Top 8 Tips for Successfully Starting an HVAC Business
Did you know that there are over 30 million small business owners in the US? That’s a lot of people living their dream of being their own boss, and you can too if you know how to set yourself up for success.
This is especially true if you plan on starting an HVAC business. Running an HVAC company is quite complicated, as there are so many moving parts, all of which are important to your overall success. Because of this, having a plan in place before going into business for yourself an absolute must.
In this article, we’ll give you 8 tips for starting your own HVAC company. We’ll help you out with the planning process, as well as tell you what to look out for early on so you can avoid any common mistakes.
1. Be Prepared for a Full-Time Commitment
Before you go into business for yourself, you first need to make sure you’re ready for the full-time commitment that comes with the job. This is especially true when going into the HVAC business, where people have no issues calling you in the middle of the night about their HVAC being down.
This might sound obvious, but if you have young children or other time commitments, now might not be the time to start your own business. At worst, talking with your family beforehand to let them know what to expect moving forward is more than a good idea.
2. Get Licensed and Insured
People getting into business for themselves are always looking for ways to cut down on startup costs. While avoiding paying for licenses and insurance may seem like a good idea at first, it can end up costing you more in the long run due to expensive fines.
A pro tip? Before you run your first service call, make sure you have all of the required licenses and insurances. That way you can get off on the right foot with your local authorities.
Also, if you need help with certain areas of the job, especially in the field, consider investing in HVAC training for you and anyone else on your team. Not being confident in what you’re doing can lead to you making costly mistakes, which isn’t what you want.
3. Invest in the Necessary Equipment
It goes without saying, but an HVAC company needs to have a few basic items before getting started. Besides basic tools to work on HVAC systems, you also need to have a vehicle that is dependable that you can use to get from call to call.
Again, if you don’t have all of these things squared away, delay the launch of your HVAC company until you do. Because starting off on the wrong foot with your customers can be a difficult hole to dig yourself out of.
4. Establish a Relationship With Vendors
From tools and basic supplies to entire HVAC systems, you’re going to be visiting your local HVAC vendors quite often. If you’ve been in the field for a while, odds are you already know your local HVAC vendors and the employees that work for them on a first-name basis.
With that in mind, it’s not a bad idea to stop by each one before going into business for yourself to let them know your plans. You can go ahead and set up accounts with them, too, so you’re ready to go once you start running service calls.
5. Decide on a Name and Logo
Every business needs a strong name and logo. So, before you step foot in your own truck, make sure you have all of your company’s branding figured out.
After you’ve got a name and logo, go ahead and register a domain name for your business. A website is an absolute must-have, so making sure you lock up your domain idea as soon as possible is a good idea.
6. Make Sure You Look the Part
To piggyback off of that last point, it’s important that you and your business look the part when you arrive on service calls. Having a professional name and logo, as well as uniforms, is very much recommended.
Keeping your vehicle clean, and having your company name on said vehicle, is also something you should focus on. That way you can ensure that you make a good first impression upon arrival.
7. Start Marketing Your Business
We mentioned registering a domain name earlier and it’s important to note that it’s never too early to start marketing your business. Social media marketing is a great place to start your marketing efforts, as it’s affordable and effective, especially if done in-house.
Traditional marketing strategies, like paper flyers, are also worth considering, as the initial costs are low on those as well. That way you don’t have to spend a ton of your startup budget on marketing.
8. Listen to Your Customers
Once you open for business, your customers will very quickly let you know how you’re doing. By listening to them, and tracking your numbers closely, you can make sure that your business is trending in the right direction.
A pro tip? Check with your customers for feedback a few days after a call, especially at first. In doing so, you can make sure that you’re doing a good job, as well as making any recommended changes to improve your business.
Still Need Help Starting an HVAC Business?
As you can see, a lot goes into starting an HVAC business. With that being said, if you have a lot of passion, and a solid plan, you can make your dreams of being your own boss a reality.
Looking for more tips and tricks you can use to take your business to the next level? Check back with our blog often, as we’re always talking about all things related to entrepreneurship.
