With these kinds of impressive figures, there’s no wonder that so many entrepreneurs are interested in starting their own plumbing.<\/p>\n
Plumbers are usually broken down into three levels:<\/p>\n
- \n
- apprentice plumber<\/strong><\/li>\n
- journeyman plumber<\/strong><\/li>\n
- master plumber<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
We\u2019ll go over these levels in details later. But in order to succeed at your own plumbing business, it\u2019s usually recommended that you have many years\u2019 experience or that you are at least certified\u00a0as a\u00a0Journeyman Plumber.<\/p>\n
Plumbing tends to move along the same lines as the housing industry. Therefore, the plumbing industry took a real dive during the Great Recession, but\u00a0it’s been on the rise since then.<\/div>
\nPlumbing tends to move along the same lines as the housing industry. Therefore, the plumbing industry took a real dive (along with almost every other industry) during the Great Recession of 2008-2009.<\/p>\n
However, since then, it’s been on the rise steadily.<\/p>\n
This does not mean, though, that by starting a plumbing business you are assured success.\u00a0With so many business starting and failing across the world, if you want to succeed in your business you need a plan.<\/p>\n
More specifically, you need to answer some very important questions about the plumbing business. This includes issues of business strategy<\/strong>, the licenses, insurance and tools you’ll need<\/strong>, and the different steps to getting your customers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
In our plumbing business guide today, we’ll address all of those issues.<\/p>\n
You can navigate through this guide by clicking on the sections below, or you can read it in its entirety.<\/p>\n
I. The Advantages & Disadvantages of the Plumbing Business<\/a><\/p>\n
II. The Business Fundamentals<\/a><\/p>\n
III. Your Pricing Strategy<\/a><\/p>\n
IV. Getting your plumbing business customers<\/a><\/p>\n
V. Summary<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/div>\nI. The Advantages & Disadvantages of the Plumbing Business<\/h2>\n
You are probably aware of all the great things that can come from owning your own plumbing business. However, in order to be fully prepared, you will need to know both sides: the good and the bad.<\/p>\n
1. The Advantages<\/h3>\n
![\"There](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/the_benefits_of_x-e1467287994863.png?resize=690%2C218&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nThere are many advantages to the plumbing, and you are probably more than aware of most of these. However, it’s important to understand just how great a plumbing business can be.<\/p>\n
You’ll have your freedom<\/h4>\n
The first advantage to starting your new plumbing career are quite obvious: you\u2019ll be free. Well, free at least to take control of your own career. You will be your own boss, you\u2019ll set your own schedule.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll have all the decision-making power and work the type of jobs that you\u2019d like. Like I said, free.<\/p>\n
There’s a potentially great income<\/h4>\n
Besides that, there\u2019s also the promise of a great income. Plumbers on average make around $50,000 a year (\u00a340,000 in the UK), and the industry is expected to grow at 21% over the next 10 years.<\/p>\n
As the salary is only an average, it means that there\u2019s a wide range of possibilities. If you work hard enough, you can earn at the top of that salary range.<\/p>\n
There’s lots of work<\/h4>\n
There\u2019s also lots of repeat work. Homeowners and commercial office building owners will require constant help. It may not be regular (say, once a month, every month), but it will happen at one location constantly.<\/p>\n
This repeat business is your bread and butter. Beyond that, seeing as nearly every home and office owner has some sort of plumbing problem, if you have good word-of-mouth you\u2019ll be on everyone\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n
Low start-up costs (for smaller jobs)<\/h4>\n
Lastly, the start-up costs for plumbing is quite low. There is no real formal training required (more on that later), so you won\u2019t have to pay for a university degree in that field.<\/p>\n
Also, most of the plumbing jobs you\u2019ll be required to do will be fairly basic stuff that requires basic equipment. You can focus solely on those smaller jobs until you earn enough to invest in bigger equipment.<\/p>\n
2. The\u00a0Disadvantages<\/h3>\n
![\"You](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/the_disadvantages_to_x-e1467288048774.png?resize=690%2C218&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nThere are, of course, some disadvantages to becoming a plumber.<\/p>\n
The stress of self-employment<\/h4>\n
The first and major disadvantage is one connected to all self-employed people: stress. Specifically, the weight of responsibility of owning your own business and deciding everything for yourself.<\/p>\n
Your own business includes the actual plumbing work, of course, but you should also add: marketing, sales, customer relations, accounting, web site design, social media manager, and many other roles. With all that responsibility, it can be very stressful and sometimes even lead to burnout<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The long, irregular hours<\/h4>\n
One of the major disadvantages is the long, irregular hours. This is long work, and often you\u2019ll get calls late at night, even in the<\/p>\n
middle of the night. This is especially true for emergency plumbing services or 24\/7 plumbing service. When you start out, you\u2019ll have to take those late night hours in order to build up your reputation and income.<\/p>\n
You’ll have to get licensed<\/h4>\n
Although no formal training is required, you\u2019ll have to have some plumbing experience.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a test in order to become a fully-licensed plumber (necessary for many homeowners) and often a long apprenticeship period depending on your previous experience. That period and test means that you won\u2019t have your freedom immediately, but it is also an investment in your new craft.<\/p>\n
Lots of hard, physical work<\/h4>\n
Lastly, being a plumber can be hard on the body. You\u2019ll be going into a lot of cramped spaces, and this is horrible if you are even a little claustrophobic.<\/p>\n
Also, there\u2019s some yuck factor, as you\u2019ll be cleaning pipes clogged up with 20 years\u2019 worth of \u2026something. You\u2019ll be dirty and sweaty and stinky most of the time, but it all comes with the job.<\/p>\n
If you are fine with these disadvantages, however, then you\u2019re ready to really get into what it takes to have your plumbing business succeed.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nII. The Business Fundamentals<\/h2>\n
![\"In](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/plumbing-business-fundamentals.jpg?resize=690%2C408&ssl=1\")
In order to succeed in your plumbing business, you’ll need to cover these business fundamentals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Your plumbing business is more than just fixing leaky pipes. Like any business, it requires a sound mind and a good strategy. Although in the movies there are things that people are born with or without, that\u2019s just not true in real life.<\/p>\n
In order to have a good strategy, all you need to do is your research and have a well-structured plan. We\u2019ll look over the important parts of your business basics to start your business off on the right foot.<\/p>\n
1. Your business plan<\/h2>\n
Although there are many popular opinions out there that state that no one needs a business plan anymore, this is simply not true.<\/p>\n
Every good business needs a good business plan, just as every driver going into a foreign land needs a map of some sort. It may be a map scribbled on a napkin or a detailed navigation system, but the map is needed.<\/p>\n
Your business plan acts as a map for your business, so that when you are unsure of a specific path, you can look back at it and make your decision.<\/div>
\nYour business plan acts as a map for your business, so that when you are unsure of a specific path, you can look back at it and make your decision.<\/p>\n
We go into depth of what a really good business plan is in our full guide. However, to summarize, your business plan needs to include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- your business idea<\/strong>: describe your product or service and the plan for your success<\/li>\n
- the plumbing market and the competitors<\/strong>: discuss how you\u2019ll carve a space in the industry and identify your main competitors<\/li>\n
- your goals and actions<\/strong>: detail what measurable goals you want to achieve and the pathway to achieving them<\/li>\n
- the services you’ll provide<\/strong>: answer\u2014why are your services better than the competitors?<\/li>\n
- your target audience<\/strong>: who are your future customers? what are their demographics, and how will you attract them to your service?<\/li>\n
- your business structure<\/strong>: if you\u2019ll have management or employees (now or in the future), what will that look like? For the beginning plumber, you can leave this section alone until you get employees<\/li>\n
- financing<\/strong>: based on your financial projections, what financing will you require? This can be a note to yourself, without including investors, about where you are financially. Come back in 6 months and measure your finances again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Your business plan may not consist of all of these, but a very good one will go into detail in most of them. Your sections can be as big or small as you\u2019d like, but you should consider them seriously.<\/p>\n
For more information, look at our business plan guide to get started on this business fundamental.<\/p>\n
2. Licenses<\/h3>\n
In the US, the federal government does not issue plumbing licenses. As with most other things, it is up to the state to do that, which can get pretty confusing if you\u2019re trying to find out what you need. In order to get licensed for your state, you need to know:<\/p>\n
- \n
- where do I go (which government institution hands out licenses)?<\/li>\n
- what are the work experience and education requirements?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The requirements are based on your plumbing level. Let\u2019s look at them in detail.<\/p>\n
Apprentice Plumber<\/h4>\n
If you are in the apprenticeship stage, you have pretty much no experience. You are a clean canvas, and you will have to spend about 4-5 years working under a Journeyman Plumber to get the necessary experience. The only requirements to become an apprentice is to be at least 18 years old and oftentimes with a high school diploma or equivalent. However, there are many other ways to gain experience.<\/p>\n
Journeyman Plumber<\/h4>\n
Journeymen have to take an exam in order to get the license. Usually, you\u2019ll also require to show your formal training.<\/p>\n
The testing requirements to get a license vary by location, but many have hours-long tests to check you on your skills. After that, however, you\u2019ll get your license.<\/p>\n
However, journeymen plumbers are still required to work under the supervision of a Master Plumber.<\/p>\n
Master Plumber<\/h4>\n
The Master Plumber is the highest level of plumbing. In order to become a Master Plumber, you\u2019ll need to take additional courses or even complete an educational degree related to plumbing. You\u2019ll have to complete these educational requirements before you apply to take the test.<\/p>\n
One exam in Westchester Country, New York, requires that Master Plumbers take a 170-question open book exam that lasts for six hours.<\/p>\n
The requirements are similar in the UK, although you\u2019ll need recognized qualifications in Domestic Plumbing and Heating. It is also possible to take a basics course at college which will help you in finding an apprenticeship program at a company.<\/p>\n
![\"There](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/3-levels-plumbing-forpsd2.jpg?resize=690%2C528&ssl=1\")
There are 3 different levels of plumbing, but you’ll at least need to be a Journeyman to start your own plumbing business.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 3. Insurance<\/h3>\n
The type of insurance you need really depends on the type of work that you\u2019ll be doing.<\/p>\n
For the most part, however, having insurance is a sign of trust to your clients that you are covered. After all, you\u2019ll be going into some parts of their homes or buildings that they are not aware of.<\/p>\n
This is an important part, and if something bad happens, you\u2019ll either have to pay out of pocket or they\u2019ll have to suffer without adequate plumbing for quite some time.<\/p>\n
Public liability insurance<\/h4>\n
The main type of insurance to have is public liability insurance (general liability in the US).\u00a0 This is by no means a legal requirement, although if you have a large commercial contract, they\u2019ll probably require this as a minimum.<\/p>\n
This ensures that you have protections if there are any financial liabilities because of your work.<\/p>\n
For example, if a pipe you fixed leaks and damages a floor, or if the client injures himself due to your equipment or materials, you\u2019ll need this coverage.<\/p>\n
Employers’ liability insurance<\/h4>\n
The second type is employers\u2019 liability insurance, which is only for those plumbers that have employees or even apprentices (including work-experience students).<\/p>\n
In the UK, you are legally required to have coverage with a minimum of \u00a35 million. There is an exception if you work with your immediate family, but it will still be a good idea to have that coverage.<\/p>\n
This is comparable to workers compensation insurance if you are in the US.<\/p>\n
Property insurance<\/h4>\n
For American plumbers, it\u2019s also a good idea to have property insurance. This type of insurance covers a client\u2019s building, furniture, and equipment (phones, computers, etc.).<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll also need to have separate commercial automobile policy.<\/p>\n
![\"These](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/plumbing-insurance-types2.jpg?resize=690%2C345&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n4. Software for your business<\/h3>\n
Luckily for plumbers, plumbing isn\u2019t a very tech-heavy industry. You are generally working hands on with people\u2019s piping, although there are other plumbers involved in the design work.<\/p>\n
Financial responsibilities<\/h4>\n
In order to take care of the financial aspect of your business, however, you\u2019ll need a simple yet effective software. That\u2019s where InvoiceBerry<\/a> comes in.<\/p>\n
Because the plumbing hours can be long, you need invoicing software that will help you create and send invoices in under 60 seconds. The faster you send out your invoices, the faster you\u2019ll get paid.<\/p>\n
But the software has much more features. These include expense tracking, recurring invoice, creating quotes and estimates, and creating finance reports.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/FB-ad1-campaign.png?resize=690%2C361&ssl=1\")
One of the most important things to do to take care of your finances is to use online invoicing software<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Plumbing design<\/h4>\n
For the design work, there are lots of programs, such as Edraw\u2019s Plumbing and Piping Plan Software<\/a>. There\u2019s also QuickPlumb<\/a> and Plumbing CAD<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The choices are many, and varied, but they\u2019re all useful for the design part of plumbing work.<\/p>\n
Everyday tasks<\/h4>\n
Beyond that, you\u2019ll need a good note-taking software such as Evernote<\/a>, mapping software to find your clients, such as Google Maps<\/a>, and a scheduler to schedule your clients, such as Google Calendar<\/a>.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nIII. Your Pricing Strategy<\/h2>\n
![\"It's](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/plumbing-business-prices.jpg?resize=690%2C397&ssl=1\")
It’s important to be strategic and competitive when creating prices for your plumbing business<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The pricing for plumbing<\/a> is, in an overall sense, similar to the pricing for most services. Firstly, you need to take account of the following factors:<\/p>\n
- \n
- What is the type and size of the job?<\/em><\/li>\n
- Where do you live?<\/em><\/li>\n
- What \u00a0materials are needed for the job?<\/em><\/li>\n
- Will you charge hourly or based on a fixed rate?<\/em><\/li>\n
- Is it a standard or emergency situation?<\/em><\/li>\n
- Is it on weekdays or on the weekend (as weekend and public holiday raters per hour are higher)?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Plumbers usually charge either a flat rate for their services, or an hourly fee. We\u2019ll look at those in a moment, but first, you\u2019ll also have to include the call-out\/estimate charge. If it takes at least 30 minutes for you to determine what is wrong, you should be compensated for that time.<\/p>\n
The call-out charge varies amongst plumbers, but they generally cover the plumber\u2019s costs and time.<\/p>\n
For example, if you call a plumber at 9pm, you should expect a call-out charge of \u00a365 ($80) to \u00a3135\u00a0($165) that should cover the first hour plus any additional charges. The plumber should either fix the problem or provide a temporary fix and come back later to fix it fully.<\/p>\n
1. How much should you charge per hour?<\/h3>\n
Plumbing charges can vary widely. Many companies, however, set a minimum hourly charge, then charge in 15 minute units. That\u2019s how London\u2019s Pimlico Plumbers<\/a> works.<\/p>\n
For example, the company\u00a0sets its prices based on the time of the job.<\/p>\n
On\u00a0weekday hours between 7am and 6pm, plumbing work costs \u00a3130 ($160), whereas the price is \u00a3170 ($210) for weekday evenings and daytime hours on Saturday.<\/p>\n
For Saturday night, it charges \u00a3180 ($222) per hour, which goes to \u00a3190 ($235) on Sunday daytime. For late Sunday night (early Monday), the company\u00a0charges \u00a3200 ($245) per hour.<\/p>\n
2. What should your flat rates be?<\/h3>\n
It is also common for a smaller plumbing business to charge a flat fee based on the type and difficulty of the job. This will also be based on your location and the time of day and night.<\/p>\n
Based on plumbing costs, the average for plumber services are as follows:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Fitting a bathroom:\u00a0\u00a31018<\/strong>\u00a0($1260)<\/li>\n
- Plumbing installation services:\u00a0\u00a3164<\/strong>\u00a0($200)<\/li>\n
- Replacing a kitchen sink:\u00a0\u00a3575<\/strong>\u00a0($710)<\/li>\n
- Replacing a toilet:\u00a0\u00a3115 ($140)<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Replacing a hot water tank:\u00a0\u00a3460<\/strong>\u00a0($570)<\/li>\n
- Replacing a bath:\u00a0\u00a3185<\/strong>\u00a0($230)<\/li>\n
- Replacing a washer in a leaky tap:\u00a0\u00a350<\/strong>\u00a0($60)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As we mentioned above, these are only suggested prices, but they will vary for you based on your location, experience, etc.<\/p>\n
However, it is a good idea to take into account what your competitors charge. That way, you can set your prices for your plumbing business at a competitive level.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nIV. Getting your plumbing business customers<\/h2>\n
![\"It's](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/plumbing-finding-customers.jpg?resize=690%2C460&ssl=1\")
It’s important to use as many marketing methods as possible to get your plumbing business customers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Now we’ll get to the nitty gritty: how to get your customers. We’ll break these down into three different ways: with a website, through traditional marketing, and using social media.<\/p>\n
1. Get your plumbing business website<\/h3>\n
This may not seem obvious at first, but every single business needs a website. Just as everyone needed to be listed in the Yellow Pages, you need a website nowadays to be found.<\/p>\n
When a customer wants to find a good plumber, he will most probably go online to find the plumber.<\/p>\n
If your plumbing business is not listed online, there’s no way for that customer to find you. You’ve essentially lost a client, and many clients as the number builds up.<\/p>\n
Your website doesn’t have to be amazing, and you can even use free website services. The primary purpose is for others to find you online.<\/p>\n
Beyond that, your website should include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- A clear list of your products or services<\/li>\n
- What makes you special compared to the other plumbers<\/li>\n
- Your location and where (how far) you’re willing to work<\/li>\n
- A list of your\u00a0prices (or a quote\/estimate page)<\/li>\n
- Your contact information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
For personalization reasons, you should also include your photo and have a professional ‘About’ section that has some personal information. People love to connect to people, and presenting your human side will go far in impressing\u00a0your new customers.<\/p>\n
People love to connect to people, and presenting your human side on your plumbing website will go far in impressing\u00a0your new customers.<\/div>
\nWhile you’re at it, you should also list your business on Google Places to increase visibility. For more information about local SEO (getting found on search engines through local searches), check out our article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
2. Traditional Marketing<\/h2>\n
No matter what anyone says, traditional marketing is not dead. In fact, it is very well alive and can be very lucrative for your plumbing business.<\/p>\n
The #1 old school marketing method is the champ of all marketing: word-of-mouth. This is the treasure that all businesses are looking for, and you can only get it through high-quality, timely hard work.<\/p>\n
One important thing to do is to approach the right type of people. There are businesses related to the plumbing industry that don’t actually do your type of plumbing. If you can network with them, they can send you referrals as they get them.<\/p>\n
For example, you can connect with:<\/p>\n
- \n
- New Construction Plumbers<\/strong>: these companies focus only on new construction, and when they get repair requests, they can send those requests to you<\/li>\n
- Restaurants<\/strong>: the owners tend to talk to each other, so if you can offer a referral incentive, you can get into the restaurant circle<\/li>\n
- Leak detection and similar companies<\/strong>: these companies only do detection, but not fixing, which is where you come in.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Offer these referrers a percentage or a vice-versa, and you’ll have consistent business.<\/p>\n
3. Social Media Marketing<\/h2>\n
If you haven’t heard, it’s a social media world now. Anything and everything that is important is on social media, and you’ll have to get on there as well.<\/p>\n
- Restaurants<\/strong>: the owners tend to talk to each other, so if you can offer a referral incentive, you can get into the restaurant circle<\/li>\n
- New Construction Plumbers<\/strong>: these companies focus only on new construction, and when they get repair requests, they can send those requests to you<\/li>\n
- Plumbing installation services:\u00a0\u00a3164<\/strong>\u00a0($200)<\/li>\n
- Where do you live?<\/em><\/li>\n
- What is the type and size of the job?<\/em><\/li>\n
- the plumbing market and the competitors<\/strong>: discuss how you\u2019ll carve a space in the industry and identify your main competitors<\/li>\n
- journeyman plumber<\/strong><\/li>\n
![\"Social](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/invoiceberry-socialmediaforsmes-infographic.png?resize=690%2C400&ssl=1\")