How to Maximize Plumbing Profits in 2025 (Without Burning Out)

Let’s talk about something that makes a lot of plumbers squirm: profit.

Some folks treat that word like it’s a bad thing—as if you should feel guilty for wanting to earn more in your own business.

But here’s the truth: Profit is not optional.
If your plumbing business isn’t making money, it’s just an expensive job with stress on top.

In this episode of Potty Talk, Laura and I break down 3 real-world strategies that can double (or even triple) your profits over the next 30 days—without adding more hours to your week.

Let’s dig in.

1. Plug the Leaks Before You Pour More Water

So many plumbing business owners think they just need more calls.

But here’s the deal: if your business is leaking money everywhere, more work just means more wasted money.

Start here:

• Know your numbers. You can’t guess your way to profit. You need to know exactly what it costs to run your business—including overhead, materials, gas, payroll, taxes, insurance, and yes, profit.

• Stop giving free estimates. Driving all over town to hand out free quotes? You’re giving away time, gas, and energy—and it’s killing your bottom line.

• Fix your material pricing. Most guys undercharge for stock and materials. If you’re marking up parts 10–20% or worse, passing them through at cost—you’re bleeding cash.

“Every time you give away a ‘free estimate,’ you’re basically handing someone a $100 bill.”

Plug these leaks and you’ll be shocked at how fast your profits rise—even if your call volume stays the same.

2. Upsell with Integrity and Watch Your Average Ticket Soar

No shady sales tactics. No manipulation. No pressure.

Just professional plumbing done right—with options.

Here’s how:

• Stop broke-fix service. If you’re just running in, fixing the immediate issue, and leaving—you’re leaving thousands on the table.

• Always provide 3 options. Just like car washes or TVs at Best Buy, customers like having choices. A good-better-best structure lets people buy what they’re comfortable with.

• Offer inspections and memberships. When done with integrity, a simple plumbing inspection or membership program can boost your ticket average by 30% or more.

It’s not about gouging your customers—it’s about giving them the power to choose what’s best for their home. And when you do that right?

“They’ll gladly buy the better option—not because you pushed, but because you gave them a reason to.”

3. Profits Start with a Process (Not Just More Work)

If you’re grinding every day, answering the phones, running calls, doing payroll, chasing parts… let me tell you something you already know:

That’s not scalable. And it’s not profitable.

Here’s what to do instead:

• Systematize everything. From dispatching to pricing to hiring to follow-up calls—everything should have a process.

• Use a field management system. We recommend FieldPulse, especially for smaller shops. Stop managing your business with sticky notes and Google Calendars. It’s time to run like a pro.

• Prioritize for profit. Don’t just run jobs in the order they come in. Learn to triage your schedule to knock out your most profitable calls first.

“Profit doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by system.”

Systems = freedom.
Systems = scalability.
Systems = profit.

Bottom Line: You Deserve to Make a Profit

You started your plumbing business for freedom.
Not to work weekends. Not to make less than you did in the truck.

These strategies aren’t complicated—but they do require a shift in mindset from “plumber” to “business owner.”

And when you get that shift?
The game changes.

Want Help Maximizing Your Profits?

I’ve helped hundreds of plumbing business owners go from barely surviving to building million-dollar companies. If you’re ready to see what’s possible, you’ve got two easy next steps:

Join my free Skool community – Get free training, real talk, and direct access to other plumbing business owners (no competition, just collaboration).

Book a call with my team – Ready to grow? We’ll map out your exact next steps to build a profitable, scalable plumbing business—no pressure, just a real conversation.