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In 2026, the way home service businesses grow is changing. Homeowners are deciding faster. Expectations for speed are rising. At the same time, business owners are navigating a tighter labor market, incorporating smarter technology, and seeing more of their peers exit the industry.
During a Housecall Pro webinar, co-founder Roland Ligtenberg shared the home and field service trends he’s seeing across the industry. This article builds on those changes using Housecall Pro data, original research, and insights from Pros.
Key takeaways
Keep these home service trends in mind as you decide where to focus your time in 2026:
AI is becoming part of the business: Even light AI use is helping Pros reduce admin work and create capacity for more growth without adding more people.
Speed sets the baseline: Customers are deciding faster and reaching out even later—how quickly you respond now shapes your reputation.
Structure beats headcount: With hiring still tight, teams are focusing on consistent workflows, better systems, and fast referral-driven hiring.
Trust wins before price: A consistent, professional customer experience increasingly determines who gets hired first.
Readiness creates opportunity: As more owners consider exits, businesses with clean numbers, documented processes, and recurring revenue have more options.
Want the full conversation? The live session includes real-world examples and an open Ask Me Anything where Roland answers direct questions from Pros. Watch the replay here.
Jump ahead
- Trend #1: AI is moving from experiment to expectation
- Trend #2: Speed and responsiveness are shaping how homeowners choose Pros
- Trend #3: Labor pressure is forcing teams to work differently
- Trend #4: Trust is doing more of the work that marketing used to
- Trend #5: Owner exits are opening new paths for growth
- Your 90-day game plan
“The three trends we see at Housecall Pro at a glance: the labor shortage isn’t disappearing, AI continues to get smarter, and owner exits are increasing. The shops that win in 2026 will be the ones that are ready for all three.” — Roland Ligtenberg, Housecall Pro
Together, these trends show where Pros can win in 2026: by adjusting how they operate and how they show up for customers.
Trend #1: AI is moving from experiment to expectation
AI is one of the fastest-moving home service trends. In 2025, over 70% of Pros in Housecall Pro’s survey reported using AI tools, with nearly 40% actively using AI in their business. And yet, 29% reported not using AI at all. The divide isn’t just between who’s using AI and who isn’t—it’s between businesses using AI with a clear plan in their daily work and those just experimenting.
In 2026, that difference will show up in how quickly teams respond, how much work they can handle, and how far ahead they can plan their business.
“AI is replacing the slow, repetitive, unclear, mental-heavy parts of running the business. If you let it, it gives you back time, energy, and clarity—not in a theoretical way, but in a real and immediate way.” — Morgan Knox, Housecall Pro Business Coach
Download Housecall Pro’s AI prompt pack: A simple AI resource to help you think through pricing, staffing, and planning decisions to create an effective business plan in 2026.
Learn more: How To Use AI to Streamline Customer Support
Trend #2: Speed and responsiveness are shaping how homeowners choose Pros
Speed-to-lead—the time it takes to respond after a customer reaches out—is now a deciding factor in who wins the job. Across jobs booked online on Housecall Pro, 41% come in after hours when many businesses aren’t responding actively. What surprised many Pros, as Roland shares during the webinar, is how much of that demand shows up between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m.
Modern homeowners aren’t just choosing a provider. They’re choosing the experience that feels easiest and most reliable, no matter when they reach out. But speed alone isn’t enough. Homeowners also stay loyal to businesses that combine quick response with transparent pricing, visual proof, and follow-through. In 2026, speed shapes your reputation, and clarity determines if you get hired again.
“Everything has got to be clear. The customer needs to know who’s coming, when they’ll arrive, and what to expect.” — William H., A-1 Cleaning
Download customer service insights
Over 1,000 homeowners reveal the reasons they hire a Pro: fast updates, clear pricing, and visual proof. See the data for insights you can apply to their business.
Trend #3: Labor pressure is forcing teams to work differently
Hiring alone isn’t going to solve the ongoing labor shortage—one of the most persistent home service industry trends. Instead, progress will come from strengthening the teams already in place.
Regular huddles, smooth handoffs, incentive programs, and leadership development reduce guesswork across the business. With structure in place, owners can step back, teams work more efficiently, and people are more likely to stay as the business grows.
And work runs smoothly, teams can move faster with hiring. As Rich Camacho of BlueRecruit shared during Housecall Pro’s Winter Summit, “I like to think of the labor market right now kind of like the housing market… the employers that win are the ones that do a fast, accelerated, efficient process.” Teams with a clear structure can move with that kind of speed, often landing talent through referrals.
“Most people are working in the business, not on the business… Most founders get in the way. They’re the bottleneck.” — Tommy Mello, A1 Garage Door Service
Trend #4: Trust is doing more of the work that marketing used to
Trust is crucial for home service business growth in 2026. As costs rise, more homeowners are choosing to repair instead of replace their household items—especially when online reviews and word-of-mouth give them confidence in the Pro they’re hiring.
In 2026, trust will play a bigger role in who gets hired, and consistency will reinforce it. Branding in home services isn’t about logos or colors; it’s about whether every touchpoint delivers the same experience, from the first call to the truck in the driveway to how follow-ups are handled. When that experience feels aligned, homeowners move forward with more confidence.
“Why does somebody hire you? It’s because they trust you.” — Kent M., System Kleen & Restoration
Trend #5: Owner exits are opening new paths for growth
As Roland noted during the webinar, owner exits are increasing. In FMI and CFMA’s 2024 study of contractors, 38% said they plan to exit their business within 3–5 years, yet half of those owners reported having no formal transition plan. Private equity activity in home services also continues to rise, shaping how owners consider their options.
Roland suggested that owners aren’t always ready to exit until someone they trust shows interest, which is why owner-to-owner outreach carries more weight than calls from outside buyers. For Pros, this opens new paths to expand through customer list purchases, small-team integrations, and local partnerships. As Robert B. of High Caliber Electric said during Housecall Pro’s Winter Summit, “Sometimes we’re just buying their phone number. Sometimes we’re buying their staff.”
In 2026, prepared businesses will have more options, whether they plan to buy, sell, or stay independent. Clean numbers, documented systems, and stable recurring revenue make it easier to act when the moment comes.
“We are currently focused on acquiring a smaller, highly reputable local business to expand our base and bring experienced talent onto our team, positioning us for rapid and scalable growth.” — Jordan E., HQ Water Solutions
Your 90-day game plan
With these field service trends in mind, here are some practical steps you can take to drive business growth in 2026.
Learn more: 5 Proven Strategies for Home Service Pros to Scale Past $5M+
Month 1: Modernize your customer experience
Start where homeowners start: online, on their phone, and often after hours. Refine your estimate presentation, tighten your response time, and make online booking effortless from any channel.
Month 2: Build your team rhythm
Structure is the multiplier. Start a morning huddle. Clarify handoffs. Reduce administrative drag. Create a day your team can win, every day.
Month 3: Strengthen your foundation
Document your workflows. Clean up your numbers. Launch or refine your service plans. Create local relationships with other businesses. Build the kind of business that attracts opportunity, even if you’re not actively seeking it.
Stay competitive in 2026 and beyond with Housecall ProOur top-rated home services software helps Pros simplify daily operations, support teams of any size, and deliver clear, consistent experiences that build trust. Learn more at housecallpro.com.
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