Start a Skilled Trades Business

A generation skipped the trades for college, so licensed operators are retiring faster than they are replaced; owners who can also run the business side name their price.

1. 1

   Solve the license question first

   Every state requires a contractor or trade license for HVAC, plumbing, or electrical work. Either you hold it, or you hire or partner with a licensed master who qualifies the company.

2. 2

   Form the company and get covered

   LLC, EIN, general liability, workers comp if you hire, and a contractor bond where required. Commercial auto for the van is not optional; personal policies deny work claims.

3. 3

   Capitalize the launch properly

   Budget $5,000 to $25,000 for a used van, core tools, initial parts stock, and two months of operating cash. Undercapitalized trades businesses die waiting on net-30 invoices.

4. 4

   Price with flat rate math

   Know your fully loaded cost per hour (labor, truck, insurance, overhead) and price jobs flat rate, not hourly. A $250 service call should still be profitable at your worst tech's speed.

5. 5

   Build the lead engine

   Google Business Profile with photos and reviews, Google Local Services Ads (pay per lead, license verified), and relationships with two or three property managers for steady work orders.

6. 6

   Systematize dispatch and invoicing

   Run everything through ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, or Jobber from day one: booking, quotes, invoices, review requests. Paper tickets cap you at one truck forever.

7. 7

   Hire your second tech deliberately

   When you are booked two weeks out, hire, put them on the maintenance and small ticket calls, and keep yourself on sales and the big installs. Trucks times revenue per truck is the whole model.