How To Start My Own Water Damage Business? [Must-Read Tips]

By: Brothers Equipment & Supply

Do you want to start your own water damage restoration business? Starting any business is hard work and it’s not for everyone.

There’s a lot of blood, sweat, tears and good old-fashioned hard work involved.

And because we’ve been in the water damage industry for over 20 years, we understand how tricky it is to start one.

So we decided to write an article on how to start a water damage restoration business, you know, to make your life easier.

After all, that’s what brothers are for right?

In this article we will highlight:

  1. Must-know tips on how to start your own water damage company
  2. Must-have water damage equipment every water damage company should have

Let’s get right into it.

1. Develop A Good Business Plan

A business plan should include your vision and what you want to achieve with the company.

If you want to look into investors that can help you start your water damage business, then you need to follow through in your business plan.

  • Value proposition – answer the question of what your company offers and how that is valuable to prospective clients.

  • Marketing plan – create a solid marketing plan and a budget, as well as how you plan on using it.

  • Revenue inflow – state how your business will generate revenue in the short-term and long-term and yearly projections.

This is something that will give you credibility with investors, so make sure to use it.

2. Choose A Good Name

If you are still without a name for your water damage restoration business, here are a few tips on how to choose the perfect one:

  • Make it short – choose a name that anyone can write with ease in a browser or spell without making a mistake. Keeping it short means a good way to succeed. We know that we have a long name and this is why we recommend a short one.

  • Avoid strange spelling – steer clear from the idea that you need to use a strange word to name your business. People may remember you as a face, but they might forget the name of the business whenever they want to look you up.

3. Check Your Competition

This is one of the most important aspects for you to focus on. Think about the competition and determine who your competitors are.

Identify the same services they offer as you do.

After identifying your competition, make sure you research their prices and how they promote their content.

Make sure you find their strengths and weaknesses too so you can apply some of that to your business as well.

You’ll also want to find a way to make yourself different from the rest and identify your unique sales point (USP).

On another note, you should look into the target market too.

If you want to make sure that you are targeting the right audience, then determine where you want to promote your business and how you plan on doing that too.

4. Research The Information Concerning Small Business Taxes

Start up a conversation with your accountant and see what they suggest.

As a small business, you might be required to pay a few taxes and see if there are any tax cuts that you can incorporate.

The taxes may seem very confusing, so don’t be afraid to ask any questions if you have them.

After all, it is better to ask the questions now and learn everything while you are at the beginning than leave something out for later.

If you do this, you might regret it when the time comes to do something new and deal with information that you have never seen before.

5. Get Legal Advice

If you are looking into starting a water damage business, as with any other business, you will have more than just a few legal obligations.

You will be obliged to obtain a license so you can practice this, and you will also need a specific type of insurance.

Here you need to note that all types of insurance vary depending on where you live. For example, the laws are different in the United States, the requirements are different for every single state.

So, if you want to get started on this one, we suggest that you do proper research and find out everything you need so you can avoid having any troubles later.

If this feels like a strenuous task, remember that you do not have to do it alone.

You can either get some advice from someone who is close to you in the industry, or you can hire a professional who can help you deal with this every step of the way.

You can even turn to a business mentor to help you out.

A business mentor is someone who has already gone through this process while opening up a business of their own.

6. Find A Business Mentor

At this point, this seems like s pretty good idea, right?

Finding a business mentor is one of the points you need to look into if you want to create a successful business for yourself.

By talking to them you will get some insight on how to appeal to your target market, look into the tax and the legal obligations as well, and they will point out some issues that might arise during your process.

All of the advice is usually a budget-friendly way to take care of any situation that arises, and this is how you will get an advantage in kickstarting your small business.

You can connect to a business mentor for free, all you need to do is a little bit of research on this subject.

7. Buy Water Damage Equipment

Once you start looking into starting your own water damage company, you’ll learn that you need the right water damage equipment.

They will put you at an advantage over companies who do not use them and also make your life and your clients’ a whole lot less stressful.

There are a few essential tools that you should get, and some of them include:

  • Moisture detectors – this is how you will detect the level of moisture in a certain area. It is an incredibly important tool to have if you’re starting a water damage business, so make sure that you invest in a quality product.

  • Self-propelled dump trailers – this is the dirtiest part of the job, removing the contaminated materials that have been damaged by water. With the help of this product, you will minimize the dirty work and maximize the efficiency of the people working on site.

  • Air movers – naturally, with any space that has been affected by water damage, you need to think about the air too. In this case, drying fans are incredibly important for decreasing the drying time while you are on the job. There are many types of air movers, and they include compact, as centrifugal, and axial. This is where you need to dive deep into researching which is the best option for you. Make sure that you go with the option that will suit you best, and always consider the vastness of the area concerned.

  • Dehumidifiers – one of the most powerful dehumidifiers you will find are the ones that are low-grain. On the other hand, the conventional ones are the cheaper option, but you will not receive the power that the LGR dehumidifier has. After doing your research, make sure that you choose the model that will suit you best and be most effective for your business.

Despite this being only the beginning, you need to do your research and find the best water damage tools and equipment you may need for starting your own water damage business.

Below we highlight a quick check list of water damage equipment and tools that you should buy to make sure you do the job right:

Dehumidifiers

Air Movers

Moisture Meters

Air Scrubbers

High Volume Extractors

Flood Pumpers

Floor Dryers

Axial Fans

Self-Propelled Dump Containers

Equipter / Truck

When you are creating your water damage business plan, don’t forget to include the cost of all the water damage equipment.

This will also add credibility to your business plan as well.

And remember to enjoy the process.

After all, you are starting your own water damage company, and one way or another this is an exciting experience.

If you follow the tips above, you’ll be at an advantage and be on your way to starting your very own water damage business.

If you have any questions about our article “How To Start My Own Water Damage Business? [Must-Read Tips]” finding the best water damage equipment for your water damage company feel free to email us at sales@brothers-equipment.com or chat with us in near real-time on our Facebook fan page.