How To Start A Plumbing Business In Australia?

Want to become your own boss and start a plumbing business?

With an average hourly rate of $85 and a projected job growth of over 6% over the next five years, there are many reasons to start a plumbing business in Australia.

But while running your own business comes with many perks, including increased earnings, flexible working hours, and the ability to choose the projects you want to work on, it can also be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start.

That’s why to help you in this exciting venture, we’ve put together this short guide highlighting some of the main steps to start a plumbing business Down Under.

What You Need To Start A Plumbing Business

Certification And Licensing

There are two types of plumbers in Australia; registered and licensed plumbers. 

To become a registered plumber, you’ll need to enrol in a course such as a Certificate III in Plumbing and obtain your certification. The three-year course also involves completing an apprenticeship during this period. As a registered plumber, you’ll be working under the supervision of a licensed plumber and won’t be able to perform certain tasks such as issuing compliance certificates.

However, if you become a licensed plumber, you won’t be restricted in the work you can do. Note that you can start a plumbing business as a registered plumber, but you’ll need someone with a license to sign off on your work.

You’ll find more information about certification and licensing on Builders Academy’s website.

Choose Your Business Structure

In Australia, there are four different ways you can structure your business as a plumber, including:

• Sole trader
• Partnership
• Company
• Trust

There are pros and cons for each, and that’s why we’d recommend seeking the advice of an accountant to define which structure is best for your business. While setting up a plumbing business as a sole trader is the cheapest and easiest option out there, it won’t provide much when it comes to asset protection.

Once you’ve decided how you would like to set up your business, apply for an ABN or ACN, depending on the structure you’ve chosen.

Promote Your Business

While you might not be a marketing wizard, you still need to master marketing 101 if you want your plumbing business to be successful.

The first step is to create an SEO-optimised website. Not only will that give you an online presence (62% of people will disregard a company they can’t find online), but it will also allow you to generate qualified leads organically. You’ll also need to create social media pages as this will give more credibility to your business while allowing you to advertise your services using Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram ads.

Of course, make sure to list your business on Google (using Google My Business) and online tradie marketplaces such as Airtasker, Oneflare, Hipages, or ServiceSeeking.

Purchase Business Insurance

As a plumbing professional, you’re working with equipment on private property or construction sites. 

That’s why you need plumbers public liability insurance. Plumbers public liability insurance is designed to protect you and your business in the event one of your clients or a member of the public sustains an injury as a result of your negligent business operations. Other types of insurance you might want to consider include tool and vehicle insurance and personal accident and illness insurance.

If you’re looking for the best insurance to cover your plumbing business, don’t hesitate to jump on our instant quote generator, where you can get an estimate on market-leading insurance in seconds. 

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