Review Request Templates That Actually Work
6 ready-to-use templates. SMS, email, card insert, in-person script, and trade-specific variations. Free download.
Published May 2026 · 6 min read · Source: BrightLocal 2024, Google Business Profile guidelines
The difference between a contractor with 10 reviews and one with 50 is not better work. It is a system for asking. Most contractors do great work, forget to ask, and wonder why their Google Business Profile looks empty.
This page gives you 6 templates you can use today. Copy them, customize them with your company name and review link, and start asking. The full swipe file is available as a text download for easy copy-paste.
Template 1: SMS Request (Send Immediately After Job)
When to use: Text this while you are still on-site or within 10 minutes of leaving. Response rate: 76% when asked in person with immediate follow-up.
Template 2: Email Request (Same Day)
Hi [Customer Name],
Thanks for choosing [Company] for your [job]. We hope everything is working great.
If you have 60 seconds, would you mind leaving us a Google review? It makes a huge difference for our business and helps other homeowners in [City] find reliable contractors.
[Google Review Link]
Thanks again. We appreciate the opportunity to earn your trust.
[Your Name]
[Company]
When to use: Send within 2 hours of job completion. Response rate: 45% when sent same day.
Template 3: Follow-Up Email (3 Days Later)
Hi [Customer Name],
Just checking in to make sure everything from your [job] is working perfectly.
If you get a minute, that Google review link is still here: [Google Review Link]
No pressure at all. Just wanted to follow up.
Thanks, [Your Name]
When to use: Only once, for customers who did not respond to the initial request. Do not pester. Move on after this.
Template 4: Card Insert (Leave After Job)
Front:
Thank you for choosing [Company]!
Back:
We hope you are happy with the work. If you are, a Google review would mean the world to us.
Scan the QR code or visit: [Short URL]
It takes 60 seconds and helps other homeowners find reliable contractors in [City].
Thank you! [Company Name] | [Phone]
When to use: Print these on cardstock, leave them after every job. QR code links to your Google review page. Passive but consistent.
Template 5: In-Person Script
Critical step: Pull out your phone, open your Google Business Profile, copy the review link, and text it immediately. Do not say you will send it later. Do it while they are standing in front of you.
Template 6: Trade-Specific Variations
HVAC
"Hey [Customer Name], your AC is all set. I set the thermostat to [temp] and everything is running at spec. If you were happy with the work, a quick Google review would really help us out. I will text you the link."
Plumbing
"Everything is fixed up and I checked for leaks twice. Should be good to go. If you were happy with the work, a Google review would really help us out. Takes about a minute. I will text you the link."
Roofing
"Roof is all done, cleaned up all the nails, and did a final inspection. If you were happy with the work, a Google review would really help us out. I will text you the link right now."
Painting
"Paint is dry, touch-ups done, and everything is cleaned up. If you were happy with how it turned out, a Google review would really help us out. I will text you the link."
Compliance Notes
Google Terms of Service
- You CAN ask customers to leave an honest review
- You CANNOT offer incentives (discounts, gifts) for reviews
- You CANNOT ask specifically for a 5-star review
- You CAN tell them it helps your business
- You CAN send the direct review link
Yelp Warning
Yelp discourages businesses from asking for reviews. They prefer organic reviews only. Do not include Yelp links in request templates. Focus on Google.
Best practices: Ask at peak happiness (right after job completion). Text the link immediately. Follow up ONCE after 3 days for non-responders. Respond to every review within 48 hours. Never argue with a negative review.
Download the Full Swipe File
All 6 templates are available as a plain text file for easy copy-paste. No signup, no email gate. Just download and use.
Download TemplatesThe Bottom Line
Getting 50 reviews is not about heroic effort. It is about making the ask automatic for every job. Pick one template from this page, customize it with your company name and review link, and start using it today.
The in-person script with immediate SMS follow-up is the highest-converting combination. 76% of customers asked this way leave a review. That is 4 out of 5 jobs turning into a review. At that rate, you hit 50 reviews in about 60 jobs.
For the full review strategy, including platform prioritization, response templates, and the review count benchmarks by trade, read the contractor review strategy guide.
Ernesto Romero
Ernesto is the founder of 1of1 Consulting and the 1 OF 1 Contractor Network. He grew up in Tucson working alongside family in property restoration, spent his summers doing demolition for RCD Tucson, and has worked across HVAC, paint, and restoration before launching 1of1 to give contractors the systems and community they never had access to.
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