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America's new millionaire class: Plumbers and HVAC entrepreneurs

(www.wsj.com)
185 points hhs | 8 comments | 13 Oct 24 15:35 UTC | HN request time: 0.825s | source | bottom
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thomasjudge ◴[13 Oct 24 21:11 UTC] No.41831631[source]▶
This article and a lot of the discussion fails to make clear that there is a big difference financially between being a plumber/electrician/hvac tech and owning a plumbing/electrical/hvac business
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1. JumpCrisscross ◴[13 Oct 24 22:05 UTC] No.41832102[source]▶
> a big difference financially between being a plumber/electrician/hvac tech and owning a plumbing/electrical/hvac business

It seems to cost about $10 to 50k to acquire the tools, vehicle and licenses to start a plumbing business. Is there something else that’s substantial beyond the normal attention to detail and savvy that every small businessperson must have?

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2. elawler24 ◴[13 Oct 24 22:14 UTC] No.41832168[source]▶
It’s a grind to run this kind of business. You’re sometimes dealing with life and death situations (you’re liable for someone’s electricity or heating 24/7). Talent is really hard to come by at a reasonable rate, especially reliable master electricians or plumbers and the trades people that work under them. And then it’s an extremely cost and labor intensive business involving large machinery, equipment, and vehicles - inside people’s homes. (Watched my dad scale one of these businesses for 30+ years, his work was stressful and unending)
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3. User23 ◴[13 Oct 24 22:41 UTC] No.41832374[source]▶
Well for one when someone’s AC is out during the summer, heat is out during the winter, their water doesn’t work, or worse yet is flooding, then that person has a pretty poor negotiating position. Plumbers and HVAC can basically name their price for emergency work.
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4. potato3732842 ◴[13 Oct 24 23:28 UTC] No.41832668[source]▶
And the licensing system ensures that everyone has slaved away so long to get into the "I can make the big bucks now" club that they won't compete on price once they're there.
5. chirau ◴[13 Oct 24 23:47 UTC] No.41832756[source]▶
lol. 24/7 heat and electricity are not life and death situations. There are billions of people who live without either everyday
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6. walterbell ◴[13 Oct 24 23:54 UTC] No.41832805{3}[source]▶
In North American winter temperatures?
7. dsv3099i ◴[13 Oct 24 23:56 UTC] No.41832821{3}[source]▶
you’re not wrong. But on the other hand, there are events like this. https://www.npr.org/2022/01/03/1069974416/texas-winter-storm...

So at least sometimes, it is life or death.

8. achierius ◴[14 Oct 24 03:46 UTC] No.41833995{3}[source]▶
For someone with an oxygen machine, yes it is. Many of those billions just don't have the option for this, they would end up committed to a hospital or dying because the treatment would never be seen as viable.

And now that I say it: hospitals need electricians too. Electricity goes out in a hospital for too long, lots of people die.

And actually a third point: electricity -going out- is not the only thing that could kill a client, it's not too hard to start a fire.