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Plumbing SEO

20 Low-Cost Ways to Get More Plumbing Customers (and Keep Them Coming)

Get more plumbing customers without breaking your bank account with these actionable tips

Plumber and client shaking hands.

Acquiring new customers is the bane of many plumbing contractors. While sometimes it may be simple as finding a homeowner searching for a specific plumbing service, other times it can be more challenging. The standard method to get more plumbing customers is from marketing to the right people down to closing the sale. For many plumbers, this may be a daunting task, particularly when their efforts don’t achieve the desired results.

Clients are the lifeline of your plumbing company. If your phone is not ringing, then your plumbing expertise will be of no use. You won’t generate any revenue and thus your company will close its doors. So, it is crucial to maintain a consistent flow of customers to your plumbing business.

The amazing thing about running your plumbing company is understanding that there is a huge demand for your services at all times. Wherever people reside, pipes are very crucial to their everyday life. Sometimes, something goes wrong with their piping system and they have to repair it urgently. That, said, as there might be a higher demand for plumbers, there is always a need to get more plumbing customers by using the appropriate marketing strategies.

If you are wondering how to get more customers to your plumbing business, we got you covered. This post will share in-depth strategies that will hands down – assist you to get more clients for your growing plumbing business. Want to be booked several months in advance? Here are our inexpensive ways to do it.

1. Get More Plumbing Customers by Marketing Your Services

Female and male plumbers with their client.

Marketing is essential in any plumbing company. You cannot generate revenue in your plumbing business without money and time in marketing your plumbing services. This aspect is no different in the plumbing industry. You will never secure any new customers if you don’t invest in plumbing marketing.  Target customers must know that you are a plumber and the services you are providing.

If you want to expand your customer base, you need to boost your marketing efforts. Homeowners should know that you are a plumbing contractor. Only through this strategy can you obtain clients to work for. So, consider implementing a marketing strategy that will boost your plumbing brand in your area.

A successful plumbing marketing strategy will attract various kinds of clients – whether they are panicking from a pipe that has just busted or are performing research online to find a reliable plumber for their new bathroom installation.

Related: 15 Plumbing Marketing Ideas, Strategies, And Tricks To Grow Your Business

2. Get More Plumbing Customers by Building a Professional Website

Plumbing maintenance landing page website.

Having a plumbing website not only increases your visibility among plumbing clients but also makes you more trustworthy and reliable.  In the modern digital world, online presence is crucial. Search engines like Google or Bing are the first stopover when it comes to searching for a service or product.

A homeowner will turn to Google to find a plumber before looking for one in their backyard. If your company doesn’t have a website, you will miss the opportunity to secure a job. For this reason, you should hire a reputable plumbing web design agency to get your site built especially if you are not familiar with web development and design.

Put information about your plumbing company, where you are situated, the number of years you have been in the plumbing industry, your working style, and what makes your business stand out from the competitors. Consider having a plumbing company blog to help you establish a connection with your clients.

Read more: Plumbing Website Optimization:14 SEO Tricks Your Business Needs For Lead Generation

3. Get More Plumbing Customers by Focusing on SEO

Search Engine Optimization

Even if your plumbing company is small, there is a high likelihood that you have a website. If you don’t, we highly recommend that you solve that problem ASAP. If you don’t have a plumbing website, then you are missing out on major opportunities of getting found by homeowners searching for plumbers online.

In the infant stages of the Internet, a plumbing website alone was enough to help a business, secure new clients. But things are different nowadays. Now there is stiff and cutthroat competition online. If you want to grab the attention of your potential clients online, you will require more than a website to achieve that. You will require an actual plan.

That’s where search engine optimization for plumbers comes into play.

Search engine optimization sounds complicated and very technical. And in actual sense, it can be. But at the most fundamental level, SEO is the process of creating a plumbing website that directly and clearly addresses the problems your clients have when they conduct searches on the internet.

Generally speaking, you can handle the SEO of your plumbing website alone, making this an inexpensive option for generating qualified leads. In fact, it is possible to take a DIY approach to plumbing SEO and see great results.

Related: How To Improve Your Plumbing Website’s SEO

But you must be willing to commit time to learn the ins and outs of the process. Poorly executed SEO can adversely affect your business, so you will want to perform some serious research to make sure that your plan is solid before implementing it.

Or you can partner with a plumbing SEO agency to help you throughout the process. If you have the budget to afford this kind of service, we highly recommend it.

4. Carefully Manage Your Online Reputation to Get More Plumbing Customers

Client reviews

Another way to get more plumbing clients/leads is to manage your online reviews carefully and consistently. Most prospects search for reliable nearby plumbing businesses with great online reviews, and always try to avoid low-average star ratings or negative reviews before scheduling a service appointment.

Positive client feedback on review platforms such as Facebook, Google, and other business review and social media websites can make a noticeable difference when clients decide which plumbing contractor to hire. According to a Consumer Survey, more than 90% of clients cited positive reviews as a factor that makes them more likely to hire a particular business.

Real clients who give your business positive reviews help to establish trust in your plumbing company. Your prospects read an average of 10 reviews before trusting a plumbing business, and more than 80% of those people – trust online reviews as much as recommendations from their family or friends, according to the survey. If you don’t have the time to manage what customers say about your plumbing business on the Internet, hire a plumbing online reputation management agency to help you out.

5. Get More Plumbing Customers Via Paid Advertising

PPC

Pay-per-click advertising gives your plumbing business a chance to bid on famous keywords that homeowners use to search for a plumbing company like yours online.  Your plumbing SEO plan is what drives the organic (or FREE) web traffic. That’s people who find your plumbing company website through a simple search on Google. But there is another (typically faster) option for grabbing the attention of your potential customers: paid advertising otherwise known as pay-per-click advertising (PPC).

Based on various factors like a maximum bid for every keyword, landing page score, or your ad copy, then your ad is shown to prospects or clients looking for plumbers in your area. Pay-per-click advertising comes in multiple different forms, which may include but is not restricted to;

Search ads: Search ads are the most crucial and common type of PPC ads for plumbers. You will normally see them at the bottom and top of the search engine result page with a small logo that says “Ad” next to the results.  It is a way to jump at the top of your competitors on search engines, ahead of all organic search results that took a lot of effort and time to be seen.

Display ads: This will show your plumbing ads across all the sites that partner with Google. You can select a specific target market or website where your ads will be visible.

Remarketing ads:  Do you know that great feeling that a business is following no matter where you go on the Internet?  That’s not by accident, it’s retargeting or remarketing. A plumber knows that you are interested in a specific service (since you had visited their website before) and re-engages you with an ad.

Social media ads for plumbers: Just like display ads, you can target a particular audience, using the vast data of the social profiles you could purchase from, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and even Instagram. The right image is crucial to conducting a great social media PPC ad.

6. Claim Your Free Google Business Profile Listing to Get More Plumbing Customers Online

Google Business Profile

Claiming your Google Business Profile will assist your plumbing company to appear on the local search results page, skyrocket your website traffic and make it easier for potential clients to find your plumbing services online.

Your Google Business Profile offers visitors a snapshot of your company and services, including your logo, contact information, service area, client reviews, and pictures of successfully completed projects.

Read also: The ultimate guide to Google Business Profile for Plumbers

Here is what your Google Business Profile will appear like when a new client looks for a plumber in your service area.

7. Use Social Media Marketing to Get More Plumbing Customers Online

Social Media Marketing

From TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram to Facebook, just about everyone is on one social media platform at some point. Social media apps help people to stay connected, keep informed, and above all entertained.

And folks spend a lot of time on social media.

The average American spends over one hour on social media each day. This explains why social media advertising is one of the common forms of internet marketing.

Since anyone with a social media profile can utilize that profile to advertise, marketing on social media is technically free. But just like PPC ads or SEO, the most successful plumbing social media advertising efforts need a budget and specialized skill set.

Plus, social media marketing for plumbers takes time. Likely, more time than what most plumbers think.

Not only will be required to create and publish posts regularly but also remain active with your target audience or market. When they ask questions or leave comments, you should be able to respond to them promptly. That implies you have to be on your preferred social media networks a lot, yourself.

If you had already spent a good time on social media, this could be a surefire way to generate plumbing clients or leads. Otherwise, you may be required to hire a social media advertising agency for plumbers to help you out.

8. Invest in Email Marketing to Win More Plumbing Customers

Email Marketing

Another great way to obtain plumbing clients is by using targeted email marketing campaigns.

Sending regular emails to your client list promoting your plumbing services and reminding them of your top-notch services (such as plumbing system maintenance) keeps you on top of their mind. So when the client requires plumbing services, you are the first plumber they remember.

Targeted plumbing email marketing tends to be cheaper than conventional advertising and keeps your business top–of–mind for clients. To make email marketing work for your plumbing company, figure out the particular topics that will resonate with your target audience.

For instance:

  • Share informative and helpful tips to establish brand loyalty (e.g., signs that your water heater is failing)
  • Remind clients of recommended maintenance
  • Provide seasonal reminders to help clients keep their plumbing systems running optimally and smoothly.

9. Build a Plumbing Brand Your Clients Will Recognize and Love

Plumbing Brand

Creating a brand for your plumbing business is one of the best ways to attract and impress potential customers.

(It is also one of the effective ways of outranking the competition)

Once you have settled on the visual elements of your brand (like fonts, logo, and colors) ensure that you use them consistently throughout your plumber marketing efforts to assist new and existing clients recognize your business.

Related: 9 Inexpensive And Super-Effective Tricks For Branding Your Plumbing Business

10. Get More Plumbing Customers Through Content Marketing

Content Marketing

Content marketing involves crafting and distributing important information across multiple digital channels. Content, from blogs to videos to online reviews has profound impacts on your potential customers. They are one of the efficient ways to create a positive first impression on your target audience or market.

Quality content creation combined with great keyword research makes sure that your content is read and understood. You must set aside a section for a blog on your website where you can write quality SEO content related to the plumbing niche. If you handed over the task to a plumbing marketing agency, they will perform a competitor analysis to see what other plumbers are writing about.

But your content creation should not be restricted to blogs only; there are multiple ways to use your plumbing business’ content. For example, you can create infographics, videos, short films, and more with content strategies and promote them for appropriate channels for maximum reach. With numerous content marketing tools available, you can easily make sure that your content resonates with your target audience.

11. Get More Plumbing Customers with Local Service Ads

Local Service Ads

Local Services ads from Google are focused on small plumbing businesses that want to be rated highly and build the respect and trust of local buyers. Via the Local Services platform, plumbing contractors are able to buy advertising inventory that is best has the best search engine estate: the #1 spot of search results.

This is particularly helpful for mobile searches; which contribute to more than 60% of all online searches. That number is expected to increase over time.

Local service ads for plumbers get your business affordable customers from people actually looking for your services.

But you must apply for this service. If you are accepted, then you should set up a campaign while allocating a good budget. If you are still on the fence about what your budget should be, schedule a free discovery call with Blackstorm Design + Marketing to get started.

12. Get More Customers Through Plumbing Lead Generation Websites

Plumbing Lead Generation Websites

Another proven way to get more plumbing customers is by paying a lead generation company to do all the hard work for you.

If you have a good marketing budget that allows this option, then it makes a lot of sense to use it.

Listing your plumbing company on pay-per-call lead generation websites can put you in front of wallet-out prospects who are actively looking for your plumbing services- with minimal effort on your part.

These platforms are perfect if you provide kitchen or bathroom remodels and maintenance services. Just bid on the jobs you want and send quotes to potential clients.

You can also use them to collect client reviews and enhance your brand’s reputation (both online and offline).

13. Use Retargeting Ads to Get More Plumbing Customers Online

Have you ever noticed when you leave a specific website and then head over to Facebook, you will see an ad from the site you visited down on your feed? That’s retargeting in action.

Retargeting presents yet another way to get more plumbing customers in the form of pixels. Pixels are minor snippets of code you can put on your landing pages to record and track information about the behavior of users.

With such data, you can develop personalized service recommendations and retarget prospects with custom ads that show as previous website visitors browse other sites, like Google, Bing, and Facebook.

For example:

Retargeting Ads

If a prospect visits one of your plumbing service pages and clicks off without filling out a form or calling your business, then you can retarget only those people with ads that contain client testimonials, for instance, across other websites in the Google Display Network or even social media networks such as LinkedIn or Facebook.

Remember, most people don’t purchase plumbing services on their first visit to your website, so utilizing retargeting is a free and smart marketing strategy to re-engage non-converting leads and visitors.

14. Get More Plumbing Customers Offline Using the Following Strategies

More Plumbing Customers Offline

Ask for Referrals

Referrals are one of the inexpensive ways to get new plumbing customers-but if you sit down and wait for your existing customers to refer their family members and friends to your business, you could be waiting longer. Take charge by actively requesting referrals from your satisfied clients. Include a referral-generating activity in your sales process. For example, send out a follow-up email asking for a referral after you have completed a client’s plumbing project successfully.  Have your sales representatives ask for referrals when they follow up to answer questions after completing a project.

Network with Other Plumbing Contractors

Networking is crucial in each field.

Networking is crucial in each field. The approach helps you connect with other stakeholders in your industry. However, many plumbers don’t want to engage with their peers or colleagues. They wrongly that having a good relationship with their rivals is a bad idea.

If you hold the same school of thought, then you are wrong. Networking is a great way of expanding your client base. It assists you to get some tact in the plumbing industry because your colleagues can refer their customers to you in case they have excess on their end. You too can have sought their help when you get a client beyond your scope or service reach.

If you are still on the fence about how to get more plumbing customers, consider contacting local small businesses in your area. Most of them will be glad to use you or team up and refer their clients who require plumbing services to you as long as you are willing to return a favor. Some of the few businesses you can contact include; home inspection companies, pest control, pool companies, real estate agents or investors, and more.

Offer Superior Services to Your Customers

Prioritize customer services

There is no doubt that customers are the number one sales representative of any plumbing company. Your clients will bring their colleagues and peers to your plumbing business. But this will only happen if you offer satisfactory services.

If you want to get more plumbing customers, always provide exceptional customer experience and services. Remember, happy clients are equal to the more new business plus the introduction of more customers. So, prioritize customer services and you will experience an increase in your customer base within a very short timeframe.

Attend Trade Shows

Plumbing Trade Shows

Attending industry trade should be on top of your to-do list of plumbing advertising ideas. They not only offer tons of solutions for how to book more plumbing jobs and how to scale a plumbing company but also helps you to spy on your competitors, boost brand awareness and establish new business partnerships.

To make the most out of the trade shows, you should offer some irresistible to visitors, like a freebie or another incentive like contests, giveaways, coupons, and more.

Lastly, make sure that you are writing down the contact details of interested visitors and following up to advertise your plumbing services.

15. Get More Plumbing Customers Through Strategic Alliances

Strategic Alliances

Another great way to get more plumbing clients for free is to partner with other local businesses in your service area. That could be Lowe’s Home Depot and others. Creating a strategic partnership implies they will recommend you to their clients, display your marketing materials or business cards, and offer a steady stream of exclusive plumbing leads. So, get to networking!

16. Send Direct Mailers to Get More Plumbing Leads/Customers

Email marketing

Here is another plumbing marketing idea that can withstand the test of time; direct mailers. Yet another ‘prehistoric’ marketing strategy, but it is not ineffective. At present, people are more excited to receive postcards and mail than to obtain promotional emails from plumbing companies.

Use postcards to stir interest and grab attention. As many plumbing companies have abandoned the mailbox, you may also find direct mail as a unique way of standing out from the competition. Make sure that you hire a graphic designer to ensure that your direct mail gets the attention of your audience while enhancing your brand’s image.

17. Use Branded Plumbing Marketing Materials

Plumbing business card

Always ensure that you have something physical to give a prospect to carry with them and remind them of your plumbing company. The bare minimum would be to print business cards with your website name and URL on display.  Taking it a notch higher with swag like branded clothing and stationery is also a famous medium of getting your brand out there.

18. Wrap Your Plumbing Van to Make a Lasting Impression

Plumbing van wraps

Which one seems professional according to you?

A beat-up, dirty van with tools in the bed and no signage?

Or a well-maintained, clean van with a sleek logo on its side?

The one with a sleek plumbing logo, right? Adding a magnet or wrap to your work vans is an efficient way to make them appear more professional, while also leveraging the benefits of free advertising space. Your work vans are fundamentally billboards on wheels, so why not use it?

19. Get More Plumbing Customers by Canvassing the Area

Canvassing an area to get more plumbing clients for free.

Canvassing an area to get more plumbing clients for free may seem like an old-school marketing strategy, but your ideal plumbing customers are likely to book jobs with you and remember your business when they connect a face to your company. If you want to try canvassing, try it after you have completed a nearby project.

To achieve great results, remember to:

  • Always be courteous and polite, even if you don’t obtain the reaction you want.
  • Set a goal for every interaction: obtain their contact details, give them your business card
  • Have a script ready so you are well prepared
  • Follow up with prospects after getting their details-you could include them on your mailing list.

20. Use Nextdoor to Get More Plumbing Customers in Neighborhoods with Older Homes

Nextdoor website

Nextdoor is nowadays being utilized in more than 90% of American neighborhoods to find local home service providers, such as roofers or plumbers, and can be a goldmine to get new plumbing clients. What makes this app attractive is its verification process, which ensures that the people who are listed in the Neighborhood actually reside there.

You can use Nextdoor to scope out neighborhoods with older homes that are likely to require new pipes, new buildings that require plumbing installations, and neighborhoods that have a history of offering large-scale plumbing jobs.

To get started, register on the platform and get verified. Then, watch out for posts where users are asking about plumbing service contractors. 24% of all posts are homeowners requesting for home improvement service providers, so you should be able to book more plumbing jobs with this app.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Get More Plumbing Customers

FAQs

How do you get more plumbing leads?

There are several strategies that you can use to generate plumbing leads including creating a professional plumbing website, using SEO to make it easier for people to find your site, email marketing, social media advertising, online reputation management, and more.

What is plumbing lead?

A plumbing lead is a prospect expressing interest in your services by submitting their contact details via a phone call or submitting an online form.

Why hire a marketing agency to get more plumbing customers?

Plumbing marketing agencies have numerous tools and expertise that can assist you to understand your client’s preferences which informs your advertising strategies.  An agency will also help you save money because you will not have to commit all your time doing keyword research, or paid ads in which you are unsure of your performance.

Let Blackstorm Design + Marketing Help You Get More Plumbing Customers (Offline and Online)

A good plumbing lead generation campaign fuels your sales funnel.

Any of the strategies discussed above can be a game-changer in getting more clients for your plumbing business.

A good plumbing lead generation campaign fuels your sales funnel and ensures that you have no shortage of new customers. If you are still unsure about how to get more plumbing customers even after reading this article, we are here to help you.

Blackstorm Design + Marketing is a premier internet marketing agency for plumbers and home service contractors. Our team specializes in running plumbing marketing campaigns that generate exclusive leads for plumbers across the country.

Schedule a free discovery call with Blackstorm Design + Marketing to learn how our experts can help take your plumbing marketing campaign to the next level.

Categories
Marketing Plumbing

The Ultimate Guide of How to Start a Plumbing Business in 12 Steps

Becoming a self-employed plumber has many benefits. Starting your own plumbing business, calling all the shots, and being the boss are all very great aspirations for any plumber with an entrepreneurial urge.

If you are reading this post for the first time, you have probably been figuring out how to start your plumbing business for a while but haven’t yet made up your mind. Or, you may have been working for another plumbing contractor and feel that it’s time to become your own boss.

The plumbing industry is growing rapidly, and there is a high demand for licensed and experienced plumbers in the US is high, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With the current plumbing industry pegged at $124 billion (and constantly growing everyday), there has never been a great time to start a plumbing business than now. Furthermore, many plumbing business owners currently in the field are attaining retirement age, leaving great opportunities for more plumbers to break into this lucrative industry.

For many home service contractors like roofers or plumbers, the prospect of starting their own companies provides a way out of the grind, offering great freedom and income than working for a private plumbing company.

We have you covered if you are among the many experienced and licensed plumbers who want to know how to start a plumbing business. But launching a successful business will take more than your plumbing know-how and experience. Read on to learn everything you require to know from registering your business, general advice, and marketing tips to managing your cash flow.

Without further ado, let us dive into our post!

Benefits of Starting a Plumbing Business

there are multiple benefits to charting your own path in the plumbing industry

Working for other plumbing contractors can sometimes get exhausting, particularly if there’s little room for growth. If you are not making ends meet despite getting burnt out from working overtime for a company, starting your own plumbing company may be the solution.

While creating a new plumbing business from the ground up can feel overwhelming initially, there are multiple benefits to charting your own path in the plumbing industry that make the challenge worth your time and effort. Here are some of the advantages that you can enjoy when you decide to start your plumbing business.

Great Earning Potential

A plumber

One of the major benefits of starting your own plumbing business is the possibility of higher income potential. As a self-employed plumber, you will have full control of your business’s revenues. This implies that you can go out and book as much work as necessary to raise the higher income as possible without being restricted to jobs that your former boss would assign. It also means that you have full control of how much you charge for every job and how income is to be split between new supplies, paychecks, and other important costs.

The average salary for self-employed plumbers in the US is approximately $38 per hour or just under $80,000 annually. Although these salary scales vary from one state to another, experienced and established plumbers who start a plumbing company stand to earn more than those who work as employees. If you plan to do a fair share of work on your own, you will have fewer labor expenses, benefits, and insurance to distribute as well, offering you even a greater share of the income.

Independent Work Schedule

you have full control over who your customers are and when you partner with them

A good reason to start a plumbing business is the independent job schedule that comes with it. When you start a plumbing company, you have full control over who your customers are and when you partner with them. Self-employed plumbers are only bound by the plumbing projects they have already accepted. This flexibility helps you to select and pick the jobs you want to book instead of just responding to work orders offered by the dispatcher.

If you want to schedule residential plumbing jobs, you can concentrate on partnering with homeowners or property managers in your service area or create a strong customer base among households in nearby communities. When it comes to contractual work and plumbing repair jobs, you need to complete jobs in a timely manner as part of superior customer service. But, when scheduling future jobs, you have full flexibility when it comes to selecting the hours and days that you will work.

Room for Growth

skilled tradespersons

The scarcity of skilled tradespersons, including plumbing contractors, continues to increase the demand for plumbers across the U.S, particularly in the current market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there has been a major shortage of licensed and experienced plumbers across the US. With demand for skilled and licensed plumbers exceeding supply, you have an opportunity to bargain for higher pay, particularly for those starting their own plumbing business.

Customer Interaction

a plumber and a client

A self-employed plumber is typically able to meet with every client individually. Whether these customers are homeowners that require a pipe to be repaired or general contractors who would like to start a new project, a self-employed plumber will accurately represent his business and offer appropriate customer service for the situation at hand. This can translate to higher earnings through client loyalty and excellent services.

Choose a Specialty You Enjoy

Starting your plumbing business helps you to handpick jobs that you have specialized in

Starting your plumbing business helps you to handpick jobs that you have specialized in –such as steam fitting, installing sprinkler systems, or pipe fitting. Becoming an expert on a specific type of plumbing work will set you apart from the competition and potentially earn a higher revenue in the process. Finding a high-value niche within the plumbing industry can also lead to huge contracts with large companies that wish to outsource the very best to meet their specific plumbing needs.

Starting a reputable plumbing business involves a lot of things more than knowing how to repair or install pipes. A successful plumbing company needs patience, knowledge, people management skills, and perseverance, among other traits. In this post, we will discuss the whole process of how to start a plumbing business. So, wear your entrepreneurial hat, and let’s dive in!

How much Money Do You Need to Start a Plumbing Services Business?

you will need set money aside for website setup, marketing, and advertising expenses

Are you wondering about the amount of money you require in order to start a plumbing business? Well, there are a lot of factors that are involved to help you determine the actual cost of starting a plumbing company. Some of the startup expenses may include staff uniforms, business registration requirements like licenses and insurance, vans, and trucks amongst others. Furthermore, you will need set money aside for website setup, marketing, and advertising expenses. But if you want to start a plumbing company with no money will no doubt cost you everything that you treasure.

Is Starting a Plumbing Business Hard?

Starting a new plumbing business is not easy

Starting a new plumbing business is not easy as there are other established plumbers already operating in this field. Furthermore, you will be competing with the same clients, and your small plumbing business will have to aggressively advertise or market its services. But there are many other important aspects that you need to figure out when making a solid dive into starting a plumbing business.

12 Steps to Starting a Plumbing Business From Scratch

Starting a Plumbing Business

As earlier stated, there is more to starting a plumbing business than just registering it with the state. Launching a successful plumbing business takes energy, commitment, and time. While it may seem challenging at first, the process becomes much simpler to navigate once you understand the basics. If you are still on the fence about how to start a plumbing business but don’t know where to start, our simple eleven-step guide will help you get started!

1. To Start a Plumbing Company, Save Money

Save Money

Just like any other investment, to start a plumbing business, you will require money to fund your dream project. Your savings should be sufficient to support your unique business requirements, and it should include your working capital which will depend on your business model and needs. As a beginner, most plumbing contractors recommend a slow growth rate initially. In this case, you should aim to recover the initial cost of machinery before purchasing more.

2. Define your Plumbing Business Before You Start

a) Select a Name for Your Plumbing Business

Plumbing business name

The initial step to starting a plumbing company is to select your business’s name.

This is a very crucial decision because your business name is your brand and will last for the lifespan of your company. Ideally, you should pick a name that is memorable and meaningful. Here are our top tips for selecting a name for your plumbing business:

  • Keep it simple. The best plumbing business names are normally easy to spell, pronounce and remember.
  • Ensure that it’s available. Check your preferred name against trademark databases and a list of the registered business name to see if it’s available.
  • Think about marketing. Choose a plumbing business name that reflects the focus of your company or desired brand.

b) Choose What Plumbing Services You Will Provide

plumbing niche

Choosing to focus on a specialty with the plumbing niche will make your plumbing company stand out from other plumbers in your region. This will not only bring repeat clients but also tons of referrals. Niches in the plumbing business include:

  • Plumbing repair, installation, or both: Your plumbing company can also provide loads of installation and repair services. These can include clogged drains, leakages, installation of pipes, and repair of flooded basements.
  • Commercial or residential plumbing: You may opt to specialize in providing residential or commercial m plumbing services.
  • Emergency plumbing
  • Backflow testing and repair

c) Understand Your Ideal Target Market

Target Market

Knowing your ideal target clients can assist you to define your policies to suit their interests and preferences. For instance, because you are starting a plumbing business, your potential clients would include homeowners and business owners in the area where your plumbing business is situated.

3. Create a Plumbing Business Plan

Business Plan

A business plan is synonymous with a plumbing diagram for your company’s sales strategy. It describes the routes to your business success and how elements like cash flow and marketing can contribute to a healthy plan. A plumbing business plan can help to persuade suppliers, plumbers, and lenders to support your company.

A good plumbing business plan should include the following:

company overview

  • Executive summary – This section should summarize your whole business plan so readers can instantly understand the main details of your plumbing business.
  • Company overview – This section tells the reader about the history of your plumbing business and what kind of services you offer.
  • Industry Analysis – Here you will point out the key details about the plumbing business. Perform marketing research and document how large the plumbing industry is and what trends are influencing it.
  • Customer Analysis – Here you will document who your ideal or target market is plus their demographics.
  • Financial projections
  • Marketing strategies
  • Growth opportunities
  • Long-term/short-term goals
  • Financing options

A clear plumbing business plan is important for success as a plumber, and it will assist you to map out the specifics of your company and discover the unknowns.

4. Form a Legal Entity: Select a Plumbing Business Structure, Register Your Company and Obtain Appropriate Licenses

Legal Entity

The most common plumbing business types are sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), partnership, and corporation.

Starting a plumbing business such as a corporation or LLC safeguards you from being personally responsible if your plumbing company is sued.

You will need to have a plumbing company legally set up before you begin taking on your initial customers.

Use our checklist below to get started:

Select Your Legal Business Structure

Choose between a sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company.

Choose between a sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company. Choosing a great legal entity will assist you to maximize your operational success and financial opportunities. The main kinds of legal business structures include:

  • Sole Proprietorship: In this type of structure, you run your own plumbing business without a specific structure. Your personal liabilities, business, or assets are not separated.
  • LLC (Highly recommended): This plumbing business structure will safeguard your assets from your plumbing business liabilities. All the losses and profits in this kind of entity are typically taxed as loss or income loss to the plumbing business owner. This is the most preferred legal structure for a plumbing business.
  • S-Corp: These corporations are also preferred, but they have a limit on the maximum number of members. S-Corps offer small plumbing businesses a tax benefit by getting waivers on Corporate taxes.

Register Your Plumbing Business Name

ensure that no other plumber is using your plumbing company name

If you want to start a plumbing business in the US, perform a quick search to ensure that no other plumber is using your plumbing company name, and then register your business name with the local state authorities.

Register Your Plumbing Business with IRS

egister your plumbing business with Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Next, you require to register your plumbing business with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will prompt the IRS to offer you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Most banks will require you to have an EIN so that you can open an account with them. Furthermore, to hire technicians, you will need an EIN because it helps the IRS to track your Payroll tax payments.

But if you are a self-employed plumber without employees, you don’t need to have an EIN. Instead, you would use your Social Security Number(SSN) as your taxpayer identification number.

Open a Plumbing Business Bank Account

It is crucial to open a bank account in your plumbing business name. This is the initial step towards legitimizing your plumbing company idea. A bank account in your plumbing business name will assist you when filing taxes. It will also help you in tracking down your expenses, managing salaries, receiving or deposit payments, and planning your plumbing business budget more accurately. Here are some crucial things that you need to do after opening a bank account for your plumbing business:

  • Get a business credit card: This will help you separate business from personal expenses.
  • Obtain checks: Most clients still prefer to write checks, and that’s why you should write checks. You may also realize the need for accepting client checks instead of the bustle and hustles of processing credit card payments.
  • A credit line (possibly):  A credit line can be likened to a financial safety net, and it helps you have extra funds whenever you require them. You won’t require to finish cumbersome applications or vet potential lenders to obtain extra funds.

Get the Right Insurance

your plumbing company requires appropriate insurance

From the first day you start your plumbing business, you expose yourself to various risks. Your plumbing business is at risk even before beginning your first project. That’s why your plumbing company requires appropriate insurance. One lawsuit could threaten to close your business even before it starts. There are different kinds of insurance you will require to start a plumbing business. The most common plumbing company insurances include:

1. Professional liability insurance – This is also known as omissions and errors insurance; this will assist to pay for the expenses of a lawsuit over a plumbing defect. Professional liability insurance is appropriate for your plumbing business since your niche involves interacting with clients and recommending specific plumbing products and services. It safeguards your plumbing business from the cost of lawsuits if your advice or recommendations results in a loss to your client.

2. General Liability Insurance – This insurance is strongly recommended for plumbing business owners. It covers everything from customer injuries, client property damages, and other related lawsuits that may arise. If your plumbing business is sued as a result of property damage or injury, you may be required to pay a lump sum amount in terms of compensation. General liability insurance will assist you to cover this kind of eventuality.

3. Workers Compensation – Most states require plumbing contractors and businesses-even without employees –to have workers’ compensation insurance to cater for the cost of injured employees and medical expenses and compensate them for lost wages.

4. Commercial auto insurance – if your plumbing business is using vehicles to ferry equipment and employees to and fro job sites, you will require vehicle insurance to cover any damages in case of an accident.

5. Umbrella Insurance While general liability insurance caters for most claims, you may obtain accidents or lawsuits that may be so tragic that they can threaten to deplete your primary cover. In this case, the umbrella insurance will protect you from paying out-of-pocket fees to cater for damages that exceed your primary policy.

Pro tip: Find an insurance broker, tell them about your plumbing business and its unique requirements, and they will recommend policies and prices that match those needs.

Apply for the Required Permits and Licenses

In order to start a plumbing business, you will be required to obtain the necessary licenses and permits. The requirements for licensing vary from state to state. Permits and licenses help you operate a legal plumbing business. You can get plumbing business from your town hall or city. A plumbing company may require the following permits and licenses:

A General Plumbing Business License: A general plumber license helps you to hire subcontractors and get respect among prospects and fellow workers. But, getting a state plumbing license is a cumbersome and involving process, which requires you to meet particular qualifications along the way.

Local plumbing business permit: You can get a local plumbing business permit from your town or city hall. The government may be needed to do zoning, planning, and safety inspection approvals before offering you the permit.

Hire an Accounting Firm and Bookkeeper

Bookkeeping will assist you to keep accurate financial records. Moreover, the law stipulates also plumbing companies maintain accurate books and records.

Do try to do accounting or bookkeeping on your own unless you are professionally trained and experienced in this field. Trying to micromanage everything on your own will make you lose focus and grit, which can affect the growth of your plumbing business. Hiring a professional accountant and bookkeeper will assist you to avoid these errors.

5. Establish Your Pricing

set your pricing

After you have completed your research on the demand for plumbing services in your area, it’s time to set your pricing. Yes, you will want to provide competitive pricing to attract new clients, but you should consider your overhead and pay your bills.

Come up with a budget that includes all your expenses such as labor, insurance, materials, marketing, rent, and other recurring, outgoing costs. Once you have an overview of your yearly and monthly overheads, you will have a clear grasp of pricing and the number of customers you will require to maintain a consistent cash flow.

6. When You Start a Plumbing Business, you will require to Nurture/Form Relationships

Establishing your plumbing business as a credible entity

When starting a plumbing business, it is important that you form and nurture relationships with suppliers, employees, and subcontractors. Establishing your plumbing business as a credible entity is crucial to helping you dominate your local service area.

Outsource or Hire the Plumbing Work

Outsourcing some plumbing jobs

Outsourcing some plumbing jobs can ease the stress and time constraints that may be caused by working alone. Although you may prefer these services yourself, outsourcing some tasks to plumbers that specialize in a specific aspect of your plumbing business will offer relief, especially when working on fixed timelines.

Hire Professionals

Professionals succeed because they have diverse suggestions or ideas of how best to attain desired results on a particular project. When starting a plumbing company, you should leverage this diversity and hire professionals to bring fresh perspectives and unique ideas to your plumbing business. True professionals will actually save you money by offering expert opinions on matters.

7. Acquire the Right Plumbing Tools, Equipment, and Financing

Plumbing Tools

With your plumbing business plan ready, it’s time to start seeking financial aid from venture capital firms, banks, and other sources of funds. Schedule meetings with financial or credit managers and table your business plan for consideration. Make sure that you open a checking account beforehand to make sure that your company income and private assets remain separate entirely. By so doing, you will give your plumbing business more credibility and safeguard you from potential liabilities in the future.

Once you identify an interested partner to invest in your new plumbing business, you can figure out the best way how you will utilize the funds. Buying a few important plumbing tools and equipment will save you from going to the hardware store for each job service.

But don’t risk all your working capital into buying new shiny plumbing equipment. Begin with the fundamentals, purchased used if you can, and only buy or rent equipment for specialized jobs if you have the skills, license, and customer demand.

Here are some inventory, safety equipment, and tools that you will need to keep in your toolbox.

Inventory and Supplies

Pipes (both copper and plastic)

  • Inlet valves
  • Pipes (both copper and plastic)
  • Fittings
  • Thermostats
  • Elements

Safety Equipment

Plumbing water pipe and safety gloves

  • Heat shields
  • Plumbing gloves
  • Knee pads
  • Safety goggles

Plumbing tools

Plumbing tools

  • Pipe cutters
  • Grips
  • Hacksaws
  • Hand tool set
  • Cordless battery toolset

Besides, you may also want to purchase a reliable van or truck strictly for your plumbing business purposes.

8. Market Your Plumbing Business Locally

Promote plumbing business

Once everything is set, it’s now time to market your small plumbing business and generate qualified leads. By now, you have identified who your ideal client is, and you just require to be strategic to get in front of them.

Spending time on digital marketing strategies is a necessity that few plumbing businesses can afford to ignore today. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on marketing or advertising agencies, especially when starting out a plumbing business. Instead, try to focus on simple plumbing marketing strategies to generate exclusive leads for your business.

Define Your Brand

Creating a strong brand helps to differentiate your plumbing business from the competition. It is a representation of what your plumbing company stands for, goals, and values for business and client success. Depending on the type of plumbing business you want to start, defining and developing your brand involves the following steps:

Create a Good Plumbing Logo

Plumbing Logo

Your plumbing logo is one of your best marketing materials since it is what prospects or clients see when they think about your business. It can represent value for money, reliability, and quality. Your company logo is essential because it will be plastered across all advertising mediums or formats. It often represents your first impression to prospects or clients, so make it count! To make it happen, you can choose to hire a professional logo design agency with a large portfolio of successful designs.

Market and Promote Your Brand

Advertise Your Brand

Now that you have established your brand, it’s time to market or promote it. Outrank your competitors by assisting people to remember your brand while also showcasing professionalism.

Informational/ Promotional Posts can be an effective way of drumming up support for your plumbing business and getting your brand name out there. Printing high-quality fliers and brochures describing your plumbing services and distributing them to local plumbing businesses is a great method for improving local brand awareness.

Professional and well-designed business cards are a tried and proven way of building brand awareness for any plumbing business owner. The good thing with business cards is that they are easy to carry because you never can tell when a marketing opportunity can present itself. A savvy plumber is always on the lookout for a new source of prospects or clients.

Email Marketing is an easy yet effective way to offer a huge ROI on a small budget. It provides a great way of putting your plumbing business in front of thousands of prospects at once or promoting a new plumbing service or offer.

9. Establish a Vibrant Online Presence Before You Start a Plumbing Business

A professional plumbing website is an invaluable marketing tool for any plumber.

Since most of your clients will be searching for your plumbing services online, make it hassle-free for them to find your business with a few internet marketing strategies for plumbers.

A professional plumbing website is an invaluable marketing tool for any plumber. It offers a great way of gathering information from prospects or clients, sharing more information about your offerings, and reaching out to learn more.

For many new plumbing businesses, the prospect of creating a professional website can seem expensive and overwhelming, and this couldn’t be further from reality. In fact, there are tons of affordable and easy ways to obtain a custom website for your plumbing company without hiring expensive freelance web developers or web design agencies.

10. Create a Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile

Since most clients turn to the internet to find new plumbing businesses like yours, it is important to claim your Google Business Profile as soon as possible. This profile provides a lot of helpful information for clients at glance-including closing and opening hours, location, and your company’s telephone number. From your profile page, prospects or clients can navigate straight to your plumbing website for more specific details about your business and the services you offer.

Related: The Ultimate Guide for Google Business Profile for Plumbers

With time, clients will start to leave pleasant reviews of their experiences on Google Business Profile- something that will distinguish your plumbing company from low-rated plumbers online.

11. You Will Need to Obtain Leads After You Start a Plumbing Business

generate leads

Generating leads is one of the main challenges faced by new plumbing businesses. But, obtaining high-value qualified leads is key to any new plumbing business. Here are some tips on how to generate leads for your new plumbing company.

  • Invest in plumbing SEO: SEO provides a great platform to offer valuable plumbing content to your potential customers and generate leads for your business. Plumbing SEO has a lot of benefits for your company; it brings in the highest volume of leads in your service area, and it’s a long-term investment that will pay off in the long run.
  • Take out PPC search Ads: Although expensive, PPC is among the most effective and fastest ways to generate leads for your plumbing business. Your ads will begin to run in less than a week if you do it properly. Plumbing PPC ads have the following advantages; they will help you get hot leads that are actively searching for a plumber in the area, and although it’s expensive, it has immediate results.

12. Focus on Scheduling Service Appointments When You First Start a Plumbing Business

After setting up your plumbing business and all the marketing strategies in place, you will begin to schedule service appointments with existing and potential customers. When scheduling an appointment, always remember the following:

Politely and Promptly Answer the Phone

answering the phone call

Always answer your business phone call instantly since such calls are the lifeblood of any plumbing business (so treat them with utmost importance).

Gather Information

Record all the information regarding a specific project properly. Avoid errors of omission, which lead to underpricing or overpricing of a particular project.

Customer Satisfaction

Make sure that your customers are satisfied by being empathetic and helpful. Work with client’s schedules to avoid any inconveniences that may cause clients to be dissatisfied.

13. After You Start a Plumbing Business: You Need to Build Systems

With time, your plumbing business will require systems that resonate with the current technology. There are several kinds of technologies developed to help plumbing businesses complete tasks and function effectively. A properly established system helps technical or service teams, salespeople, and office staff to manage all plumbing projects easily.

14. Once You Get Started: Improve on Everything

proper planning

Plumbing is a service-based industry, and the revenues can fluctuate from time to time. Factors such as weather patterns and natural calamities will significantly affect your profits. That’s why plumbing business owners require a lot of proper planning to increase their profits. Growing your plumbing business depends on new customers and ideas, which can be attained by:

  • Regularly updating your plumbing website
  • Improving your plumbing advertising strategies
  • Improving your customer satisfaction
  • Broadening your selling skills and increasing the closing rate

Final Advice and Tips About How to Start a Plumbing Business

While it takes a lot of hard work and time to start a plumbing business, it doesn’t have to be a daunting task every step of the way. Having access to the right knowledge and resources can make the process less overwhelming. Here are a few tips that will assist your new plumbing business to thrive in an increasingly competitive market landscape.

Don’t Try to Micromanage Everything On Your Own

consider hiring additional plumbing technicians

Gone are the days when plumbers felt compelled to take on a huge share of daily responsibilities alone. As a plumbing business owner, you can make life easier by hiring administrative staff to deal with incoming calls, contact clients concerning overdue invoices, and schedule meetings with potential employees. You may also consider hiring additional plumbing technicians if you are currently struggling to keep up with work orders.

Plan to Take Time Off

take some time off work for family trips or weekend vacations

Whenever possible, take some time off work for family trips or weekend vacations. Working more than 10 hours daily can make you feel exhausted quickly, so try to execute delegation as much as possible to minimize the workload. While there is still an urge to micromanage everything to keep your business operating smoothly, it is highly recommended that you rely on the support of your staff when you require it.

Always Develop Ways to Reduce Overhead Costs

Reduce Overhead Costs

Finding ways to cut unnecessary costs will help you to keep your company profitable and offer the much-needed buffer for times when there are no jobs.

If fuel expenses on your company vehicles are too high, think of investing in more efficient renewable energy sources like electric or natural gas.

Another money-saving tip is to only buy plumbing supplies as they are required instead of stocking them up in advance. Purchasing in bulk may appear like a great idea, but your space may end up getting full that you don’t have space for storing crucial equipment.

Always Reward Yourself and Your Team for a Project Well Done

After completing an important milestone or project, show your appreciation by taking your team out for dinner or giving them a gift card to a local hardware store. You can also share a portion of your yearly profits with employees, admins, and supervisors.

Giving back to people who make your plumbing business successful will motivate them to strive even harder for the prospect of getting a huge bonus next year.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Start a Plumbing Business

FAQs

How do I start a plumbing business from the ground up?

To start a successful plumbing company, you should:

  1. Select a name for your plumbing business
  2. Write a business plan
  3. Select your preferred business structure
  4. Register your plumbing business legally
  5. Decide on the kind of plumbing services you will provide to clients
  6. Hire additional plumbing technicians and other administrative staff.
  7. Develop a cutthroat plumbing marketing strategy
  8. Offer a good experience to your clients and establish loyalty

Is a plumbing business profitable?

Yes, a plumbing business is a lucrative business idea since every home or business required clean water and a functional sewerage system.

What do you require to start a plumbing business?

To start a plumbing company, you need:

  • Business Registration
  • Skilled plumbers and labors
  • Professional with sales and marketing skills
  • Plumbing materials
  • Business Insurance
  •  Plumbing work training

How do you price plumbing jobs?

While pricing your plumbing services, you should:

  • First, understand the scope of work
  • Estimate labor costs and material costs
  • Calculate overhead costs
  • Add your preferred profit margin to the breakeven of the plumbing job
  • Create and share your plumbing bid.

Are you ready to start a plumbing business?

start a plumbing business

Starting a plumbing business isn’t the easiest process, but multiple generations of plumbers know how lucrative it can be. Plumbing contractors are naturally hardworking and resourceful and continue to make their companies work.

At the same time, home service contracting businesses like plumbing or roofing have the highest rate of closure in the initial first five years. So the huge challenge is beginning on a strong foundation and remaining successful.

That’s why the best advice we can offer you if you are searching for information about how to start a plumbing business is this: Don t go it all alone. Partner with people that will offer you resources and support your efforts translate into real business success.

Do you have any questions or inquiries about starting a plumbing business?

Schedule a free discovery call with Blackstorm Design + Marketing, and our experts will be happy to help you launch your plumbing marketing campaign today.

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