2 answers
2 answers
Updated
Ariel’s Answer
Hi Christopher!
I agree with Michael's list.
Additionally, you will need experience and the ability to build trust. My family (specifically my father) has their own successful HVAC business.
My father has the insider bonus of also being a firefighter. This allows him to see the safety surrounding installing and repairing HVAC as priority because he knows the impact of improper installation. It also gives his customers an added sense of security.
You don't have to be a firefighter to gain this insight and reliability, but I do recommend working with a licensed professional first as an apprentice or full-time. Also, take the time to speak with firefighters and other safety professionals to truly understand the ins and outs. Building these relationships will help you stand out in the community as someone who goes above and beyond to secure the safety of your customers.
Plus it's always good to have a firefighter as a friend :)
Wishing you all the best-
I agree with Michael's list.
Additionally, you will need experience and the ability to build trust. My family (specifically my father) has their own successful HVAC business.
My father has the insider bonus of also being a firefighter. This allows him to see the safety surrounding installing and repairing HVAC as priority because he knows the impact of improper installation. It also gives his customers an added sense of security.
You don't have to be a firefighter to gain this insight and reliability, but I do recommend working with a licensed professional first as an apprentice or full-time. Also, take the time to speak with firefighters and other safety professionals to truly understand the ins and outs. Building these relationships will help you stand out in the community as someone who goes above and beyond to secure the safety of your customers.
Plus it's always good to have a firefighter as a friend :)
Wishing you all the best-
Updated
Michele’s Answer
Michael gives you a good checklist for starting up an HVAC business. A few other things to consider:
- Why do you want to do this - and are you sure that you do?
- What skills and/or interests do you think you have that will help you?
- Have you considered interviewing owners or employees of local HVAC companies to learn from them?
Ariel's recommendation that you learn from or apprentice with someone who knows this trade well and can teach you is a really good one! Not only can you get good education, hands on experience, and an understanding of whether you like this type of work or not, an apprenticeship program or on-the-job training opportunity will give you an insider perspective of being in the business before you try to be an owner. Sometimes you can learn about how you should (or should not) manage a business from your own experiences.
It also depends on what kind of scale you want to achieve. If you want to be local and serve local, you need to consider if there is room in your local market for another HVAC company. You will need to understand what is required to be competitive, how to build your brand in a respectable way that allows you get and retain customers. Will you focus on new installation of certain brands? Will you focus on service? Do you want to do residential, commercial or industrial?
Your local Small Business Administration advisory group may be able to offer you some ideas. If this is an area that really interests you, I suggest going to the source and talking to more than one expert to get their insights and learn all the pros and cons of this business area. You can do anything you set your mind to do - but you want to be well informed when you do it.
- Why do you want to do this - and are you sure that you do?
- What skills and/or interests do you think you have that will help you?
- Have you considered interviewing owners or employees of local HVAC companies to learn from them?
Ariel's recommendation that you learn from or apprentice with someone who knows this trade well and can teach you is a really good one! Not only can you get good education, hands on experience, and an understanding of whether you like this type of work or not, an apprenticeship program or on-the-job training opportunity will give you an insider perspective of being in the business before you try to be an owner. Sometimes you can learn about how you should (or should not) manage a business from your own experiences.
It also depends on what kind of scale you want to achieve. If you want to be local and serve local, you need to consider if there is room in your local market for another HVAC company. You will need to understand what is required to be competitive, how to build your brand in a respectable way that allows you get and retain customers. Will you focus on new installation of certain brands? Will you focus on service? Do you want to do residential, commercial or industrial?
Your local Small Business Administration advisory group may be able to offer you some ideas. If this is an area that really interests you, I suggest going to the source and talking to more than one expert to get their insights and learn all the pros and cons of this business area. You can do anything you set your mind to do - but you want to be well informed when you do it.