Are Home Services Conferences Worth It in 2026?

Why you're better off spending your conference money on more marketing and employees

Will Schmidt - January 14, 2025

Home Services Conference Article Summary

99% of home service companies no longer need to go to home services conferences. You can find your new vendors online, and should spend your money on local events and sponsorships. This article will dive deeper into why it's not a great investment, and what to expect if you're a new business and never attended a conference.

Why So Many Companies Still Go (But Shouldn’t )

Conferences are ROI based, not an "experience"

The primary goal of attending a conference should be to gain an ROI within 3-9 months if not faster. Here are the 7 steps we've used and tell our customers to use/do every time they consider a "conference" or "convention."

1. Get the vendor list
2. Find out the attendee list
3. Create a target list, and each target has an earning potential.
4. Calculate the total possible earning potential for attending
5. (Total possible earnings x 10%)
6. Calculate the total costs for attending.
7. Subtract possible earnings from the cost of attending.

Vendors benefit the most from Conferences

Vendors



Conferences are packed with vendors showcasing their latest offerings. The goal is evident from marketing agencies to software providers: sell, sell, sell. While you might discover helpful tools, don’t expect to walk away with new customers or leads. Homeowners and end clients aren’t the ones attending these events.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Conferences can be a goldmine if you’re in the market to buy or sell a business. They offer the chance to meet owners, begin initial talks for LOIs, and explore opportunities for vertical growth. But keep your guard up—it’s easy to get swept away by sales pitches disguised as partnership opportunities.

Everyone Claims to Be an Expert—But Are They?

The quality of presentations varies wildly. Some speakers are engaging but lack substance. Others are packed with valuable insights but are as entertaining as watching paint dry. The rare gem—a presentation that’s both informative and engaging—can be a game-changer, providing actionable strategies that drive real growth. The big truth is that every person on stage has a company that sells something, that they want you to buy, and don't get me started on the books or self-help gurus...

The only reasons to attend a Confernece

Buying a Competitor

Conferences are a great place to evaluate smaller businesses for acquisition. Meeting the owner in person can help you gauge whether they’d be willing to stay during a transition, which can be critical for a smooth handoff.

Learning About Parallel Industries

Expanding your services is easier when you understand related industries. Roofers can learn about gutters, plumbers about HVAC, and metal roofing professionals about siding or gutter guards. The cross-pollination of ideas can open up new revenue streams and growth opportunities.

Finding a Vertical Business to Acquire

If you want to grow fast, acquiring a business in a related field might be your ticket. Conferences provide a unique opportunity to meet owners face-to-face and discuss potential deals casually.

Harsh Truths about Conferences

Most Knowledge Is Free Online

Many of the insights shared at conferences can be found on YouTube or industry blogs. If you’re resourceful, you might save yourself the hefty price tag. If you are looking to buy or partner with another company, there's Google and Bing and websites, and a phone call. However, if you do your due diligence and find out that many possible targets for acquisition or selling could be attending, you better send out an initial email or call to let them know you're attending and that you'd like to meet up first. Do the work, set the plan, execute.

The Costs Add Up

Attending a conference isn’t cheap. The expenses can quickly spiral out of control between travel, hotel stays, admissions tickets, meals, and optional activities like golf outings. With tickets ranging from $500 to $1500, hotels the same, and then dinners, you could be shelling out $3,000 to $10,000 in both expenses and time lost from managing your business.

Alternatives to Attending Conferences

Sponsor Local Events

Rather than traveling to a conference far outside your service area, consider investing in sponsorships for local fairs, rodeos, or community events. These opportunities provide direct exposure to homeowners and local businesses within your market. By aligning your brand with popular local happenings, you can build trust, generate leads, and establish stronger connections with your community—all without the hefty price tag of out-of-area conferences.

Our Local Example: We can tell you that the River Festival and Rodeo here in Sparks/Reno... we see window companies, gutter guard companies, HVAC, and others giving free estimates, bids, and book appointments while increasing their branding and awareness with a small booth. Plus they get to partake in some local BBQ and other delicious foods.

Invest in Marketing

Instead of dropping thousands on a conference, consider using that money to boost your marketing efforts. A well-executed campaign can deliver more direct results. Our marketing ranges from $999 to $4,999 per month for service areas of 15-100 miles and we deliver 50-100 leads a month. If you close 20-30% of those leads, how much monthly revenues would that be?

Reward Your Team and Increase Retention and Production

Instead of investing in "conferences", why not build out referral bonuses, company wide bonuses based on the number of days worked without injury, pay for a person's certification in something. Literally anything invested back in your people is usually a better ROI because they stay longer and you don't have to pay for the time and money to replace the.

Build Local Relationships

Use the budget to host dinners or networking events with parallel industry owners in your area. These smaller, more focused gatherings can lead to partnerships and referrals without the distractions of a large conference. It can also give you a sense of who may want to sell their company or buy yours in the near future.

Conclusion: Are they worth it?

Home services conferences aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. They’re great for networking, learning, and exploring mergers but not ideal for customer acquisition or businesses on tight budgets. Weigh the costs and benefits carefully. Sometimes, the most brilliant move is skipping the big event and investing those resources into your team, marketing, or local events. After all, the best ROI comes from strategies that directly align with your business goals.

Enjoy these 3 Plumbing articles picked just for you!

Full Contractor Branding Guide

Full Contractor Content Marketing Guide

100 of the Best Plumbing Jokes on the Internet