Getting started out right

[drain doctor]

I plan on getting a contractors license, can you do some typs of plumbing with them, like replaceing stacks, faucets, HW HEATERS ect... just general things and whats the difference between a contractors and master plumbing license. Can I get insurense through ALL State or do you have to go to a bonding company. I know you have to go through 4 year to get your master plumbing license in my state. I don't want to wait that long, a good 6 months or so and Ishould be ready to go. After I get my cont. license, machines, and insurence. Im going to get hr block to do taxes or someone or should I do this myself. Just some general questions can I get some :help:

[PLUMBER RICK]

I plan on getting a contractors license, can you do some typs of plumbing with them, like replaceing stacks, faucets, HW HEATERS ect... just general things and whats the difference between a contractors and master plumbing license. Can I get insurense through ALL State or do you have to go to a bonding company. I know you have to go through 4 year to get your master plumbing license in my state. I don't want to wait that long, a good 6 months or so and Ishould be ready to go. After I get my cont. license, machines, and insurence. Im going to get hr block to do taxes or someone or should I do this myself. Just some general questions can I get some :help:


drain, honestly, with the question you've asked and the prior post on going into business. it really is not in your best interest to jump into business this quick.

you could be the best at what you do in the field, but you still need business skills or you will fail.

honestly, keep working for others, until you can honestly answer your own business questions. sure the forum is a great place to learn from others, but so far all the others have cautioned you against jumping the gun.

hate to say it, this post just backs up your first post.

i'll repeat my plumbing life story for the 100th' time:D

i started working as a plumbers helper when i was 12 1/2 for my uncle. weekends and summer vacation. at 18 when i graduated i went to work full time as an union apprentice 4 years, then journeyman for another 11, and presently self employed for 12 years and counting.

nothing happened overnight.

take your time and do it right. i just don't see the business skills in your post yet.

rick.

[haycad]

amen rick

[plumberscrack]

Yeah, 4 years to get a masters is outrageous. 6 months seems just about right. I learned just about everything I needed to know in that time also. When I see how much money the boss makes on me I should just stuff that cash in my own pocket. If the state will give me a contractors license to do it, why not? Looks like a great time to start a business too :thumbup2:


:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[All Clear Sewer]

I plan on getting a contractors license, can you do some typs of plumbing with them, like replaceing stacks, faucets, HW HEATERS ect... just general things and whats the difference between a contractors and master plumbing license. Can I get insurense through ALL State or do you have to go to a bonding company. I know you have to go through 4 year to get your master plumbing license in my state. I don't want to wait that long, a good 6 months or so and Ishould be ready to go. After I get my cont. license, machines, and insurence. Im going to get hr block to do taxes or someone or should I do this myself. Just some general questions can I get some :help:

Some things kinda fishy here :shrug:
You smell that???

[Drain Medic]

Some things kinda fishy here :shrug:
You smell that???


Ya definitely...

[Herk]

I guess I really wasted my time on that five-year union apprenticeship. If I'd known I could have simply messed around with plumbing for six months and started my own business I'd be rich by now.

[All Clear Sewer]

It would have saved me a lot of money and time. I could of trashed all these books and DVD`s I`ve been studding for my masters.

BTW when I`m done with em they will be for sale ;)

[Service Guy]

I plan on getting a contractors license, can you do some typs of plumbing with them, like replaceing stacks, faucets, HW HEATERS ect... just general things and whats the difference between a contractors and master plumbing license. Can I get insurense through ALL State or do you have to go to a bonding company. I know you have to go through 4 year to get your master plumbing license in my state. I don't want to wait that long, a good 6 months or so and Ishould be ready to go. After I get my cont. license, machines, and insurence. Im going to get hr block to do taxes or someone or should I do this myself. Just some general questions can I get some :help:

If you go into business now, you will be an unlicensed hack. The type of people that call themselves 'handymen' and try to compete with legitimate licensed plumbers like myself by charging half what the real plumbers do until they get caught or go bankrupt. I don't like those people much at all.:mad:

Four years is too long???? You really sound like an impatient kid, I plumbed 10 years before getting my license and starting a business. I am glad I waited, its a tough game.

My advice, if you want to be a plumber, than get a job from a good plumber and learn all you can from him over the next few years.

[Tyman]

If you want to be a plumber then do it right, get training and get licensed. Don't even try to insult us by saying 6 months is good enough.

[westcoastplumber]

If you go into business now, you will be an unlicensed hack. The type of people that call themselves 'handymen' and try to compete with legitimate licensed plumbers like myself by charging half what the real plumbers do until they get caught or go bankrupt. I don't like those people much at all.:mad:

Four years is too long???? You really sound like an impatient kid, I plumbed 10 years before getting my license and starting a business. I am glad I waited, its a tough game.

My advice, if you want to be a plumber, than get a job from a good plumber and learn all you can from him over the next few years.


Well said!!

This type of thinking is happening all to often in our trade right now.

Just because you can rebuild a toilet, install one or auger one does not make you a plumber.

[JRM638fitter]

Dude 6 months you smoking something funny I will be the first to bust on a plumber as most will bust on a fitter but the fact is there is a lot to what we know. Can you read a set of prints and build something from them and it be right? Can you work with lead? can you pipe something out a pepole say WOW! Not O who did this. Replacing faucets and toilets dose not make you a plumber.

[All Clear Sewer]

Replacing faucets and toilets dose not make you a plumber.
My city inspector say`s it does :thud:....rotflmao

[Service Guy]

And even if you decide not to do plumbing, but instead just focus on drain-cleaning, then be prepared for an expensive start-up.
Cable machines, jetting machines, video-cameras, locators, etc. And to get the word out that you exist you'll need to drop a load of $$$ on advertising. All the professional drain-cleaners I know have large ads in the yellowpages and own a fortune in tools. Its not as simple as buying a used cable machine and a closet auger.
Also you'll need about a years living expenses saved as you won't make any profit the first year.

Good luck if you decide to do this, but be prepared, its a risky game.

[Drain Medic]

And even if you decide not to do plumbing, but instead just focus on drain-cleaning, then be prepared for an expensive start-up.
Cable machines, jetting machines, video-cameras, locators, etc. And to get the word out that you exist you'll need to drop a load of $$$ on advertising. All the professional drain-cleaners I know have large ads in the yellowpages and own a fortune in tools. Its not as simple as buying a used cable machine and a closet auger.
Also you'll need about a years living expenses saved as you won't make any profit the first year.

Good luck if you decide to do this, but be prepared, its a risky game.


Very well said.

[Herk]

You should also be aware that getting a business loan on a new business is next to impossible. They want to see three years' worth of P&L statements so you can prove you can do it. In other words, if you need a loan, you can't get one.

[toolaholic]

After 43 years in my trade , carpentry , I have a little knowledge about General Contracting.
Lets start with " You can't be serious" !!!!!!

[lonestardrain]

And even if you decide not to do plumbing, but instead just focus on drain-cleaning, then be prepared for an expensive start-up.
Cable machines, jetting machines, video-cameras, locators, etc. And to get the word out that you exist you'll need to drop a load of $$$ on advertising. All the professional drain-cleaners I know have large ads in the yellowpages and own a fortune in tools. Its not as simple as buying a used cable machine and a closet auger.
Also you'll need about a years living expenses saved as you won't make any profit the first year.

Good luck if you decide to do this, but be prepared, its a risky game.




.......what he said.

[DANE]

Take an apprenticship, it was the best thing I ever did. You get paid and they will teach you the right way to do things. The trades have too many people who hack in work and fly by night. Guys doing poor work give the trade a bad rap and just make it harder to start good business. Take an apprenticship and some pride in doing good work.

[JRM638fitter]

All Clear you misunderstood what I was trying to say. I should have said JUST becase you can Replace a faucet or toilet it dose not make you a plumber.

[All Clear Sewer]

No I knew what you were getting at. The problem is that when your out there clearing a sewer they will ask you to change out a faucet or toilet. To do this in most cities you have to be a plumber ;)

[NorthernIllinoisPlumber]

Thankfully Illinois requires a license to do plumbing, unless it is your house.

Get your license...you will be proud of it, I am.

[Service Guy]

Thankfully Illinois requires a license to do plumbing, unless it is your house.

Get your license...you will be proud of it, I am.

Every state requires a license to do plumbing. But some people don't follow the laws, imagine that! Lots of guys do 'side-work' without a license which is of course, totally illegal. Then others run 'handyman' businesses and fix plumbing, electrical and other stuff they are often not licensed for. And of course, then there are the unlicensed drain-cleaners, who magically turn into 'plumbers' once they get in the customer's house....it sounds like this is what the OP was thinking of doing.

[appletondrain]

I have been cleaning drains for over 10 years, and I have never played plumber. I have a master plumber I call if I need to do plumbing.

the most I do is cut a pipe and put on a fernco. or if I have to remove and replace a toilet.

just better to be safe the sorry.

[NorthernIllinoisPlumber]

I have been cleaning drains for over 10 years, and I have never played plumber. I have a master plumber I call if I need to do plumbing.

the most I do is cut a pipe and put on a fernco. or if I have to remove and replace a toilet.

just better to be safe the sorry.


I love Wisconsin..."you can't flood yourself, but you can fry yourself." We bought a place north of the Dells, and I was told homeowner plumbing was a no-no...but electric is ok.
:shrug: