Painters first, and it works the same for other trades.
Your past customers never hear from you again.
Growth plan · coming soon
We send friendly check-in campaigns to your past customers, timed for the next room, the exterior or the deck, so repeat work comes back to you.
Big companies outspend you on marketing.
Flat, predictable month-to-month pricing built for small shops. You get the same fast follow-up the big companies use, without a big-company budget.
Marketing feels like a gamble.
Start small with local campaigns on a test budget you set, plus the door hangers, QR stickers and yard signs in our Acorn Kit add-on. No long contracts, so your exposure stays low.
Follow-up only happens when you remember.
Automation for past and future clients: new leads get a reply and follow-up, and past clients get check-ins and review requests, all without you lifting a finger.
Scheduling eats your evenings.
An online booking calendar with automatic reminders, so customers pick an estimate time on their own and actually show up.
Inquiries come in, but they don't turn into jobs.
Missed calls get a text back in seconds and every inquiry gets a reply in under a minute, so you start the conversation before they call the next painter.
You're not ready for everything at once.
We grow on your timeframe. Start with the basics, then add reviews, reactivation or the Acorn Kit when you're ready.
You know reviews matter, but you never ask.
After every job, every customer gets an automatic request with one easy link to review you on Google and the other sites homeowners check.
No time to market while you're on the job.
The system answers, follows up and books while you're on the ladder. You check one inbox on your phone when you have a minute.
Some of your customers prefer Spanish.
Text replies and follow-ups can go out in English and Spanish, so every customer gets a clear answer.
Most contractors are excellent at their craft. The business side is what slips when you're on a job site all day.
"I've spent years working on renovation projects with homeowners and contractors, and I've seen it firsthand. The work is usually great. The communication and the paperwork are where it falls apart: calls that never get returned, homeowners left guessing, and real numbers that live in someone's head instead of on paper. That costs jobs, and it starts arguments that never needed to happen."
Jeff, founder of OakRoutes
1
Calls don't get returned.
What breaks: The phone rings mid-job, it goes to voicemail, and by evening the homeowner has booked someone else.
The fix: Every missed call gets a text back in seconds, 24/7, so the conversation starts while you're still working.
2
Nobody follows up.
What breaks: Estimates go out and then go quiet. New leads get one reply, if that.
The fix: Automatic follow-up on every new lead and every estimate you send, with friendly check-ins for about two weeks until they book or say no thanks.
3
Homeowners don't know when you're coming.
What breaks: The customer takes time off work and waits, with no word on when the crew will show.
The fix: One tap from the crew's phone sends an "On my way" text with an arrival window, using saved messages in the mobile app.
4
The homeowner can't see when the crew is on site.
What breaks: Customers wonder whether anyone showed up today, and for how long.
The fix: The crew taps check-in on arrival and check-out when they leave. The homeowner gets time-stamped texts, plus a daily job note with photos.
A simple check-in the homeowner can see. Not payroll timekeeping.
5
No cost breakdown or signed contract.
What breaks: The price lives in a text thread or a handshake, so nobody can point to what was actually agreed.
The fix: Itemized estimates with a clear scope of work, a contract the homeowner signs from their phone, and a deposit link in the same message.
6
No process for add-on work.
What breaks: "While you're here, can you also..." turns into free work, or a surprise on the final bill.
The fix: Written change orders. The extra work is priced (cost-plus or a fixed price), the homeowner approves and e-signs it before it starts, and it's added to the invoice.
Contracts protect both sides
Get it right at the beginning, not the end of the job.
For the homeowner
They see the real numbers and exactly what work will be done before anything starts, and any extras are in writing.
For you
You get paid for what was agreed and for every approved extra, with fewer disputes when the job wraps up.
OakRoutes sets up estimate, contract and change-order templates. We're not lawyers and this isn't legal advice. Have a North Carolina attorney review your contract before you use it.
Most shops lose money while they sleep and rush to finish so they can get to the next job. This keeps the business side running while you work.
One tool for the whole job
Catch the low-hanging acorns.
Most of the work you're losing isn't hard to win. It's the call nobody returned, the estimate nobody chased, the contract that took a week to send. Here's what that costs everyone involved, and how OakRoutes fixes it.
Get it right at the beginning, not the end of the job. On a lot of jobs, the first two weeks are chaos: phone tag, a fuzzy scope, no deposit, and a start date that keeps slipping. It doesn't have to go that way. Many homeowners are wary after broken promises, slow replies and slow turnarounds. So everything is set up front: a fast reply, a clear scope, a signed contract, a deposit, a schedule and updates along the way. Trust gets built at the start instead of argued about at the end.
For you
Jobs slip away while you're up on a ladder.
Every call and inquiry gets a reply in seconds, and estimates get followed up without you.
Homeowners back out after you've held the date, and cash flow swings week to week.
An optional deposit, flat or a percentage, paid the moment they sign. Signed plus deposit is a locked-in job, and locked-in jobs mean steady cash flow.
Chasing money at the end of the job.
Homeowners pay from a text link, and cash, check and Zelle get logged in the same place.
For your crew
Getting pulled off the job to answer the phone.
Calls and texts get answered for them, so they keep working.
Arguments about extra work on site.
The extra is priced and signed on the homeowner's phone before anyone starts it.
Showing up to a homeowner who had no idea when they'd arrive.
One tap sends an "On my way" text, and check-in texts handle the rest.
For your office
A phone that never stops, and leads that fall through the cracks.
Calls, texts and messages land in one shared inbox, and every lead is assigned to someone.
Juggling calendars and double-booked estimates.
Bookings are spread across your team fairly, with reminders sent automatically.
No easy way to train new people on calls.
Recorded calls to review together and learn from.
For your customer
Nervous after broken promises and slow contractors.
A fast reply and a clear written scope from day one.
Not sure what they're paying for or when you'll show up.
An itemized estimate, a signed contract, arrival texts and updates along the way.
Paying shouldn't be a hassle.
One tap to sign and pay from their phone, with a cash price if you offer one.
Lead comes in→Reply in seconds→Estimate booked→Itemized estimate→Sign & deposit→On my way→Change orders→Paid→Review
All automatic, in one place. You step in only when it needs you.
Time is money. We take your time back.
Homeowners move on to the next contractor when you're hard to reach or hard to say yes to. So every step is fast and easy for them: replies in seconds, one tap to sign and pay from their phone, and no printing, chasing or back-and-forth.
Waiting on checks and chasing invoices
Homeowners pay from a text link the day the work is done.
They can use a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and eligible customers can use PayPal or Venmo. Cash, check and Zelle payments get logged on the same invoice. Like cash? Show both prices side by side: "Card price $2,500. Pay by cash, check, Zelle or bank transfer: $2,425 (save 3%)."
Card, PayPal and Venmo processing fees apply, so those are billed at the card price. A cash price is a discount for paying cash, never a fee added for cards.
Calls nobody can pick up
Add-on · coming soon
An AI assistant can answer, handle common questions and book the estimate on your calendar, by phone or by text.
For after hours, roof days and dinner time. $197 a month with 500 minutes included, then 30¢ a minute. First 10 clients: $147 a month. Prefer a real person? We'll help you compare live answering services.
Plant the acorn. Watch it grow.
Most contractors finish the job and drive away, and the neighbors who watched the work never hear from them. Your next client is probably next door.
1
Before the jobDoor hangers go to the 10 to 20 nearest homes: "We're working at your neighbor's house next week."
2
During the jobYour job-site yard sign and truck magnets do the talking, with a QR code for a quick quote.
3
After the jobThe review request goes out, before and after photos get posted, and the homeowner is asked for a referral.
4
Follow-upNeighbors who scan a sign or hanger get a reply in seconds and follow-up on their own.
5
RepeatDo it on every job, and one house on a street turns into a cluster of jobs.
Almost nobody does this, and it's all set up for you with OakRoutes and the Acorn Kit.
Texts only go to people who've opted in. Neighbors you don't know get printed pieces, not texts.
Built for trades. We build the system once, perfect it, and roll it out trade by trade: painters first, then pressure washing, landscaping, roofing, remodelers and more. Each new trade starts from a setup we've already built and refined.
Automation that works while you work
Built for Raleigh-area painters and local service businesses.
Missed-call text-back
Can't pick up? Every missed call gets a friendly text within seconds, so the customer talks to you instead of calling the next painter on the list.
Speed-to-lead replies
Every new inquiry gets a reply in under a minute, 24/7, even nights and weekends.
Automatic quote follow-up
Sent an estimate? Friendly check-ins go out for about two weeks, so quotes don't go quiet.
Review requests
After every job, every customer gets one easy link to leave a review. How it works
Past-customer reactivation
Growth plan · coming soonReach out to past customers when it's time for the next room, the exterior, or the deck.
One inbox for everything
Calls, texts, Facebook, and Google messages, all in one place on your phone.
Before & after photos
We text a link to your crew or your customer. They tap it, snap photos with the phone camera or pick from the gallery, and mark each one Before or After. The photos land on that customer's job record and feed your social posts and review requests. Try the demo on your phone
Estimates, contracts & change orders
Itemized estimates with a scope of work. When the homeowner says yes, the scope and contract go out for e-signature automatically, with the deposit in the same link. Signed change orders for add-on work. Why it matters
On-my-way & job check-in texts
One tap sends an "On my way" text with an arrival window. Time-stamped check-in and check-out texts let the homeowner see when the crew is on site.
Plus: a clean site and estimate form to capture it all.
Reviews
One review link for every customer
You get one simple link and QR code that opens a page with your branding. Your customer picks where to leave a review, with Google first.
Google
Facebook
Nextdoor
Angi
BBB
Yelp
Houzz
New customers
When a job is marked complete, the customer gets a review request by text and email, then a friendly reminder or two if they haven't had a chance yet.
Past customers Growth plan · coming soon
A one-time review-and-reconnect message to your past customers: a thank-you, your review link, and an easy way to ask about the next project.
The same link goes on your Acorn Kit leave-behind cards and QR stickers.
Missed-call text-back
From missed call to booked estimate, without picking up the phone
You're mid-job and the phone rings. Instead of a voicemail that never gets returned, the customer gets a text right away and can book a time on their own.
Missed call(919) 555-0142 · just now
Sorry we missed you! This is Live Oak Painting. What project can we help with?
Hi! Looking to get our living room and hallway painted.
Great! Grab a time for a free estimate: [link]
Estimate booked
Example conversation
What are missed leads costing you?
Right now, more homeowners are staying put and renovating instead of moving. Painters are getting more inquiries than they can answer fast, so every missed call costs more.
Plug in your own numbers. This is a rough estimate based only on what you enter.
Estimated yearly revenue at risk
$0
Missed calls/week × close rate × average job × 52 weeks. An estimate from your inputs, not a guarantee or a prediction.
How it works
1
Walkthrough call
15 minutes to see where calls and inquiries slip through today.
2
We set it up
Text-back, replies, follow-ups, review requests, estimate and contract templates, on-my-way texts and your inbox, with two rounds of revisions.
3
Launch & training
We go live, show your team how it works, and support you through launch.
Why OakRoutes
A low-risk way to get started
Most lead systems ask for a big check, a long contract, or both. OakRoutes is built so a small shop can start small, see it working, and add more only when it makes sense.
Try it free for 14 days
Founding clients run the full system for 14 days before paying anything. If it isn't catching leads you were missing, you walk away and owe nothing.
A small setup fee
$497 one time on Standard, and waived for founding clients who stay after the pilot.
One flat monthly price
$197 a month. No per-lead charges, and any software or texting costs are shown to you up front.
No long contracts
Month-to-month. You stay because it works, not because you signed up for a year.
Ad budgets you control
Want to try local ads? Start with a small test budget you set and can pause anytime. Every lead it brings in goes straight into your follow-up.
Add pieces when you're ready
Reviews, past-customer campaigns, the Acorn Kit and truck graphics are there when you want them. We grow on your timeframe.
How it compares
Hiring an office manager
A great hire when you're ready for one, but it means a salary, payroll costs and training, and nobody answers at night, on weekends or on their days off.
A marketing agency
Agencies can do a lot, but many want multi-month commitments. Triangle agencies that do the work for you typically start around $500 a month or don't publish their prices.
Buying leads from lead sites
You pay for each lead, the same homeowner is often sent to several contractors, and it turns into a race to call first. The leads stop when you stop paying.
OakRoutes
Free 14-day pilot for founding clients, then a small setup and a flat monthly price
Month-to-month, cancel anytime
Replies in seconds, 24/7
Your leads, your data, your domain
A real person in Raleigh who sets it up and watches it
Agency pricing is based on our review of published pricing from Triangle-area agencies, October 2026. Prices change, so check current rates.
Simple pricing
Launch special · First 10 clients only
Start with a free 14-day pilot
$197/month
Setup fee waived if you stay after the pilot. No contract.
Includes missed-call text-back, lead and estimate follow-up, review requests, estimates and e-sign contracts, deposits and text-to-pay, change orders, and on-my-way and check-in texts
Software and usage costs, including texting fees, disclosed up front before you agree
Texts go only to people who contacted you or opted in
You own your data and your domain, and you keep both if you cancel
Two revision rounds and a defined launch-support window
Limited to the first 10 clients. After that, standard pricing applies.
Month-to-month. The same system, setup and support after the founding spots are filled, including estimates, e-sign contracts, deposits and payments, change orders and on-my-way texts.
Growth Coming soon
$297/month
Everything in Standard, plus:
Past-customer review-and-reconnect campaign
Past-customer reactivation
Monthly results report
Add-on
The OakRoutes Acorn Kit
Turn every door, truck and yard sign into a tracked lead. We design your door hangers, QR stickers, realtor referral cards, a job-site yard sign and truck magnets or decals. Every QR code connects to your OakRoutes follow-up system, so when a neighbor scans your yard sign they get an instant text, a quick quote form and automatic follow-up, and you can see which piece brought them in. No more flyers that disappear. Never lose another lead.
Door hangers
For neighbors of your active jobs. English/Spanish option.
QR stickers
For yard signs, trucks, invoices and estimates.
Referral cards
For realtors, property managers and HOAs. Tracks who sent the lead.
Job-site yard sign
Small sign with your company name and QR code. Goes in the yard while you work, so neighbors can scan for a quote.
Truck magnets & decals
Door magnets or printed decals with your name and QR code, so every drive past is a chance to get a quote.
Every piece gets its own tracked QR code that drops leads straight into your follow-up system, with the source labeled.
These are our own OakRoutes pieces, ready to print. Yours get your name, colors, phone number and QR codes that track every lead.
Door hangerHang it on the neighbors’ doors while you work. Every scan is a new estimate request from the same street.Referral cardHand one to every happy customer so their friends and neighbors call you, not the other guy.QR stickerSticks on estimates, invoices and paint cans so past customers can book again in seconds.Job-site yard signWorks the street all day while the job is going. Drive-by interest turns into booked estimates.Truck magnetYour truck becomes a moving ad everywhere you park. No permanent wrap needed.Vehicle wrapYour logo, website and phone number on the whole van or truck, big enough to read from across the road. Coming soon.
Vehicle upgrades
Rear-window graphic for your truck: $149 design, print at cost + 15%. Partial or full wrap: design only, from $250, quoted per vehicle, installed by a trusted Triangle wrap shop.
Kit setup
$297 one-time
$149 for the first 10 clients. Design, QR codes, tracked pages and follow-up hookup.
Printing
At cost + 15%
We handle the print order, or you print from our proof files.
About
Hi, I'm Jeff.
I've spent years working on renovation projects with homeowners and contractors. Over and over, I watched good contractors lose jobs they should have won. It wasn't their work. A call went to voicemail, or an estimate never got a follow-up.
When I asked how they found new customers, the answer was usually a patchwork: a website from one company, leads from another, a review tool from a third, and nobody tying it all together. Finding one place that brings in leads and follows up on them, at a fair price, was a lot harder than it should be.
So I built OakRoutes to be that one-stop shop. I'm based right here in Raleigh, I set everything up myself, and you'll work with me directly. We handle the busy work. You handle your craft.
JeffFounder, OakRoutes · Raleigh, NC
What's not included
We keep it focused and honest.
Ad spend itself (you pay the ad platform directly)
SEO ranking guarantees
AI call answering (a separate add-on, coming soon)
Unlimited changes or support
Questions
Will this get me more customers?
We don't promise leads. We make sure the people already reaching out get a fast reply and steady follow-up.
Who gets texted?
Only people who called, messaged, or requested an estimate, or who opted in. No cold blasts.
Do I need to be tech-savvy?
No. If you can text from your phone, you can use it. Training is included.
Do you write my contract?
We set up estimate, contract and change-order templates based on how you work. We're not lawyers, so have a North Carolina attorney review your contract before you use it.
Can I keep my current website?
Usually, yes. We can add the estimate form and automation to what you have, or build a simple new page.
What happens if I cancel?
You keep your domain and your data, and we help hand them off cleanly.
See it running on your business
A quick, no-pressure call about how your calls and inquiries come in today.
