Solo plumbing and heating service van

Homeowners, landlords, small property owners and other trades who need a certified person for the work.

Hourly rate or flat price per job, plus a service call fee and materials markup. Emergency and after-hours calls usually earn more. Seasonal peaks, such as furnace failures in winter, can fill your calendar.

• Certified trade skills in plumbing, gas fitting or heating and cooling
• Fault finding and problem solving
• Clear quoting and customer service
• Basic bookkeeping and scheduling

• Plumbing, gas fitting and refrigeration are regulated trades in most provinces, so check certification and contractor licensing with your provincial regulator
• Permits and inspections are often required for installs, so check with your municipality or provincial safety authority
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire (rules vary by province)
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold
• Quebec has its own trade and licensing rules and French-language requirements
• Work is physical, on call at times, and seasonal, so plan cash flow for slower months

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your van, tools and parts stock. Monthly revenue is estimated at about $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your trade, local demand and how many jobs you take on.

Plumbing, gas fitting and refrigeration are regulated trades in most provinces, so check certification and contractor licensing with your provincial regulator. Also check permit and inspection requirements with your municipality or provincial safety authority, and Quebec's own trade and language rules.

Estimates start at around 30 hours a week. You need certified trade skills, fault finding, clear quoting and customer service, and basic bookkeeping. The work is physical, sometimes on call and seasonal, so plan cash flow for slower months.