How to start a plumbing business? Whether you find yourself at the beginning of your plumbing career or have already gathered several years of experience in the field, the idea of becoming your own boss might be crossing your mind. In numerous cases, this can be a promising entrepreneurial opportunity. It leads to the question of how to embark on the journey and how to start a plumbing business.
How to become a plumber ? And how to start a plumbing business
To begin with, it’s essential to understand that there are two pathways to become a plumber in Quebec. The renowned option is pursuing a Diploma of Vocational Studies, which involves completing 1680 hours of courses, mastering 20 specific skills, and earning 120 credits. You will need to enroll in a professional school of your preference. Regardless of the chosen route, becoming a licensed contractor will require fulfilling practical and theoretical training hours and successfully passing all the mandatory exams.
Becoming a plumber with a DEP (diploma of vocational studies)
The first way to become a plumber is to complete the 1680 hours of courses, acquire the 20 skills and 120 credits required.
Becoming a certified plumber
The second method is the Emploi-Québec certificate of qualification in plumbing. To obtain this certification, you need to meet the following requirements:
1. Complete a minimum of 4000 hours of on-the-job apprenticeship, which is approximately 2 years if you work 40 hours per week.
2. Obtain an attestation of mastery of the required skills.
3. Successfully complete three mandatory courses related to the field and pass a written examination.
It’s important to note that Emploi-Québec may reduce your apprenticeship hours based on your work experience, diplomas, or relevant professional background. However, registering through this method requires filling out an application form provided on the Emploi-Québec website.
Creating the company
Establishing a plumbing business can be a challenging endeavor. The plumbing industry is subject to numerous regulations and requirements imposed by professional organizations. Therefore, Thorough planning is essential to ensure compliance and uphold the reputation of the company. It is crucial to surround oneself with knowledgeable individuals to prevent any legal pitfalls.
Legal aspects of the business
When it comes to the legal structure of your company, you’ll have two options to consider. You can either operate as a sole proprietorship under your own name or establish a company where you will be the owner. In both cases, there are distinctions in terms of tax obligations and liability for the company’s debts.
For instance, if Mr. John Doe faces a customer complaint, he will bear the direct consequences of that complaint. The same applies if he were to face bankruptcy. However, if Mr. John Doe had formed a company facing the same debt and complaint, it would be the company that would be impacted, rather than Mr. Doe personally. To avoid making the mistake of selecting the wrong legal structure, it is advisable to consult with professionals such as lawyers, notaries, or accountants. Additionally, it will be necessary to complete the registration process for your business to establish its formal presence and make it publicly known.
Depending on your specific circumstances and goals for your business, incorporating as a corporation can offer several advantages. These include limited liability for members and shareholders, ensuring the longevity of the business regardless of the individuals who founded it, and the potential for lower tax rates compared to individuals. However, there’s more to explore on this topic in our comprehensive article about entrepreneurship and incorporation if you wish to explore deeper into the subject.
The license to start a plumbing business.
It should be noted that when aspiring to become an entrepreneur in the construction industry, obtaining a license is a requirement. In the case of starting a plumbing business, a license must be obtained from the CMMTQ (Corporation of Master Pipe Mechanics of Quebec). Specifically, you will need to acquire the sub-category 15.5 license, which pertains to Plumbing Entrepreneurship. You can find the necessary form to apply for a license for your project through the provided link. Naturally, there will be associated fees, but obtaining this license is essential as it grants you the authority to carry out your work as an entrepreneur. We have also included a link that outlines the step-by-step process of obtaining a license, as explained on the RBQ website.
License bonding for plumbers
In the construction industry, including plumbing, it is essential for a company to possess guarantee bonds for each of its contracts. These bonds serve as a form of assurance for contractors providing diverse services, specifically in certain circumstances. Various types of bonds exist, often required by clients, particularly those within the public sector. It is crucial for you to understand the process of obtaining these bonds. As a plumbing contractor, the initial bond you need to acquire is the license bond, which is necessary for obtaining your RBQ license. Without a license bond, obtaining your RBQ license is not possible. To gain a deeper understanding of bonding principles and the procedure for obtaining them, you may refer to this informative article on bonding for contractors.
Registrations in various organizations
There are mainly three oraganizations/orders that you will need to register with.
1) The CMMTQ (Corporation des Maîtres Mécaniciens en Tuyauterie du Québec/Corporation of Master Mechanics in Tubing of Quebec)
The primary objective of the CMMTQ is public safety. It is one of the mandatory registrations to start your business. It is essential to be a part of it. The organization has clear responsibilities, ensuring the qualification of its professionals and issuing the appropriate license. It regulates the field and continuously provides training to enhance the overall knowledge of its members. Therefore, you will need to apply for membership, pay the admission fees, and the annual membership fee.
2) The CCQ
As an entrepreneur in the field, it will be mandatory for you to register with the CCQ. Therefore, you will need to fill out the appropriate form and submit it to the office of your municipality.
By the way, you can find this form on the CCQ’s website.
4) The CNESST
If you have started your own business and have at least one employee, it will be mandatory for you to register with the CNESST. You will need to provide information to the CNESST, including the average salaries you plan to pay and the tasks your employees will perform. Based on this information, the CNESST will be able to determine a price for you. As you probably already know, this insurance protects the company against the risk of workplace accidents.
Taxation and source deductions
The final step to ensure compliance for your business will be the fiscal aspect. You will need to register for tax files (GST and PST) since you will be providing taxable services. It is crucial to verify this requirement on the Revenu Québec website.
Additionally, if your business has at least one employee (including yourself if you are an employee of your own company), you will need to account for source deductions. Similar to any salaried employment, deductions are made to cover your income tax throughout the year. It is also important to consider various contributions, such as insurance or different social benefits implemented.
How to make your plumbing business stand out?
Once your business is established, there are roughly two possible scenarios for you:
1. If you’re just starting out, you don’t have a fixed client base or visibility yet.
2. If you’re already in the market and have a good reputation, you can retain a certain clientele.
In both cases, it’s crucial to position yourself effectively in your industry to gain recognition. Therefore, we will explore here how to promote yourself effectively and stand out in 2022.
Customer relationship
The same applies in all fields. Your business should prioritize customer service. Providing good service not only ensures customer satisfaction but also secures their loyalty in the future and generates referrals. Word-of-mouth has a strong impact on businesses. For instance, if your mother had a terrible experience with Company X, it’s highly likely that, by listening to her, you would never consider contacting them for their services.
It is therefore recommended to understand your customers’ expectations regarding your work, enhance communication by guiding them throughout the process, and even make recommendations to prevent potential issues. They will appreciate your efforts. We have an article on customer service, and we also offer our customer service consulting services if you need assistance.
To specialize
Focusing on a specific field will make you an expert. Many people study to become plumbers, electricians, etc. However, only a few seek additional specialization through further studies. This will bring long-term benefits to you. Among other things, it will reduce your competition and address new needs that your clients may have.
Stay updated on new training opportunities to always stay one step ahead of the competition. Clients will recognize your high level of expertise and refer to you as one of the best. By comparing you to someone who remains stagnant with their basic training, you will be able to meet a wide range of needs.
Online visibility
Internet is one of your biggest competitors and allies. The digital realm is increasingly gaining importance and has a significant impact on the visibility and professionalism of a business. When facing plumbing issues, customers often turn to the internet for various reasons. They may seek solutions through articles specifically written for that purpose or search for a local plumber recommended by Google. What Google recommends is what its algorithm deems trustworthy and visible as businesses.
Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that your business establishes a strong online presence on Google. This entails creating a website that potential customers can easily access. Appearing on the first page of search engine results is paramount if you want your business to be visible. We also recommend implementing a content creation strategy to produce relevant articles that your customers can read. Each small step will contribute to the credibility and success of your business activities.
Renting a site specifically for plumbers
Initially, as you start your business, you’ll need to make significant investments. It’s understandable that you would want to save money while ensuring a strong online presence.
Our website rental service may be the ideal solution for your needs. For a minimal cost, we provide you with a customized website tailored to your business and already well-positioned on search engines. The result? More clients guaranteed, with a contract that ensures your satisfaction and a steady stream of new customers. You’ll have the flexibility to cancel at any time.
If you’re interested, learn more about our Google-optimized website rental service.
Setting up a website.
Notre premier conseil sera de vous créer un site internet dans lequel vous pourrez ajouter vos informations, vos articles et une liste détaillée de tous les services que vous offrez. De cette même façon, vous pouvez aussi répondre aux questions de base et ainsi limiter les questions moins pertinentes comme : « Travaillez-vous dans une ville X ? Faites-vous un service spécialisé Y ?». Il faut alors s’occuper de plusieurs facteurs comme l’hébergement, la sécurité, le prix et plusieurs autres.
Toutes les réponses se trouveront déjà sur votre site, et vous sauverez du temps, tout en favorisant la croissance de votre entreprise.
Achieving good positioning on Google
Positioning yourself on the first page of search engines may seem commonplace to some. However, it is where everything happens. It is crucial to appear on the first page so that people searching for “plumber” in your area can see you among the top results on Google. To achieve this, your business needs to be credible in the eyes of the web giant. You must establish a clear website and add your business address on Google Maps for positioning. We have all searched for a service on Google and never gone beyond the first page. It is for this precise reason that you need to establish a strategy in order to be there as well.
Optimiser le contenu pour attirer les clics
As mentioned, it will be important to establish content creation strategies to address the needs of visitors. This can be achieved by writing articles on specific topics such as “How to repair my sink?” These precise topics will provide direct answers to specific needs. As a result, people searching for these topics will quickly come across your page, which will easily address their questions and even offer your services. It is clear that the more you cater to specific needs, the more visitors and business activity you will attract.
However, we recommend conducting some research on the most frequently asked questions in the field. If you write articles on topics that very few people are interested in, your efforts will be less effective. Therefore, it is important to identify the most commonly asked questions in the field and write about those subjects to attract internet users to your platform.
Our specialization
At tonconsultant.ca, we specialize in web design and article writing to position your business on the first page of search results. With our expertise, we offer a comprehensive package of website creation and/or management, along with all the associated marketing efforts to ensure optimal results for your business. We conduct market research specific to your industry and region to identify the most relevant articles and topics that will drive increased traffic. When it comes to visibility, our team of experts is here to guide you through the essential aspects of the online landscape. We also provide relevant articles for you to explore.
You are now ready
Now that you have all the necessary steps to start your plumbing business on the right track, we always recommend seeking assistance from professionals in their respective fields. Whether it’s an accountant for taxes, a lawyer for legal matters, or a marketing consultant for your promotional needs, relying on experts will help prevent mistakes and optimize your time making it more productive.
As part of our commitment to providing you with professional guidance to take your business to the next level, we offer free consultations to address your marketing, advertising, website creation, and article writing needs. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us whenever you require assistance. If you have questions about contractor bonding, incorporation, or RBQ (Regie du Batiment du Quebec), feel free to contact us. We are more than happy to provide you with the answers you seek!
