Fire alarm and sprinkler testing company

Building owners, property management companies, schools, medical offices, warehouses and restaurants that need compliance reports for fire marshals and insurers.

Scheduled inspection contracts (annual, quarterly or monthly), repair work billed by labor and parts, and install jobs quoted per project.

• Technical knowledge of fire codes such as NFPA standards
• Electrical or mechanical aptitude
• Organized scheduling and report writing

• State and local contractor licenses and certified technicians, which are often strict and vary by jurisdiction
• General liability, professional liability and workers' compensation insurance, and possible bonding
• Liability if a system you inspected fails, so keep detailed reports and follow code
• Working at height and in occupied buildings, so plan for safety and scheduling
• Startup costs for test equipment, tools, a vehicle and software can add up

Startup costs are typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on test equipment, tools, a vehicle and software. These are estimates, and your total will vary with the size of the jobs you take on and what your state requires.

Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on how many buildings you service, the mix of inspections, repairs and small installs, and your hours. Plan for around 30 hours a week at minimum.

Check state and local contractor licenses and certified technician rules, which are often strict and vary by jurisdiction. Also check general liability, professional liability and workers' compensation insurance, and possible bonding, since you could be liable if an inspected system fails.