One can start a plumbing business as a way to earn money using his skills. There is also regular demand in plumbing services. All houses, offices and buildings require routine repair works and renovation. This renders plumbing a good and steady business decision.
This business has good prospects in case you are properly trained and want to work on your own. It is possible to start small and expand in the future. There have been a lot of successful plumbing companies, which began with a single man and a few tools.
This article will show you how to get started in the business of plumbing on a step by step basis. We will discuss licensing, tools, marketing and also where to get your first customers.
Ready, set, go.
Decide What Plumbing Services You Will Offer
Prior to opening your plumbing business, you have to select the kind of services to offer. This action assists you to plan and consider more. Plumbers do not provide equal types of services, and, therefore, the only options you have are to make a decision of what you are best at.
You may begin with simple home services such as solving leaks, unblocking of drains or repair of toilets. These are some general issues that individuals encounter at homes. The more experienced you get, the more services you can provide such as pipe installation, repair of the water heater, or renovation of the bathroom.
You can also accept commercial plumbing works in case you are advanced or/and possess a license. These are more significant jobs with larger pay scales but they take up more of tools and time.
Emergency services can also be considered. It is observed that most plumbers make a supplement because they also have the option of providing services at 24/7 in case of urgent repairs. When people are in urgent need, they are ready to spend a lot of money.
Choose the services that suit your skills, resources and your budget. Begin with the small things and expand progressively. That way, you will not experience stress and you will develop a proper foundation to your plumbing business.
Get Certified and Licensed
You cannot operate a plumbing business without the certificate and other specified licenses. This action creates confidence and also makes you avoid a judicial hassle. It also depicts to the customers that you are a trained and professional person.
The first step is to investigate the requirements of the plumbing license in your state or local region. Every place has varied needs. There are places that can require years of experience or passing a plumbing exam. You may also be required to work as an apprentice before being licensed completely.
After you have gained the qualifications, you can then apply to have your license as a plumber. A local government or plumbing board usually awards it. It will probably also be necessary that you obtain a general business license to operate legally.
Other than licenses, think of insurance. Plumbing is a hazardous work. One mistake or accident may be very costly to you. Liability insurance will guard you and your customers. It also improves the credibility of your business.
There are customers who would not hire any plumbers who are not licensed and insured. That is why this step is beneficial to you to acquire more jobs. Ensure that your paperwork is up-to-date, and renew your license when it is necessary.
You will take the time to be licensed and certified, and this assists you to establish a trustworthy business. It also gives one freedom of mind as they expand their services.
Create a Business Plan
Your road map is a business plan. It makes you focused, error-free, and expand your plumbing business gradually. It is not necessary you write an elaborate report. It is just simple and clear.
Begin by deciding what you want to accomplish. Consider what is it that you want to accomplish in 6 months or one year. Would you prefer to be on your own or create a staff? Will you be local or will you cover a large territory?
Then identify who your target customers are. Will you be serving small business, homeowners, or landlords? Identifying your customer will enable you market your services better.
Next, lay out your start-up expenses. Make a list of what you need to purchase such tools, equipment, work van and safety gear. Include the license costs and insurance and marketing. This will provide you with an approximate amount of money that you will require to start.
In addition, determine your prices on each service. Find out the rate charged by other plumbers in your locality. Make your prices reasonable and transparent. Remember to calculate your expenses and make a profit out of it.
The manner in which you are going to grow should be part of your business plan as well. Do you want to introduce additional services in the future? Would you get assistants or lease a larger room?
It is not necessary that writing a plan will consume so much time as it will save you the hassle in the future. It also demonstrates the fact that you are serious and you are ready to run a successful plumbing business.
Register Your Plumbing Business
The second thing is that after having a plan you will need to register your business. This renders your plumbing firm authoritative and legal. You can also assist you to open a business bank account and pay the tax as required.
Then select a name of business. Choose a name which is easy to recall, straightforward, and which is related to plumbing. Ensure that the name is not used by another person in your locality.
Then choose business structure. You may be listed as sole proprietorship, partnership or LLC (Limited Liability Company). Small business owners would do well by forming an LLC since the benefits of an LLC is that your personal assets are not at risk when something goes awry.
Then, make your business registered to your local or the state government. This is normally easy to do, and sometimes even across the internet. Depending on where you are located, it may also be that you require a general business license.
You would also need to apply an EIN (Employer Identification Number) with IRS. This can be considered as company social security number. It is not paid and required in case of the desire to attract employees or to open a business bank account.
Incorporating your plumbing business will make you look tidy and business like. It gives prospective customers a feel that it has a valid and credible company. This move establishes a good foundation in your further growth.
Buy Tools and Equipment
In order to begin your plumbing business, you must have the tools and equipment. Good tools can make you work more rapidly, perform better, and receive a good reputation.
Begin by the fundamental equipment that all plumbers require. These are pipe wrenches, pliers, plungers, tape measure, pipe cutters and drain snakes. You will also require some safety equipment, such as the gloves, goggles, and work boots. You may require the sophisticated tools in the future in case you decide to provide additional services.
Buy quality tools at the onset. The cheap tools can break down and slow you. Quality tools come in handy and save money in the long run.
You will require a good vehicle, such as a van or a pickup truck too. This will assist you to transport your tools and access customers at the right time. Cleanse and tidy up your car. It belongs to business image of yours.
Stay on top of your tools. Wash them after and keep them away. This can prevent breakage and make your work flow free.
Doing the right thing with the right tool demonstrates that you are getting down to business. It will assist you to finalize its tasks within the required time spans, make no error, and gain confidence in your customers.
Set Up Your Business Location
Your plumbing business requires a suitable facility to work. You do not have to have an expensive office as you start. Most of the plumbers start at home. It does not matter where you put your tools as long as it is clean and organized where you can keep your supply and papers.
Assuming that you are beginning on a small scale, a garage in your own house or a small storage facility can be used. It should be safe, dry and accessible. It has to be a large space where you can keep your tools and maintain good arrangement.
You may require a business office as you expand the company. This may be a small office that possesses a workshop or a warehouse when bigger works are to be done. The advantage of the different location may be to see you seem more professional and do more work.
Also, ensure that in your working space, there is good internet connection and a residential phone number. These will be among the things you will require when making customer calls, online marketing and when receiving bookings.
During the initial stages, make the location of your business simple as a way of saving money. However, ensure that it is arranged in a way that you will be able to work and be taken as a professional by your customers.
Build an Online Presence
In this modern day and era, individuals check out on the internet when they are in need of a plumber. This is why an online presence is quite significant. It assists new consumers to locate you and it creates the credibility in your company.
The first step would be making a simple web site. The information you should carry in your site is business name, services, contact information including area of services. Ensure that it is well presented, loads quickly and is mobile phone friendly.
Include your clear information on what you offer. Take small sentences and keep away technicalities. Add a brief comment about who you are and a contact form where people can contact you.
Second, open a Google Business Profile. It will make your business visible in the local searches and Google Map. Append your phone number, working hours and address. Get happy customers to review your establishment. Positive reviews are used to create trust and bring more clients.
Make sure to include your business with community directories such as yelp, bing places and on-line yellow pages. These free listing enhance your online outreach.
In case you are a user on the social network, you can have pages on Facebook or Instagram. Share the images of your work or plumbing tips or know about special discounts. This keeps you in business and it displays that you are not out of business.
Online presence is time consuming but it delivers bottom line. It can make people discover you, trust you and to call you when they require plumbing assistance.
Market Your Plumbing Business
Marketing assists you in getting new clients and depth of your business. People must understand that you are in existence as a plumber even when you are an expert in plumbing. The excellent way to make a consistent stream of work and reputation is the positive marketing plan.
Begin with local promotion. Simple flyers, business cards can be printed. Pass them out around your neighborhood, in the hardware stores or in your community boards. You can as well put a small advert in local newspaper or community magazine.
Turn your car into a mobile billboard. Put your name of business, contact number and services on your truck or van. When your name will appear memorized in people eyes, when they see it parked or driving around, they will remember your name.
On line marketing is equally significant. Post small advertisements in Facebook or Google. These advertisements will be able to reach individuals in your locality that need plumbing assistance. Good results can be achieved even by a small budget.
Your Google Business Profile should also be filled in and renovated. Your listing will appear when people search the nearest plumbers around. Request satisfied customers to review. This gains the confidence of the new customers.
Give your initial customers a discount or referral discount. An example is offer them a small discount in their next service in the event that they refer a friend. This promotes word of mouth marketing.
This does not mean that marketing has to be costly. You can acquire new clients with little effort and ease their growth in plumbing business faster.
Manage Your Business Professionally
It is not only about plumbing when dealing with a plumbing business. You must also be and work professionally with your work, money and customers. This enables you to be kept on track and also you are able to manage your business.
First is to maintain proper records. Write what jobs you do, how much you charge and what tools or parts you use. Write in a notepad, in an Excel sheet, or a basic accounting program. This will enable you to monitor the expenses and incomes with ease.
Issue effective and prompt invoices to your clients. You may make this simpler using free invoicing tools or apps. And I always have a copy of mine.
Be careful about scheduling your jobs. Time traveling by using a calendar or job schedule application. This will help you to prevent wasting time, not meeting a person or getting more than one person at the same time.
You need to treat your customers in a friendly and truthful way. Be punctual, present the problem clearly, and be reasonable in prices. Repeat customers are caused by good service and result in the creation of trust.
You should also manage time. Establish time as to when you will work and adhere to it. Do not work too many jobs on a day. This assists you evade anxiety and work in a better way.
A professional management constructs your business image. It also offers you a greater control, assists you to generate consistent income, and provides easier growth in the future.
Conclusion
Owning a plumbing business is a savvy investment in case a person possesses proper skills and strong work ethic. It does not come at an enormous investment, though it needs planning, commitment and tools. Whether you select your services or you have to get licensed, it all counts.
Write about the creation of confidence among your customer. Provide quality services, report to work on time and be truthful. These little favors assist you in not only making you stand out but also earning new jobs by word of mouth.
Things are always done step by step. Begin by starting small, with low costs and develop your business, as time goes by. Be more professional and run your work over the internet to a wide range of people.
Having the correct attitude and being hard working enough, your plumbing business is bound to become a steady income source and a long term success.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much does it cost to start a plumbing business?
Start up cost is between two thousand three hundred bucks to ten thousand bucks. These are tools, equipments, business registration, insurance and marketing. You may begin low and increase accordingly to your income.
2. Do I need a license to start a plumbing business?
True, a license in plumbing will be obligatory in most regions. Or perhaps you require an overall business license and monetary insurance. You should always verify your local ordinances prior to beginning.
3. Can I run a plumbing business from home?
Yes, lot of plumbers begin at home. You will require rooms where you will be able to have a store of tools and equipment. You can relocate to a commercial place in case it is required as your business will expand.
4. How can I find customers for my plumbing business?
Use local marketing such as flyers, business cards and referrals as a starter. Make a Google Business Profile and request reviews. Contact more people by using the social media and placing small ads online.
5. What are the most important tools for a new plumber?
The necessary devices are pipe wrenches, pliers, and tape measure, pipe cutter, plunger, and drain snake. Safety gears and a dependable working vehicle are also valuable in day to day work.
