How to Start a Plumbing Business

The plumbing business is a necessary business because consumers and businesses generally are incapable of maintaining their own plumbing systems. Plumbers ensure that potable and sewer water pipes are well-maintained and up to local building codes. Customers are usually living in residential properties. However, some plumbers obtain corporate or commercial contracts and work exclusively with businesses.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a plumbing business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Plumbing Business
  2. Form your Plumbing Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Plumbing Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Plumbing Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Plumbing Business
  7. Get Plumbing Business Insurance
  8. Define your Plumbing Business Brand
  9. Create your Plumbing Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your plumbing business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Plumbing Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a plumbing business?

The costs involved in starting a plumbing business are minimal. A used van or service truck is usually necessary. These vans can cost several thousand dollars for a used vehicle, up to $30,000 or more for a new vehicle.

A certificate can cost between $1,500 – $8,500 and take up to 12 months to get.

Equipment like assorted pipes and fittings, a large bucket to store fittings, pipe wrenches, reciprocating saw, circular saw, whole hog right angle drill, cordless screw gun, propane torch, cast iron pipe cutter, extension cords, pipe dope or teflon tape, a laptop computer, office equipment, and mobile phone are also needed. The total cost for all this equipment can exceed $5,000.

Used equipment can cost less but may require extensive refurbishing and maintenance before it can be used.

What are the ongoing expenses for a plumbing business?

Ongoing expenses in this business are minimal. Maintenance on vehicles, maintenance/replacement of materials/tools, insurance, and office expenses (rent, utilities, etc) are all that are required.

Who is the target market?

Clients are usually either commercial or residential customers. Plumbers usually get business either through referrals or targeted marketing, like direct mail. The easiest way for plumbers to get business is to buy a mailing list of individuals who have previously done business with plumbers or used plumbing services within the past 6 months to a year. Then, mail those people with an offer for promotional services.

How does a plumbing business make money?

Plumbing companies charge a flat rate (sometimes plus materials) for jobs. However, they may also charge per hour or premium surcharges for emergency, rush, or off-hours service.

How much can you charge customers?

Jobs can be priced per hour or as a flat rate. However, the average price for plumbing services tends to be between $160 and $430 for a typical job. This works out to an average per-hour rate of between $45 and $150. Customers are usually also charged a flat service fee regardless of the number of hours worked on the job. This is in addition to the hourly or per-job flat rate.

How much profit can a plumbing business make?

A master plumber running a one-person company making $45 per hour, working 8 hours per day can make up to $100,000 per year. If ongoing costs are between $10,000 and $20,000 per year, this leaves $80,000 as net profit. A typical plumbing company pays its plumbers between $20 and $40 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means each plumber costs the company roughly $50,000 to $75,000 per year in labor costs (including insurance and benefits). While this substantially reduces profits, it allows a company to scale.

Assuming the same $100,000 per year per plumber gross profit, a plumbing company could clear $25,000 to $50,000 per plumber, per year.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Making a plumbing company more profitable means scaling the business and possibly going into business with other tradesmen to offer comprehensive services. For example, a plumber might team up with an electrician to offer multiple services.

Profits can also be increased by contracting with construction companies. Remodels and renovations can become a major source of revenue for a plumbing company.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your plumbing business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your plumbing business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

In most states, it is necessary to obtain a plumbing contractor’s license, a plumbing permit, and/or a plumbing license. Certain other state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a plumbing company. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Service Agreement

Plumbing companies should require clients to sign a service agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions and service level expectations. 

Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your plumbing business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Plumbing Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Plumbing Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a plumbing business

Promoting your plumbing company usually requires a multi-pronged approach when first starting out. If you previously worked as an apprentice, you may have already made contacts in the industry. You will not be allowed to take your former employer’s customers with you, but you can entice new customers to do business with you based on your old employer’s reputation and the fact that you worked under a master plumber.

Direct mail is another way to get new business. By buying a mailing list of individuals and businesses that have previously paid for plumbing services, you can tap into a target market for your services. Mail them a promotion offer to introduce them to your new plumbing company.

Finally, ask friends and family for referrals to establish a customer base.

How to keep customers coming back

Become known for something in your industry. For example, can you be the first plumbing company in your area that promises to arrive on time and clean up after the job is done? Plumbing companies have a bad reputation for being dirty, late, and having poor customer service. Be “the other company.”

You can also specialize. Become the plumber that works exclusively with certain kinds of businesses. Get to know their unique needs and budgets. Cater to them and they won’t want to do business with a “general plumber” ever again.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is ideal for individuals who enjoy working with their hands, aren’t afraid to get dirty, and have flexible work hours. Some plumbers are called into a job site on emergencies and must work late or even work on weekends. Plumbers, and a plumbing company, may also have to work on holidays.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a plumbing business?

Day-to-day activities of a plumbing company include checking customer logs, fixing and maintaining plumbing lines, and billing customers for services rendered. Some companies also spend considerable time designing and building new plumbing systems if they work on new construction projects.

Plumbers also spend considerable time assembling pipe sections, tubing and fittings, using clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvents and caulking, solder and soldering guns, couplings, and welding equipment.

Plumbers also have to routinely do complex calculations on job sites which determine the safety and longevity of the plumbing they design, install, and maintain.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful plumbing business?

Plumbing requires certification in order to practice on the professional level. However, many plumbers start out as an apprentice working under an established plumber. It helps you learn the necessary skills involved in plumbing. This is what most plumbers do before starting their own business. Plumbing businesses are more accessible startup options, as the amount of capital needed is moderate. Expenses will typically include transportation (like a truck large enough to carry equipment), drain snakes, and other basic plumbing equipment.

What is the growth potential for a plumbing business?

A plumbing business can typically be started with one plumber. As demand begins to exceed the plumber’s ability, additional plumbers can be hired as employees or as independent contractors. Most plumbers maintain a local clientele, though some have managed to expand operations beyond their region.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a plumbing business?

Getting started in the plumbing business isn’t technically difficult, but entry is basically barred unless you get certified and/or work as an apprentice first. Because it is an established trade, with a union, there is an order and process involved before you can start a business.

Therefore, the best way to get into the plumbing business is to start as an apprentice so you can “learn the ropes.”

How and when to build a team

Most plumbing companies benefit from having at least a few employees when starting out. This enables them to quickly recover marketing costs and startup expenses. A team of 5 plumbers, for example, can be deployed to 5 different locations.

However, it usually makes sense to add more plumbers as soon as you can afford to do so, provided that you have a steady inflow of jobs in your local area.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading