How to earn 5-star Google reviews

2 min read · Updated

The short answer

5-star Google reviews are mostly earned before you ask: showing up when you said, explaining the price before the work, cleaning up, and following up once it's done. Then ask every customer at the moment they're happiest, usually right at the end of the job. Asking everyone is both the rule and what builds a believable rating.

The moments that decide the rating

  • Arriving on time, or calling ahead when you won't be.
  • Explaining the price before starting, and not surprising anyone at the end.
  • Leaving the place cleaner than you found it.
  • A follow-up call or text a few days later.

When to ask

At the end of the job, while the customer is looking at the result, and again by text that day with your direct link. Waiting a week loses most of them.

Why not only ask happy customers

It breaks Google's rules, and it produces a suspicious-looking perfect score. A 4.8 on hundreds of real reviews is more convincing than 5.0 on a handful.

Questions

What if a customer seems unhappy?

Fix it first. Then ask, the same as anyone else.

Can I ask for a 5-star review specifically?

Ask for an honest review. Asking for a particular rating puts people off and isn't how Google wants reviews requested.

How many 5-star reviews do I need to raise my rating?

Use our Google review calculator to see.

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