How to Grow Your Plumbing Business: 8 Proven Strategies

You're a good plumber. You do quality work, your customers are happy, but you're not getting enough jobs to fill your diary. Sound familiar? Growing a plumbing business takes more than just being good at plumbing — you need to market yourself. Here are 8 proven strategies.

1. Ask Every Happy Customer for a Referral

Word of mouth is the single most powerful marketing tool for plumbers. After every job, simply say: "If you know anyone who needs a plumber, I'd really appreciate you passing on my number."

Most customers are happy to recommend a good tradesman — they just don't think to do it unless you ask. Make it a habit after every completed job.

2. Get Listed on Google

When someone's boiler breaks at 7pm, the first thing they do is Google "plumber near me". If you're not on Google, you don't exist to these customers.

• Set up Google Business Profile — It's free and takes 10 minutes
• Ask customers to leave Google reviews — 5-star reviews push you to the top of local search
• Add photos of your work — Before/after shots of bathroom installations, boiler upgrades, etc.

3. Send Professional Quotes

When a customer gets three quotes, they often choose the plumber who presented the most professional one — even if it's not the cheapest. A professional quote signals that you run a proper business.

• Use branded, itemised quotes (not text messages)
• Send quotes within 24 hours of visiting the property
• Follow up if you haven't heard back in 3-5 days
• Use quoting software to save time and look professional

4. Build a Simple Website

You don't need a fancy website — just a simple one-page site with:

• Your name and what you do
• Services you offer
• Your service area
• Phone number and email (prominently displayed)
• A few photos of your work
• Customer testimonials

This gives you credibility when customers Google your name after getting your quote.

5. Join Checkatrade or MyBuilder

These platforms charge a monthly fee but can deliver a steady stream of leads. They work best if you:

• Respond to enquiries quickly (within 1 hour)
• Keep your profile updated with recent reviews and photos
• Price competitively for the first few jobs to build up reviews

Once you have 20+ positive reviews on these platforms, leads become much easier to convert.

6. Use Social Media (Even Just a Little)

You don't need to become an influencer. Just posting the occasional before/after photo on Instagram or Facebook can bring in work. People love seeing transformation photos — a grotty bathroom becoming a beautiful new one, or a rusty old boiler replaced with a shiny new Vaillant.

Post 2-3 times a week and use local hashtags like #PlumberLondon #PlumbingUK.

7. Offer a Maintenance Plan

Instead of waiting for emergency calls, offer annual boiler servicing or maintenance plans. This gives you:

• Recurring income — Predictable revenue every month
• Customer loyalty — They'll call you first when something goes wrong
• Upsell opportunities — You'll spot issues during servicing that lead to paid work

8. Speed Up Your Admin

Every hour you spend writing quotes, chasing invoices, or doing paperwork is an hour you're not earning money on site. The fastest way to grow is to:

• Use quoting software to send quotes in minutes, not hours
• Convert quotes to invoices in one click
• Send invoices immediately when the job is done
• Track who owes you money so nothing slips through the cracks