The plumbing profession is still very lucrative in the UK. Today, plumbers earn great wages, and enjoy excellent work-life balance and benefits. Similar to electricians and engineers, plumbers are integral to the smooth running of British businesses and homes. The latest statistics show that in the UK, the plumbing industry generated a revenue of £17.2 billion in 2022 alone. And this year, over 180,000 people earn a living as plumbers.
Starting your own plumbing business can be fulfilling, particularly if you are passionate about it.
A lot of plumbers kick off their careers by becoming an apprentice or working under contract for a more experienced plumber. However, as they progress in the business and get more exposure and training, it is typical for them to desire independence and become an entrepreneur.
This article will explore all you have to know about launching your own plumbing business. We will look at some of the advantages of beginning this type of business and identify the key steps you need to take to become your boss.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
What are the Benefits of Launching a Plumbing Business?
The demand for plumbers has always been on a steady increase. This implies that there is a tremendous scale of opportunity for you because of the high availability of work.
Let’s explore some of the major advantages of launching a plumbing business.
Limited availability of tradesmen: The number of plumbing professionals has been on a steady decline, which means their services are in high demand.
A wide variety of plumbing specialization: There are so many specializations in plumbing. This gives you plenty of options to delve into.
Excellent wage: Plumbers earn good money from the start.
Work when and where you want: Another benefit of launching a plumbing business is that you have the discretion to choose who your clients will be and the kind of job you will do for them. You can settle for residential or commercial plumbing.
Important Steps to Launching a Successful Plumbing Business
Choose a specialisation
Although plumbers mostly fix pipes and install taps, it is becoming more competitive in those kinds of common services. For a new plumbing business, you wouldn’t want to center your business in an oversaturated field. This is the reason you need to choose an area of specialization.
Carry out some research to find out the less competitive plumbing areas. For instance, your business can install, inspect, service, and repair custom, bespoke bathtubs.
Your area of specialisation can be residential alone. Or in commercial and industrial facilities like schools, factories, or places of business. Always be sure to opt for a field you are very competent in.
Another benefit of choosing a plumbing business is to be more efficient. As a new business, your budget will be limited, so branching into many plumbing specializations pose a challenge for your resources.
Set up an engaging website
Another step that is easily overlooked at the early stage is creating a strong online presence.
One of the best ways to do this is by setting up a website.You mustn’t delay your plumbing business website development so you won’t lose out on valuable opportunities.
For instance, you can use the newly launched website to guage customer interest in your speciallsation as well as run some pre-launch marketing campaigns, which can create awareness and build momentum for your brand.
Since most local plumber website designers in the UK often take time to build an engaging website, be sure to plan early enough to have one running once your business launches.
Your website should offer every important detail your customers seek. This includes the kind of service you provide, opening hours, and pricing. Also, add educational blog articles or DIY articles that are relevant to your business to position your website as an authority.
Training and certification
Before you launch your plumbing business, you have to be highly knowledgeable. This way, you will create a pathway for your business. So you need to have the right plumbing education to equip you with the necessary skills for the business. Also, you can train your workers in different plumbing specializations.
This is highly beneficial as it helps you grow your expertise in the industry. Also, with proper training and licensing, you can create a solid brand identity.
Craft a comprehensive business plan
Now that you have envisioned a structure for your plumbing business, the next step is to create a business plan that explores the multifarious aspects of your new company. This business plan should delve into all details of your business operations, from target market, pricing, and purchase of equipment to projected income and expenses, branding, competition analysis, and source of funding.
This is important for creating a robust business strategy, helping you properly understand the numbers involved in your business, and gaining insight into your market.
Insure your business
Plumbers face numerous kinds of risk. And many customers will stay away from uninsured plumbing companies. For this reason, you have to get business insurance for your business once you have acquired the licenses and permits.
Through business insurance, you can be certain that your business financial health is handled adequately and adequately safeguarded against unforeseen risks. And with plumbing insurance, you can be protected from lawsuits and settlements.
Promote Your Services
There are plenty of strategies for promoting your business and engaging your target audience:
Firstly, you can start by building trust through referral marketing. This means you can offer an incentive (like a discount) to your present customers if they recommend your service to their loved ones, families, and friends and offer a reward to new customers for their patronage. With this, you grow your customer retention and build brand loyalty.
Another effective business promotional strategy is search engine optimization and search engine marketing. Engage with plumber SEO specialists to improve your business reach by listing your brand on directories and citation services.
One of the objectives of these approaches is for your site and contact details to rank first when customers or prospects search using keywords such as “plumber near me”. With local SEO, your web pages will be properly enhanced for these keywords to rank organically. However, PPC is more pricey as it drives traffic through short-term, quick results.
Start your plumbing business now
Launching your business can be a bit nerve-racking, however, these strategies will serve as a comprehensive guide for your new plumbing enterprise.
