Bathroom fitting plumber
Specialise in fitting new bathrooms and wet rooms, working with tilers and builders.
- £3k-12k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
What it is
A plumbing business focused on bathroom installations: removing old suites, fitting new baths, showers, toilets and basins, and running pipework, often alongside tilers and electricians.
Your first three steps
- Build a small portfolio with photos of finished bathrooms, with customers' permission
- Contact local bathroom showrooms, builders and tilers about subcontract work
- Create a clear quote template that covers materials, timings and what is not included
Who pays
Homeowners upgrading a bathroom, landlords refurbishing rentals, and builders or bathroom showrooms who subcontract the plumbing.
How it makes money
Fixed price per bathroom or day rate, with larger jobs worth more per visit. Showroom and builder referrals can keep work steady.
Skills that help
- Solid plumbing qualification and installation experience
- Neat, accurate pipework and finishing
- Planning jobs and coordinating other trades
Watch out for
- There is no general licence needed to work as a plumber in the UK, but check whether you need registration for specific work, for example Gas Safe registration for gas appliances or a competent person scheme for certain notifiable work
- Public liability insurance, as leaks can cause costly damage
- Building Regulations and water regulations may apply to some work, so check with your local council's building control or the relevant regulator about what needs notifying or certifying
- Any electrical work (such as showers or heated mirrors) needs a qualified electrician
- Agree payment stages in writing to avoid cash flow problems on bigger jobs
- Overruns when other trades are late, so build slack into quotes
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: bathroom fitting plumber
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a bathroom fitting business?
Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on your van, tools, insurance and the equipment you need for installs. These are estimates, so build a kit list and get quotes before you commit.
How much can a bathroom fitter earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £10,000, depending on how many bathrooms you fit and your pricing. These are estimates, and this kind of work could take around 30 hours a week.
What rules should I check before fitting bathrooms?
Check whether you need registration for specific work, such as Gas Safe for gas appliances or a competent person scheme for notifiable work. Also check Building Regulations and water regulations with building control, and use a qualified electrician for electrics.
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