Ready to become your own boss? If you’re already a qualified plumber, it’s likely that you’ve got the skills and experience to go solo and make more money.
Starting your own plumbing business might feel daunting, since there are plenty of steps involved and things to consider first. In this guide, we’ve outlined the most effective and accessible ways to set up and succeed in your new plumbing business.
5 proven strategies to grow your plumbing business
Check your qualifications
In the UK, you won’t need any specific plumbing licence to start trading unless you’re planning to be a central heating engineer. In that case, it’s likely that you’ll need to join the Gas Safe Register and prove that you’re fully qualified to work with gas appliances safely and legally.
Even though you don’t need certain certificates, it’s important to make sure that you won’t be out of your depth. If you’re too inexperienced or you’ve not homed in your skills in certain areas, you could end up with a failed business very quickly. Your work needs to be up to scratch.
Find the right team
Unless you’re living in an area with a few very remote communities, it’s highly likely that you’ll need to hire a team to drive your new plumbing business to success. Employing the right people is a key responsibility, just as you should invest in a quality and comprehensive plumbing tool kit.
You won’t put the perfect team together overnight, so make sure that you manage your expectations. Wherever possible, look for employees who can offer flexibility and a broad range of skills too. Occasionally, it might be easier to use contractors for highly technical work, rather than take it on yourself or hire someone full-time.
Consider key start-up costs
Anyone who decides to start a new business should be aware of the costs involved.
For new plumbing businesses, it’s likely that you’ll need plenty of tools, equipment and a suitable van before you start your first plumbing jobs. These will be amongst the highest initial costs you’ll face. But plumbing jobs are paid for in arrears, so you’ll have to wait for your clients to pay an invoice. In the meantime, you need to take responsibility for your day-to-day expenses and ensure healthy cashflow.
Prepare to be busy
Local plumbers are always in high demand. It’s likely that your business will be busy as soon as it opens, which can bring you positive and negative consequences. Even if you’re truly passionate about your job, some days will be more difficult than others.
Keeping loyal customers comes down to knowing how to manage that ebb and flow, especially at peak periods. Make sure you’re always mentally and physically prepared to handle an increase in call volume, even when you’d least expect one. Meeting the needs of your clients and supporting your community should be your main priorities.
Secure repeat clients
Finally, any successful plumbing business is built by clients who use the service time and time again. One way to encourage this is to provide a consistently high-quality service and foster great professional relationships too.
Try to target high-value projects on a recurring basis, like boiler servicing or installation. After you’ve finished a job, it’s worth trying to keep in touch with your customers and let them know about your current services and promotions. Incentivise with loyalty programs, market yourself on social media, and keep your clients engaged.
Once you start building your portfolio, you can target high-value clients like property managers, high-end homeowners, and corporate giants too.
