the best asphalt contractors local property owners can call when they need help.