How Do I Start My Own Air Conditioning Business?
For those who live in the South, when the AC goes out, it often feels like a matter of life and death. An air-conditioning company that can respond quickly will do well servicing the community. You need to be trained and licensed as well as motivated enough to obtain your own clientele and business savvy enough to keep track of the accounting. Until your business takes off, you can easily operate out of your home, which will save you thousands of dollars in overhead.
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Things You'll Need
- AC certification
- Contractor's license
- Liability insurance
- Bonding coverage
- Business plan
- Commercial van
- Tools and equipment
Instructions
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Learn the skills and obtain certification in AC or HVAC repair. If necessary, obtain a state contractor's license. Contact your state licensing department to get details about licensing, to schedule the exam and to learn what the bonding and business insurance requirements are for your industry. Visit the Air Conditioning Contractors of America for information on education and training, membership and the latest industry news.
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Get licensed, bonded and insured. Contact your county clerk to obtain your business license, your insurance provider to get connected to a business liability insurance provider and a bonding agent to obtain a surety bond. Generally, you will need to demonstrate financial health and provide a business plan to be approved for a bond.
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Invest in a commercial utility van for your AC business. Outfit your van with your business name, contact information and the fact that you're licensed and insured. Other tools and equipment you'll need include wrenches, a uniform, screwdrivers, gloves, steel-toed boots, a leak detector and duct tape. Invest in booties, which you can wear over your shoes to avoid traipsing dirt through your clients' homes. They'll appreciate your efforts to minimize the damage and may refer you to others for this reason alone. The every extra effort can help set your business apart from the competition.
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Find a local supplier of AC units, thermostats and replacement parts. While shopping online may be cheaper, you need parts in a timely fashion, unless you have a warehouse or storage area where you can store common units or parts. It may be worthwhile to open a business account with local suppliers to nab wholesale rates. Just be sure to pay off your account in a timely fashion to keep your name in good standing.
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Hire a 24-hour answering service to take calls for you, such as when you're with a client and taking a phone call would be an inappropriate interruption. Potential customers are much more likely to use your services if when they call, they reach a human instead of an answering machine.
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Submit your business to the Yellow Pages, online and off. Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews online at consumer-driven sites such as Angie's List. Also ask them if you can leave signs in their yard advertising your services.
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Contact property managers and realtors around town to pitch your services and inform them of your commitment to timely quality service. Warehouse owners with refrigeration units are another viable market, but keep in mind that as you begin to obtain bigger, consistent gigs, you'll need to ensure that you can respond in a timely fashion. At that point, begin looking to hire an apprentice and licensed contractor.
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Tips & Warnings
Invest in accounting software such as Quicken and Quickbooks or AC management software such as Wintac to help you better manage your payroll, tax liability, customers, revenue and expenses.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit aire acondicionado image by Antoni Traver from Fotolia.com
