Plumbers Revenue Blueprint

Service	Description	Pricing Model
Drain Cleaning	Clearing clogged drains in sinks, tubs, showers, and floor drains	Flat rate ($99-$350 per drain)
Water Heater Services	Installation, repair, and maintenance of tank and tankless units	Flat rate ($150-$400 repair, $1,200-$3,500 install)
Leak Detection & Repair	Finding and fixing leaks in pipes, fixtures, and supply lines	Hourly + materials ($150-$500)
Toilet Repair/Replacement	Fixing running toilets, clogs, replacements	Flat rate ($150-$600)
Faucet & Fixture Installation	Installing sinks, faucets, garbage disposals	Flat rate per fixture ($150-$400)
Pipe Repair & Replacement	Repairing burst, corroded, or damaged pipes	Per linear foot + access ($500-$2,500)
Sewer Line Services	Camera inspection, cleaning, and repair of main sewer lines	Flat rate ($200-$800 inspection, $3,000-$25,000 repair)
Water Line Services	Main water line repair and replacement	Per linear foot ($50-$250/ft)
Garbage Disposal Services	Installation and repair of kitchen disposals	Flat rate ($150-$450)
Emergency Plumbing	24/7 urgent service calls	Premium flat rate (1.5x-2x standard)

Service	Description	Typical Add-On Value
Whole-House Water Filtration	Point-of-entry filtration systems	$1,500-$4,000
Water Softener Installation	Hard water treatment systems	$1,200-$3,500
Sump Pump Installation	Basement flood prevention	$800-$2,500
Backflow Prevention	Installing and testing backflow preventers	$300-$1,200
Pipe Insulation	Preventing frozen pipes in cold climates	$200-$600
PRV Installation	Pressure reducing valve for high water pressure	$350-$600
Expansion Tank Installation	Protecting water heaters from thermal expansion	$200-$400
Hose Bib Replacement	Outdoor faucet installation/repair	$150-$350
Shut-Off Valve Replacement	Upgrading old gate valves to ball valves	$150-$300 per valve
Water Quality Testing	Testing for contaminants and hardness	$75-$200

Service	Price Premium	Target Customer Segment
Whole-House Repiping (PEX/Copper)	3-5x standard repair	Homeowners with polybutylene or galvanized pipes
Trenchless Sewer Replacement	1.5-2x traditional dig	Homeowners wanting minimal landscape disruption
Tankless Water Heater Conversion	2-3x tank install	Energy-conscious homeowners, luxury market
Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating	Premium install ($15-$25/sq ft)	High-end new construction, remodels
Commercial Grease Trap Services	2x residential rates	Restaurants, food service businesses
Medical Gas Plumbing	3-4x standard rates	Healthcare facilities, dental offices
High-Rise Plumbing	2-3x standard rates	Commercial property managers
Historic Home Plumbing	2x standard rates	Owners of pre-1960 homes
Smart Home Plumbing Integration	1.5x standard	Tech-savvy homeowners
Commercial Boiler Services	Premium hourly ($200-$350/hr)	Commercial building owners

Similar Equipment

• Hydro jetting services — Using existing drain equipment for deeper cleaning
• Video pipe inspection services — Camera equipment for non-plumbing inspections
• Well pump services — Similar pipe and pump expertise
• Irrigation system repair — Outdoor water line expertise
• Pool plumbing — Specialized but related piping work

Similar Skills

• Gas line installation/repair — Pipe fitting and pressure testing (requires certification)
• HVAC hydronic systems — Boiler connections, radiant heating
• Fire suppression systems — Sprinkler installation and maintenance
• Bathroom remodeling — Natural extension of fixture installation
• Kitchen remodeling plumbing — Appliance hookups, layout changes

Same Customer Base

• Water damage restoration referrals — Partner with restoration companies
• Home inspection services — Plumbing-focused inspections for real estate
• Property maintenance contracts — Multi-unit residential maintenance
• Appliance installation — Dishwashers, ice makers, washing machines
• Septic system services — Rural customer base overlap

Equipment Rental

Equipment	Daily Rate	Weekly Rate
Drain snake machines	$75-$150	$300-$500
Pipe locating equipment	$100-$200	$400-$700
Water extraction pumps	$50-$100	$200-$350

Retail Product Sales

• Water heaters — 30-50% markup on equipment
• Fixtures and faucets — 40-60% markup on retail
• Water filtration systems — 50-70% markup
• Replacement parts — 100-200% markup on common parts
• Water softener salt delivery — Recurring revenue opportunity

Service Packages & Memberships

Package Type	Annual Fee	Included Benefits
Basic Maintenance Plan	$99-$199	Annual inspection, 10-15% service discount
Premium Protection Plan	$249-$399	Bi-annual inspection, 20% discount, priority scheduling
Commercial Maintenance	$500-$2,000	Monthly inspections, emergency priority, parts discount

Documentation/Report Sales

• Pre-sale plumbing inspections: $200-$400
• Sewer scope reports: $150-$300
• Commercial compliance reports: $300-$600

Industry-Specific Commercial Contracts

Industry	Contract Type	Annual Value
Restaurants	Grease trap + drain maintenance	$2,000-$8,000
Property Management	Multi-unit maintenance agreements	$5,000-$50,000
Hotels/Motels	Preventive maintenance + emergency	$10,000-$100,000
Healthcare Facilities	Code compliance + maintenance	$15,000-$75,000
Schools/Universities	Annual service contracts	$20,000-$200,000
Manufacturing Plants	Industrial plumbing maintenance	$25,000-$150,000

Referral Partnerships

• Real estate agents (inspection referrals): 10-15% referral fee
• Home warranty companies: Contracted rates, volume work
• Insurance companies: Water damage claim work
• General contractors: Subcontract new construction
• HVAC companies: Cross-referral agreements

Subcontracting Opportunities

• New construction rough-in: $3,500-$15,000 per home
• Commercial tenant improvements: $5,000-$50,000 per project
• Multi-family developments: $50,000-$500,000 per project

Government/Institutional Contracts

• Municipal building maintenance: Bid-based, $50,000-$500,000 annually
• School district contracts: $25,000-$200,000 annually
• Military base subcontracting: Security clearance required
• Public housing authorities: Volume-based contracts

Equipment Manufacturers

Category	Premium	Mid-Range	Budget
Water Heaters	Navien, Rinnai, Bosch	A.O. Smith, Bradford White	Rheem, State
Fixtures	Kohler, Toto, Grohe	Moen, Delta, American Standard	Glacier Bay, Pfister
Pipes & Fittings	Viega, Uponor	SharkBite, Watts	Charlotte Pipe, Nibco
Drain Equipment	RIDGID, Spartan	General Wire Spring	Cobra, Husky
Water Treatment	Kinetico, WaterBoss	Culligan, Pentair	GE, Whirlpool

Supplies and Consumables

• Plumbing wholesalers: Ferguson, Hajoca, Reece, Wolseley
• Big box suppliers: Home Depot Pro, Lowe's Pro
• Specialty suppliers: PlumbMaster, SupplyHouse.com
• Chemical suppliers: Oatey, Hercules, RectorSeal

Software and Business Tools

Category	Options
Field Service Management	ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, Jobber
Estimating	FastEST, Trimble, McCormick
Flat Rate Pricing	Profit Rhino, MenuPricing
Accounting	QuickBooks, Xero
Marketing	GoHighLevel, ServiceMonster

Industry Associations & Certifications

• PHCC — Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association
• UA — United Association (union plumbers)
• ASSE — American Society of Sanitary Engineering
• IAPMO — International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials
• WQA — Water Quality Association (water treatment)

PLUMBING REVENUE STREAMS
├── Service Revenue (70-80%)
│   ├── Residential Services (50-60%)
│   │   ├── Emergency/Urgent Calls (15-25%)
│   │   ├── Drain Services (15-20%)
│   │   ├── Water Heater Services (15-20%)
│   │   ├── Fixture Installation (10-15%)
│   │   └── General Repairs (20-30%)
│   └── Commercial Services (20-30%)
│       ├── Maintenance Contracts (40-50%)
│       ├── Emergency Services (20-30%)
│       └── Project Work (25-35%)
├── Installation/Project Revenue (15-25%)
│   ├── Water Heater Replacements (30-40%)
│   ├── Repiping Projects (15-25%)
│   ├── Bathroom/Kitchen Remodels (20-30%)
│   └── New Construction (10-20%)
├── Membership/Maintenance Plans (3-8%)
│   ├── Residential Plans (60-70%)
│   └── Commercial Plans (30-40%)
└── Product Sales (2-5%)
    ├── Equipment Markup (60-70%)
    ├── Parts Sales (20-30%)
    └── Ancillary Products (10-15%)

Service Category	Typical Margin	Volume Level	Strategic Value
Emergency Services	55-70%	Medium	High — builds reputation, premium pricing
Drain Cleaning	60-75%	High	High — entry point, repeat customers
Water Heater Replacement	35-50%	Medium-High	High — large ticket, referral generator
Fixture Installation	40-55%	Medium	Medium — steady work, upsell opportunity
Repiping	30-45%	Low	High — large project, differentiator
Sewer Line Work	45-60%	Low-Medium	High — specialized, high ticket
Commercial Contracts	25-40%	Medium	High — predictable, recurring revenue
Maintenance Plans	60-80%	High	Very High — recurring, customer retention
New Construction	15-25%	Low-Medium	Medium — volume, relationship building
Water Treatment	50-65%	Low-Medium	High — recurring consumables

Service	Price Range	Pricing Model	Notes
Service Call/Dispatch	$49-$99	Flat rate	Often waived if work performed
Drain Cleaning (simple)	$99-$250	Flat rate	Per drain
Drain Cleaning (main line)	$200-$500	Flat rate	Includes camera inspection
Toilet Repair	$150-$350	Flat rate	Parts extra
Toilet Replacement	$300-$600	Flat rate	Basic toilet included
Faucet Installation	$150-$400	Flat rate	Fixture extra
Water Heater Repair	$150-$450	Flat rate	Parts extra
Tank Water Heater Install	$1,200-$2,500	Flat rate	Unit included
Tankless Water Heater Install	$2,500-$5,000	Flat rate	Unit included
Leak Repair	$150-$500	Flat + materials	Depends on access
Garbage Disposal Install	$250-$450	Flat rate	Unit included
Sewer Camera Inspection	$150-$400	Flat rate	Recording included
Hydro Jetting	$350-$800	Flat rate	Per cleanout
Repiping (whole house)	$4,000-$15,000	Per fixture/bathroom	Size dependent
Sewer Line Replacement	$3,000-$25,000	Per linear foot	Access dependent
Water Line Replacement	$1,500-$5,000	Per linear foot	Depth dependent
Emergency After-Hours	1.5x-2x standard	Premium multiplier	Nights/weekends/holidays

KPI	Industry Benchmark	Top Performers
Revenue per Tech	$150,000-$250,000/year	$300,000-$500,000/year
Average Ticket (Residential)	$350-$500	$600-$900
Average Ticket (Commercial)	$800-$1,500	$2,000-$4,000
Gross Profit Margin	45-55%	60-70%
Net Profit Margin	8-12%	15-22%
Closing Rate (Service)	70-80%	85-95%
Closing Rate (Projects)	30-40%	50-65%
Callback Rate	<3%	<1%
Membership Conversion	15-25%	35-50%
Average Response Time	2-4 hours	<1 hour
Customer Acquisition Cost	$150-$300	$75-$150
Customer Lifetime Value	$800-$1,500	$2,500-$5,000
Tech Utilization Rate	65-75%	80-90%
Calls per Day per Tech	3-5	5-8
Online Review Rating	4.2-4.5 stars	4.7-5.0 stars

Required Licenses

License Type	Issuing Authority	Renewal Period
Journeyman Plumber License	State Licensing Board	1-3 years
Master Plumber License	State Licensing Board	1-3 years
Plumbing Contractor License	State Contractor Board	1-2 years
Business License	City/County	Annual
Gas Fitter License	State (where applicable)	1-3 years
Backflow Tester Certification	State/ASSE	1-3 years
Medical Gas Certification	ASSE 6010/6020/6030	3 years

Insurance Requirements

Coverage Type	Minimum Recommended	Industry Standard
General Liability	$500,000	$1,000,000-$2,000,000
Workers' Compensation	State minimum	Full coverage
Commercial Auto	$500,000	$1,000,000
Professional Liability	$500,000	$1,000,000
Umbrella Policy	$1,000,000	$2,000,000-$5,000,000
Tools & Equipment	Actual value	Replacement value

Regulatory Requirements

• Permit requirements: Most jurisdictions require permits for water heater replacements, repiping, sewer work
• Code compliance: IPC (International Plumbing Code) or UPC (Uniform Plumbing Code) depending on jurisdiction
• Backflow testing: Annual testing required for commercial properties
• Lead-safe work practices: EPA RRP certification for pre-1978 homes
• EPA regulations: Safe disposal of refrigerants (water heaters with heat pumps)
• OSHA compliance: Confined space entry, trenching safety

Channel	Effectiveness	Cost Level	Best For
Google Local Services Ads	★★★★★	Medium-High	Emergency calls, high-intent leads
Google Search Ads (PPC)	★★★★☆	High	Immediate visibility, competitive markets
Google Business Profile	★★★★★	Free	Local SEO, reviews, visibility
Local SEO/Website	★★★★★	Medium	Long-term lead generation
Referral Programs	★★★★★	Low	High-quality leads, low CAC
Home Warranty Partnerships	★★★☆☆	Low margin	Volume, brand exposure
Direct Mail	★★★☆☆	Medium	Neighborhood targeting, older demographics
Vehicle Wraps	★★★★☆	Low (one-time)	Brand awareness, local visibility
Nextdoor	★★★★☆	Low-Free	Neighborhood recommendations
Facebook/Instagram Ads	★★★☆☆	Medium	Brand awareness, retargeting
YouTube (How-To Content)	★★★☆☆	Low	Authority building, SEO
Radio Advertising	★★☆☆☆	High	Brand awareness, older markets
TV Advertising	★★☆☆☆	Very High	Large markets, brand building
Print (Yellow Pages)	★☆☆☆☆	Medium	Declining, elderly demographic only
Real Estate Agent Partnerships	★★★★☆	Low	Home inspection referrals
HVAC/Electrical Cross-Referrals	★★★★☆	Revenue share	Quality leads, relationship-based

Highest Margin Services

1. 1Drain cleaning (60-75%) — Low material cost, high labor efficiency
2. 2Emergency services (55-70%) — Premium pricing accepted for urgency
3. 3Maintenance memberships (60-80%) — Predictable revenue, minimal marginal cost
4. 4Water treatment systems (50-65%) — High markup, recurring consumable revenue

Volume/Customer Acquisition Drivers

• Drain cleaning — Most common entry point, high repeat potential
• Water heater failures — Urgent need drives quick decisions
• Toilet repairs — High frequency, low-resistance service call
• Google Local Services Ads — Best ROI for emergency plumbing leads

Top Growth Opportunities

1. 1Water treatment services — Growing health consciousness, recurring revenue
2. 2Tankless water heater conversions — Energy efficiency trend, premium pricing
3. 3Trenchless sewer technology — Differentiation, premium positioning
4. 4Commercial maintenance contracts — Predictable revenue, relationship building
5. 5Smart home plumbing — Leak detection systems, IoT integration

Recurring Revenue Strategies

• Membership programs — 35-50% conversion rate achievable with proper training
• Water softener salt delivery — Monthly/quarterly recurring revenue
• Commercial maintenance contracts — Annual agreements with monthly billing
• Backflow testing programs — Annual requirement creates automatic renewals
• Water heater flush programs — Annual maintenance extends equipment life

Competitive Differentiation Opportunities

• Same-day service guarantee — Speed is primary differentiator
• Flat-rate pricing transparency — Builds trust vs. hourly competitors
• Specialized certifications — Medical gas, tankless, water treatment
• Technology adoption — Camera inspections, leak detection, customer communication
• Warranty programs — Extended warranties on installations build confidence
• 24/7 live answering — Capture emergency calls competitors miss

Industry Trends to Watch

1. 1Water conservation regulations — Low-flow requirements, greywater systems
2. 2Tankless and hybrid water heaters — Growing market share, requires training
3. 3PEX dominance — Copper declining, PEX skills essential
4. 4Smart leak detection — Flo, Moen Flo, Phyn partnerships
5. 5Aging infrastructure — Repiping demand increasing as pipes age
6. 6Labor shortage — Apprenticeship programs, retention strategies critical
7. 7Private equity consolidation — Large players acquiring independents
8. 8Customer experience expectations — Real-time tracking, communication apps