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 108 real plumbing & heating businesses in the US, including 26 that closed.
✓Your budget should cover this.
Bills run about $1,150 a month (fuel, insurance, rent, phone). Most owners make a profit after about 2 months. Keep this much aside to pay bills until then.
State plumbing contractor licence and exam.
Covered by your licence in most states.
Many states ask for a bond of $5,000 to $25,000 (you pay about 1 to 3%).
Form an LLC with your state ($50 to $500). Get a free tax number (EIN) from the IRS.
Free to about $15 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 | $7k | $13.8k | $27k |
| Year 3 | $18.5k | $32.8k | $58.1k |
| Year 5 | $23.2k | $42.6k | $78.1k |
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.”
$16.2k
about $308k
Starting costs about $292k less. Buying costs more, but you earn from the first month and skip the risky early years.