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If you're looking at starting a local business, consider a chimney sweeping & inspection business
Takes about 1.5 hour start to finish & we charge $190 & it should be more
Getting started can be tough, but here's how you can do it ( @sweatystartup style):
Takes about 1.5 hour start to finish & we charge $190 & it should be more
Getting started can be tough, but here's how you can do it ( @sweatystartup style):
For starters, this is just a game plan for getting started with providing inspections & sweeps only.
Not doing repairs. That's a whole other beast.
The idea is to get into the business and refer out the repairs after you've made the inspection
OK let's get started
Not doing repairs. That's a whole other beast.
The idea is to get into the business and refer out the repairs after you've made the inspection
OK let's get started
1. You need to understand chimneys
This is the toughest part because you'll need to get a certification or work for someone else.
There are two main certifications -
>> CCP - partnered with the national guild so highly respected.
You buy study materials & take a test
This is the toughest part because you'll need to get a certification or work for someone else.
There are two main certifications -
>> CCP - partnered with the national guild so highly respected.
You buy study materials & take a test
You can get videos from CVC that will help guide you through the test for CCP.
>> CSIA - most respected in the industry. Costs $2344 + travel costs to go to the training center in Indiana.
It's in person with great staff. Mixes classroom and hands on training
>> CSIA - most respected in the industry. Costs $2344 + travel costs to go to the training center in Indiana.
It's in person with great staff. Mixes classroom and hands on training
2. Get set up online
This has been a huge strategy for us. Most chimney companies were started in the 80s and still act like it
They'll have websites, but they're not optimized, user friendly, and it'll be easier to beat them
This has been a huge strategy for us. Most chimney companies were started in the 80s and still act like it
They'll have websites, but they're not optimized, user friendly, and it'll be easier to beat them
The easiest place to start is to get a logo
You can have one made for you on Fiverr for pretty cheap. Maybe $50 for a good one
Just get an SVG file too so you can easily add it to your uniforms, vehicle wraps, etc.
SVG will make it much easier
You can have one made for you on Fiverr for pretty cheap. Maybe $50 for a good one
Just get an SVG file too so you can easily add it to your uniforms, vehicle wraps, etc.
SVG will make it much easier
Get a phone number on Google Voice. Make sure it's set up with a friendly greeting
Don't forget a great voicemail greeting too!
At first, you might not think it's necessary to get a CRM, but you absolutely do
1st you'll look more professional
2nd you'll be more organized
Don't forget a great voicemail greeting too!
At first, you might not think it's necessary to get a CRM, but you absolutely do
1st you'll look more professional
2nd you'll be more organized
You can do something like Jobber or Housecall Pro. Both are great and will help you stand out
We use Jobber now
We're about use ServiceTitan and it's going to be a game changer
But it's the most expensive and unnecessary just starting out
We use Jobber now
We're about use ServiceTitan and it's going to be a game changer
But it's the most expensive and unnecessary just starting out
When you set up your website, try to find a company that uses Divi or Elementor or Webflow so that you can easily update the website with new content without having to learn a ton of new skills
Just as important as your site, get a Google My Business page
Just as important as your site, get a Google My Business page
Put as much info as you can on there and keep adding new posts while you're running your business
You want to play by Google's rules because you want them to recommend their customers to your website when their customer is looking for chimney services
You want to play by Google's rules because you want them to recommend their customers to your website when their customer is looking for chimney services
3. Once you're online, get a bank account
You'll need an EIN which you can get online
I don't think you'll need an LLC anytime soon. Not until you hire some EEs
We use a local credit union. But you can use an online bank like NOVO
You'll need an EIN which you can get online
I don't think you'll need an LLC anytime soon. Not until you hire some EEs
We use a local credit union. But you can use an online bank like NOVO
4. Take your EIN and sign up to be a distributor with one of the main suppliers
You'll get massive discounts to buy inspection cameras, sweeping tools, etc. when you're a distributor
Here are the main ones -
- Copperfield/Olympia
- New England Chimney
- National Chimney
You'll get massive discounts to buy inspection cameras, sweeping tools, etc. when you're a distributor
Here are the main ones -
- Copperfield/Olympia
- New England Chimney
- National Chimney
5. When you have your supplier, start to buy the materials that you'll need
- You'll need the basic hand tools - drill, hammer, mallet, screw drivers, etc
You probably have these at home. But you can get by with a basic tool box kit from Home Depot - $100
- You'll need the basic hand tools - drill, hammer, mallet, screw drivers, etc
You probably have these at home. But you can get by with a basic tool box kit from Home Depot - $100
- Ladders - you'll need at least a 6' step ladder, 16', 28', 32', 36', and a 40' ladder - $2K brand new
- Camera - these are needed for lvl 2 inspections to see inside the flue. They can be $300 up to $4500
- Camera - these are needed for lvl 2 inspections to see inside the flue. They can be $300 up to $4500
- Vacuum - sweeping a chimney produces a lot of dust. Vacuums are there to control the dust so it doesn't get on the furniture.
You need a good vacuum and those will run ~$1K.
- Van - we got started with a van for <$3K. I don't remember the exact cost but it was cheap.
You need a good vacuum and those will run ~$1K.
- Van - we got started with a van for <$3K. I don't remember the exact cost but it was cheap.
Get a big magnet and slap it on the side. Once you make more money, go ahead and get a better van and a wrap to make it much nicer.
- Fiberglass rods - these will have a brush attachment to the end. You'll push this up the chimney to sweep the flue
Our camera actually attaches to our rods too
Budget about $500 for a good set with different shaped brushes
Our camera actually attaches to our rods too
Budget about $500 for a good set with different shaped brushes
- Fireplace tools - these are the same thing you'll see by most fireplaces.
Brush, shovel, bucket, smoke shelf scraper, etc.
You can get a full set for $150
Brush, shovel, bucket, smoke shelf scraper, etc.
You can get a full set for $150
- Uniform - No need to buy a ton or anything special. Get a polo from Walmart and a couple plain t-shirts.
Take them to a local embroider and add your logo to them. You'll have a nice uniform for $50
Take them to a local embroider and add your logo to them. You'll have a nice uniform for $50
- Business cards & flyers - have them designed on Fiverr and order from Vistaprint. $100
Then knock on doors, leave flyers - basic guerrilla marketing to get started
6. Get insurance - for your business and the vehicle. With one vehicle and just you, it can be about $225/mo
Then knock on doors, leave flyers - basic guerrilla marketing to get started
6. Get insurance - for your business and the vehicle. With one vehicle and just you, it can be about $225/mo
You can get started for about $8500 with everything you'll need to have a solid start in the chimney industry.
Velocity is the name of the game here. Especially in the busy fall & winter
Your competitive advantage will be how soon you can get to their house
Velocity is the name of the game here. Especially in the busy fall & winter
Your competitive advantage will be how soon you can get to their house
Plus, if you're the first person to answer the phone, the customer will hire you regardless of price
And if you can get them in sooner than 1 month they'll go with you regardless of price, too
We charge $190 for 1.5 hours of work and about to raise that to $250
And if you can get them in sooner than 1 month they'll go with you regardless of price, too
We charge $190 for 1.5 hours of work and about to raise that to $250
Start with $190 until you're too busy. Then raise the price to $250 and you'll be well on your way to a great business.
At $190, you'll only need 45 jobs to break even. In a lot of markets, you can easily get to 45 in a week
At $190, you'll only need 45 jobs to break even. In a lot of markets, you can easily get to 45 in a week
Then, partner with a local chimney construction company to refer repair jobs to
Set up an understanding for the inspection reports
What do they need from you to help with getting a quote without doing their own inspection?
Set up an understanding for the inspection reports
What do they need from you to help with getting a quote without doing their own inspection?
If you time it right by starting in July, you'll be very busy by the burn season
Hire an admin to answer calls & schedule. Then hire a helper and you'll have a solid business
Hire an admin to answer calls & schedule. Then hire a helper and you'll have a solid business
