ClearFlow Plumbing & Heating
“Service plans pay the office staff. Emergencies pay for growth.”
LOLuis Ortega · ClearFlow Plumbing & Heating · Since 2015
12-mo revenue$1,153,140+13% vs last yearStripe + QuickBooks
Based on 97 real plumbing & heating businesses in Europe, including 23 that closed.
✓Your budget should cover this.
Bills run about $980 a month (fuel, insurance, rent, phone). Most owners make a profit after about 2 months. Keep this much aside to pay bills until then.
Trade registration. Some countries need a master certificate.
Electrical certificate for wiring work.
Not usually needed.
Register with your local trade office or chamber of commerce. Usually €50 to €400.
Free to about €10 a month. Keeps business money apart from yours.
Sets up your books and files your first tax return.
Before costs. Winter peak for heating.
| Slow | Typical | Strong | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $4.9k | $9.7k | $19k |
| Year 3 | $13k | $23k | $40.8k |
| Year 5 | $16.3k | $29.9k | $54.9k |
Slow: 1 in 4 make less than this. Typical: half make more, half make less. Strong: 1 in 4 make more than this.
“Service plans pay the office staff. Emergencies pay for growth.”
$13.9k
about $216k
Starting costs about $202k less. Buying costs more, but you earn from the first month and skip the risky early years.