Do’s and Don’ts of Starting an HVAC Business

Starting any type of business requires careful planning and execution to be a success. Is HVAC the industry that intrigues you the most? If so, here are some business-launching do’s and don’ts to help you be profitable from the very start.

Do Have a Clear Strategy

Any business venture comes with risk. Since there’s no guarantee of success, you want to increase your chances by creating a clear business plan. This defines why you’re going into business for yourself, helps you set goals, and establishes specific strategies for reaching your objectives.

Your business plan doesn’t need to be complicated or long, and you don’t need a degree in business to create one. In fact, you can find business plan templates online to help you get started.

Part of your strategy is figuring out how to market your new startup. Take advantage of social media, write a blog, share downloadable content, and buy pay-per-click advertising. Offline, you can send mailers, put ads in the paper, and hand out business cards.

Don’t Forget the Importance of Positive Reviews

Establishing a customer base as a new HVAC business relies on creating a pool of positive reviews as quickly as possible. Ask every customer to rate you on Facebook, Yelp, or Google. To ensure you always get five-star reviews, place a strong emphasis on delivering exceptional customer service for every customer every time.

Soon, you may not only receive positive ratings—you may start getting word-of-mouth referrals. These are the bread and butter of HVAC companies, so consider offering referral rewards to encourage your customers to spread the word.

Do Seek Professional Guidance

Owning and operating an HVAC business is nothing like working at one. If you’re a first-time business owner, don’t go it alone. Either start the company with a partner who has more experience, or seek professional guidance from someone willing to mentor you. This is the key to learning about the nitty-gritty details of launching your own company, including securing licenses, figuring out taxes, and handling human resources.

Don’t Underestimate the Magnitude of What You’re Doing

Remain optimistic and work hard to see your dream of owning your own business come true, but be realistic as well. Remember, only one or two out of every 10 startups make it past the first five years.

The decision to start an HVAC business shouldn’t happen in one day. You shouldn’t make the decision alone, either. Discuss the idea with your family. After all, this will certainly affect them because you’ll be spending more time away from home, and money will probably be tight for the first few years.

Be prepared for long days and working on the weekend as you strive to get your business off the ground. Sales might be slim at the beginning, so make sure you either save enough money to support your family for six months to a year or get approved for a loan before you start thinking about starting an HVAC business.

Do Invest in HVAC Software

How do you plan to organize and track all the different aspects of your HVAC business? From scheduling your technicians to billing customers to managing your inventory, it can become overwhelming quite quickly. Get a handle on it all with HVAC software.

3C Connect sets up your new HVAC business for success by streamlining the entire process. Use it to schedule your first appointment, track your team in the field, and monitor your company’s growth from day one. Our field management software makes your operation as efficient as possible so you can conquer the startup period and grow into a small, successful business before long.

The features of 3C Connect are all available at no cost to you thanks to the built-in Cost Recovery Plus system. This adds a small amount to each job you complete, absorbing the setup and ongoing costs into your pricing system so it’s effectively free for you to use.

With these do’s and don’ts of starting an HVAC business in mind, you’re ready to take on this new adventure! To try out 3C Connect for yourself, request a demo of our field management software today.