How to Run a Plumbing Service Business
Plumbers usually repair or replace leaks and appliances, such as bathroom toilets or air-conditioning units. Successful plumbing services must respond knowledgeably and quickly to customer needs, and be on call 24 hours a day if necessary.
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Instructions
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Assess the current status of your existing plumbing business. For instance, review accounting books and employee records to determine if areas of improvement can be made in terms of finances or human resources. Track the actual cost of each employee on a daily or weekly basis so that you can calculate average profits.
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Purchase necessary supplies or equipment but minimize inventory. Buy only basic tools like ladders and plumbers tapes, or decide that every plumber should maintain his own well-stocked truck. Avoid excessive spending on rarely used supplies.
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Price your services reasonably. Give free consultations that last less than 20 minutes or charge a $75 fee to diagnose a plumbing issue. Evaluate your competitors' fees and services to understand the market rates for plumbing services.
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Advertise on your plumbing trucks, such as by posting your website address and telephone number. Create refrigerator magnets that customers can refer to easily. Always carry a set of business cards so that you can quickly provide contact information to potential clients.
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Conduct random customer evaluations to ensure that your staff provides quality service. Mail clients postage-paid brief surveys within one week of each visit. Establish a complaints, suggestions, and comments section on your plumbing website to receive client feedback.
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Tips & Warnings
Break-even point refers to the amount of revenue you must generate to cover the company's expenses. If your plumbing service spends $5,000 a month on salaries, supplies and rent, you must receive at least $5,000 in sales revenue to break even.
As your plumbing business expands, run criminal background checks when you hire more employees.
References
Resources
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