Six Simple Shifts to Build a More Profitable Plumbing Business
What We’ve Learned from the Business Health Check So Far
If you run a plumbing or heating business, chances are you’re working hard - but that doesn’t always mean your business is running efficiently or profitably.
Over the past few months, we’ve shared insights from the Plumbing & Heating Business Health Check - a free tool we built to help you spot where your business is strong, and where it’s quietly costing you time, energy, and money.
We’ve broken the results down into six key areas - each one backed by real data and written with action in mind. These aren’t big, complicated strategies. They’re small shifts that can help you turn a good business into a great one.
This isn’t the final word - but it’s a strong recap of what we’ve seen so far, and the areas most trades businesses could improve today.
1. Finding New Customers: 64% Are Struggling to Stay Visible
“We’re great at what we do… we just need more of the right people to find us.”
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. According to the Health Check, 64% of businesses scored low in this area. The issue isn’t poor service - it’s visibility, consistency, and systems that attract the right customers even when you’re busy on the tools.
What’s going wrong:
What to do next:
Keep your Google Business Profile up to date
Track your Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) - even roughly
Ask for referrals and reviews after each job
Use automated follow-ups for missed calls and online enquiries
2. Turning Leads into Jobs: Over Half Don’t Follow Up
“One of the biggest gaps we saw? No structured follow-up system. Just quotes sent, and silence.”
Leads come in, but without speed and structure, they go cold. The Health Check revealed that over 50% of businesses don’t follow up with leads in any consistent way.
What’s going wrong:
What to do next:
Respond to leads within 5 - 30 minutes wherever possible
Use a simple lead tracker or CRM
Set up automated follow-ups
Create clear scripts and templates to save time when replying
3. Delivering Great Service: 70% Aren’t Encouraging Repeat Work
“We finish the job. But after that? Nothing. The customer disappears.”
It’s not a bad service problem - it’s a communication gap. Once the invoice is sent, most customers never hear from the business again. The Health Check found that 70% of businesses don’t have a structured approach to following up or encouraging repeat work.
What’s going wrong:
What to do next:
Send a thank-you message after every job
Collect reviews automatically
Offer a seasonal check-up or annual reminder
Set up a referral incentive for happy customers
4. Staying on Top of Finances: Only 17% Are Doing It Well
“We’re busy, but I’ve no idea if we’re actually making money.”
It’s one of the most common things we hear - and the Health Check results confirm it. Just 17% of plumbing and heating businesses are confident in their financial management. Most are running on gut feel - not data.
What’s going wrong:
What to do next:
Let us help you track what it really costs to win a new customer (your CAC) - and how much you should spend on marketing
Set up monthly reports that give you profit clarity without drowning in spreadsheets
Review your most profitable job types and build your offers around them
Plan for quieter months with a forecast and follow-up strategy
5. Keeping Customers for Life: 70% Are Leaving Revenue on the Table
“Most customers would use us again - but we never ask.”
This one hits hard. The Health Check showed that 70% of businesses have no system in place for re-engaging past customers. That means no reminders, no reviews, and no reason to come back.
What’s going wrong:
What to do next:
Use automated messages to thank customers and request reviews
Send a seasonal check-in or tip email to stay on their radar
Offer a care plan or follow-up service
Use a your CRM to track customer lifetime value (CLV)
6. Business Health: What the Best Businesses Do Differently
“We’re good at some things, but it always feels like we’re chasing our tails.”
You’re not the only one. The Health Check reminds us that even well-run businesses often have weak spots - and those can slow everything else down. Growth happens when your marketing, sales, customer service, and finances are aligned and working together.
What’s going wrong:
What to do next:
Regularly review and assess where you are
Pick one priority area to improve at a time
Put systems in place before you grow your team
Use your data to drive decisions, not just your instincts
What’s Next?
If any of this feels familiar, the good news is this: you’re not alone, and the solutions are often simpler than you think. You don’t need more hustle - you need the right systems, and someone in your corner who understands your world.
That’s why we created get booked - a specialist marketing partner for plumbing and heating businesses.
We’re currently in soft launch, and we’re inviting a small number of businesses to join our Early Access Programme. This gives you the chance to:
👋 Want to Have a Chat?
We’ve had a great response so far, and we’re opening up time for relaxed, no-pressure conversations - whether over tea, coffee, or Zoom.
If you’d like to talk through your business, explore ideas, or just get some honest advice, just let us know. We’re here when you’re ready to have that chat - no strings, no sales pressure.
All you need to do is reach out by phone, WhatsApp, email, or by filling in the form on our soft launch page to book a time that suits you.
Filling in the Early Access form doesn’t lock you into anything. It just starts a conversation. We’ll look at where you’re at, what you want to improve, and if there’s a way we can support you. If not - no hard feelings. If so - we’ll show you what’s possible.
Let’s talk about your business, your goals, and how to make running it feel simpler, more profitable, and a bit more fun, so that you can focus on what matters - time, family, growth.
