Tony Gee • January 25, 2021

How to Properly Manage a Plumbing Company

Are you a plumbing business owner? Do you know what it takes to manage a multimillion dollar plumbing company? Are you aware of all the best practices that need to be done? If you don’t or if you've been considering any of the previous questions then we’ve got a great solution for you! 

If you are a plumbing business owner and are looking for a free training video that will teach you all the best practices, that will cover marketing, management, financing, training your plumbers and scaling your plumbing business to duplicate your success, Click Here to Access the Free Training Video. 

The trainer in this video is Tony Gee. Tony was a plumber for 15 years prior to studying marketing. He is the owner and founder of Strictly Plumbers Inc., which has about 20 staff and has helped approximately 240 plumbing business owners throughout the United States.
Tony Gee certainly knows what it takes to run a plumbing shop generating 1 million per month! And because he is so passionate about seeing small to medium plumbing businesses grow, he is sharing valuable tips on how to properly manage your own plumbing company. 

Tip 1: Ensure You Have Work for Your Plumbers 
The first step to running a successful plumbing company is making sure you have work for your plumbers. If you’re continually looking for ways to get more plumbing jobs, focus on improving your plumbing marketing efforts first. 
Marketing remains the most important aspect of managing your plumbing business. It is like the fuel that powers your vehicle. If you don’t know how to make the phone ring, nothing else matters. 

Today, plumbing business owners must navigate a multitude of digital platforms. Often ending up guessing which avenues work best for attracting the most leads. Our Digital Marketing Blueprint will help you decide which digital marketing strategy works best for your business. Click here to download our Plumber Marketing Blueprint. 

Are you struggling to find more plumbing leads? If you are ready to take your plumbing lead generation to the next level, Schedule a call today

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Tip 2: Invest in the Best Plumbing Software 

Your plumbing business has plenty of room to grow, if you automate some tasks. Investing in the best plumbing software can make your business tasks easier, quicker and more accurate than ever. Rather than hiring more people to handle the different tasks of your business, you can boost your productivity with custom-built software. We recommend you choose the following software for your plumbing company: 


  • SkyBoss:


SkyBoss is a cloud-based, mobile software that is specifically designed to streamline your plumbing business. This software has all the tools you need to take your plumbing business to new levels of performance and revenue. Its primary features include customizable price book, inventory management, plumber tracking and routing, task management, work orders, estimating, reporting, customer tracking, work orders and invoicing, as well as scheduling and dispatch. 


The software also comes with a drag-and-drop calendar where you can choose specific plumbers and book them for certain tasks. It notifies you about open and unassigned tasks, and you can color code jobs for a visual reminder. Additionally, SkyBoss also offers you GPS tracking to empower you to plan the fastest routes and schedule the closest techs to work orders. Click here to learn more and Schedule a Free Demo with SkyBoss. 


  • Service Titan: 

If you’re looking to grow your plumbing company and increase revenue, then you should invest in Service Titan. It is a cloud based platform that helps plumbing business owners handle all aspects of field service management, from scheduling to invoicing to sales. Service Titan has a particularly strong sales feature that allows plumbers in the field to make presentations to customers and close on the spot. This software is also ideal for dispatchers who have to handle a lot of calls and need more detailed information on customers right away rather than having to dig and pull the info out during the phone call. Click here to learn more and schedule a FREE Demo with Service Titan. 


Tip 3: Have the Correct Management System 

One of the hallmarks of any successful plumbing company is often the presence of a “Good Management System”. A good management system benefits every aspect of your plumbing company, including the executive, plumbers and customers. So, what does a good plumbing business management system entail? 

A. Dispatchers:

Your dispatchers are critical to keeping your plumbing business running its best. Your company’s dispatcher plays an important role when it comes to keeping your plumbers performing at a high level and delivering awesome customer service on everything from emergency class to sales opportunities.


Thus, it is essential to make sure that you have the right dispatchers for your plumbing business. Whether your company relies on dedicated dispatchers or combines CSRs and dispatchers into one position, the people working in those roles should have the right skill set and customer service experience. Tony Gee knows the best strategies that make a successful plumbing dispatcher. Click Here for Free Dispatcher Training. 

B. Plumbers:

Hiring the right plumbers is one of the most important and also painful parts of managing a plumbing business. Talented, experienced plumbers are becoming harder to find. However, with some planning and forward thinking, you can still find the best plumbers for your team. Our Plumbing Hiring Test can help you build an awesome team and take your plumbing business to the next level. 


Once you have hired the right plumber, you need to train them to get bigger sales. Tony Gee can teach your plumbers how to esthetically turn a small plumbing job into a larger plumbing job to generate bigger invoices. Even if your plumbers don’t have good sales skills. Tony has trained thousands of plumbers on sales training and has also given sales training presentations for plumbers for PHCC. Tony Gee is an affiliate of PHCC of San Diego. Click Here for a Free Plumbing Sales TrainingSchedule an Appointment With Tony Today

C. Managers:

Your managers are a critical component of your management system. They are responsible for making sure that your plumbers are hitting the quotas and goals. Make sure you have a good manager as the success of your plumbing business will largely depend on his or her performance. 

D. Pricing Your Plumbing Jobs:

The plumbing business is a business where literally time is money. That’s why you need to accurately forecast the time and efforts needed for the job in order to provide your customers with the right price. Estimates are golden when it comes to plumbers. One, they allow a customer to know what the plumbing job will cost. And two, having an accurate price estimate offers you an outline of how you can land the job over the competition. 


Apart from providing estimates, you need to know how to set your rates. You should decide whether to offer a flat rate or hourly service to your clients. Most plumbers charge an hourly rate when facing a large job. The rate varies greatly depending on where you are looking. Ranges can go from $45 to $200 per hour, and the most common hourly charge is usually about $85 per hour. On the other hand, Flat Fees are best for smaller jobs. 

E. Paying Your Plumbers:

Your plumbers are the heart of your plumbing business. They work so hard to keep your business thriving, and thus they deserve a pay. Click here to learn How Much to Pay Your Plumbers

F. Weekly Training:

Make sure you set up a weekly training meeting with your plumbers to stay on top of sales. Tony Gee recommends training the entire staff a minimum of 1 day per week, for 1 hour per week. If you need help choosing a day, make it a Tuesday so you can catapult your plumbing plumbing company weekly, Mondays are usually busy at the office and that's why Tuesdays work best. Below is a list of 14 of the most popular topics that you can inject into your weekly meetings at your plumbing company:

  • Top sales
  • Who gets the most online reviews
  • Safety do's and don'ts 
  • New rules
  • Weekly Updates
  • Introduce new staff members 
  • Set goals
  • Check goals 
  • Plumbing training 
  • New incentives
  • Roll playing for sales
  • Update on financial goals 
  • Update on safety goals 
  • Inspiration/motivation


These topics are not in any specific order, the goal is to make sure these weekly meetings happen. The easiest way to make this happen is to schedule these meetings in advance. Send out emails and text as reminders the day before the meeting and keep the weekly meeting consistent to make sure all the necessary staff members get educated and trained.

G. Financing:

One way to win big plumbing jobs is to offer your customers low monthly payments. The best way to offer financing to your customers is by connecting your plumbing company with a bank and having them as your in-house financing department. The company we recommend for plumber is Hearth. Click here to register for Hearth’s Plumber Financing!


Tip 4: Inspect What You Expect Daily 

“Inspect what you expect'' is an old and familiar saying. It is also an operating philosophy that can result in good or bad outcomes depending on how you deploy it. You should make sure that you are inspecting the right things because looking at the wrong things can pose a threat to your plumbing business. Make sure you:

  • Check every invoice
  • Check all necessary initials on invoices
  • Check description on every invoice
  • Check troubleshooting notes to understand service calls
  • Check for the recommendations 
  • Check PSI 
  • Check for initials on 3 day right to cancel & waiver
  • Check for initials on Mechanic's Lien Warning 
  • Check for initials on change orders
  • Check before and after pictures on each invoice
  • Check for daily projections to complete plumbing job 
  • Check for signature to get started 
  • Check for signature upon completion
  •  Check for payment

Perfect the systems and improve the culture, and you can cover all your bases.


Tip 5: Duplicate the Success

Every business owner understands that success in the industry lies in the power of duplication. After all, it is duplication that enables you to build a large plumbing business that doesn’t need you to do all the work yourself. So, duplicate your marketing efforts, hiring, training and sales for your plumbers. 


Do you need help getting more plumbing leads? Strictly Plumbers Inc. is the ONLY plumbing marketing company started by a master plumber, and we have been helping plumbing owners like you grow their business and increase their revenue. After 15 years as a master plumber in San Diego, working for the most reputable companies in the industry, Tony Gee decided to pursue his passion for online marketing for plumbing owners. Click Here to schedule an appointment with Tony.


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A laptop showing charts sits by tools and burning cash, with the text:
By Tony Gee March 31, 2026
Many plumbing companies struggle with inconsistent call volume, rising ad costs, and marketing that promises results but delivers very little. One week, the schedule is full; the next, it’s quiet, and no one explains why. At Strictly Plumbers Inc., we’ve worked with over 500 plumbing businesses since 2017 and seen the patterns firsthand. Studies show that over 70% of homeowners search online before hiring a plumber, yet most plumbing websites fail to convert those visitors into real calls. That’s where the gap lies. We know how to make your phone ring with customers every day. We work with over 500+ large, medium & small Plumbing companies and provide prestige marketing services for Plumbers. Schedule your free marketing consultation now and learn how we can help! In this blog, we break down what actually works based on real-world data, proven campaigns, and measurable results. You’ll learn the fundamentals of marketing services for plumbers that drive consistent leads, booked jobs, and real revenue without wasting money. Why Most Plumbing Marketing Fails Many plumbing companies invest in marketing but still struggle to generate steady calls and booked jobs. The problem is not effort, it is direction. When the strategy is built on the wrong foundation, results become unpredictable and frustrating. Here is why plumbing marketing fails for so many businesses and what is really happening behind the scenes. Inconsistent leads Many plumbers experience unpredictable lead flow, with busy weeks followed by slow periods. This happens when marketing lacks a stable system that consistently brings in high-intent customers. Without a reliable strategy, your schedule will always depend on chance instead of control. Agencies don’t understand plumbing A major reason plumbers struggle to get leads is that they work with agencies that treat plumbing as just another industry. Plumbing customers search with urgency and specific intent, which requires a different approach. When this is ignored, campaigns fail to connect with real buyers. Focus on traffic, not revenue One of the most common plumbing marketing mistakes is chasing website traffic instead of booked jobs. More visitors do not automatically mean more calls or revenue. What matters is attracting the right people who are ready to hire and turning them into paying customers. No tracking means no clarity Many plumbing businesses have no clear way to track where their leads are coming from. Without call tracking and data, it becomes impossible to know what is working and what is wasting money. This leads to poor decisions and continued frustration with marketing results. After working with 500+ plumbers, we saw the same patterns… What 500+ Plumbing Companies Taught Us (Core Insights) After working with hundreds of plumbing companies across different markets, we started to see clear patterns in what drives real results. These are not theories. These are proven plumbing marketing strategies built from real campaigns, real data, and real revenue outcomes.  Speed to lead Most plumbers focus on getting more website visitors, but the real difference comes from how fast you respond to incoming calls and leads. Studies show that over 70 percent of customers choose the first plumber who answers or calls back. In one campaign, simply reducing response time increased booked jobs by over 40 percent without increasing traffic. Google Maps drives the majority of calls A large percentage of plumbing leads come from local searches, especially “near me” queries. We consistently see that Google Business Profile listings generate more calls than websites when properly optimized. This is why strong local visibility is a core part of effective marketing for plumbers . Reviews directly impact revenue Plumbers with more high-quality reviews not only get more calls but also close at higher rates. Data shows that businesses with 50+ reviews can see up to 2 times more conversions compared to those with fewer than 10. Reviews build trust instantly and often determine who gets the job. Missed calls equal lost money Many plumbing companies lose thousands each month simply by missing calls or failing to follow up. One client discovered they were missing nearly 30 percent of inbound calls, which translated to tens of thousands in lost revenue. Adding a simple missed call text-back system recovered a significant portion of those jobs. Your website should convert, not just exist A good-looking website is not enough if it does not generate calls. High-performing sites focus on clear messaging, strong calls to action, and mobile responsiveness. Even slight improvements in conversion rates can have a major impact on overall plumbing business growth. Cheap marketing often leads to expensive problems Many plumbers try low-cost marketing solutions that promise quick results but deliver poor-quality leads. Over time, this leads to wasted budgets and frustration. Investing in the right strategy from the start produces more consistent and profitable outcomes. Consistency beats short-term tactics Successful plumbing companies do not rely on one channel or quick wins. They build systems that generate leads every day through SEO, local visibility, and paid ads. This consistent approach is what separates stable businesses from those that struggle month to month. 5 Core Marketing Services Every Plumber Needs to Make More Money Most plumbers do not struggle because they lack skill. They struggle because their marketing is inconsistent, unclear, or built on the wrong foundation. After working with hundreds of plumbing companies, we have seen that success is not random. It comes from using the right combination of marketing systems that consistently generate calls and booked jobs. If you want steady growth, you do not need to try everything. You need to focus on the five services that have proven to work across different markets and service areas. Below are the core marketing services every plumber needs to stay visible, competitive, and fully booked. Plumber Web Design Your website is not just an online brochure. It is your most important sales tool. When someone finds you through Google Business Profile for plumbers or clicks from local SEO for plumbers, your website is where they decide whether to call you or move on to the next company. Most plumbing websites fail because they are slow, confusing, or lack clear calls to action. A high-performing plumbing website is built to convert plumber near me searches into real phone calls. That means fast loading speed, clear service pages, strong trust signals, and click-to-call buttons placed exactly where users need them. The goal is simple. Turn every visitor into a potential job. When your website is designed correctly, it works for you around the clock, capturing leads even when you are out on a job or after hours. We offer modern plumber web design that gets potential clients searching for your services. Plumber SEO, AEO and GEO Search visibility is the backbone of consistent lead generation. When someone searches for a plumber, you need to show up at the exact moment they are ready to hire. That is where SEO for plumbing companies comes in. It helps your plumbing website rank on Google for high-intent searches that drive calls. At Strictly Plumbers, our approach goes beyond traditional SEO. We combine plumbing AI SEO services with advanced strategies like GEO for plumbers and AEO for plumber searches. This means optimizing your presence not just for search engines, but also for AI-driven results and location-based queries that dominate today’s search behavior. Our SEO also includes deep Google Business Profile optimization, which plays a major role in local rankings. We have developed a strategy specifically for plumbers that focuses on service authority, location signals, and conversion-focused content. The result is simple. You do not just rank your plumbing website. You attract the right customers who are ready to book. Google PPC and LSA If you want immediate results, paid advertising is one of the fastest ways to generate calls. Google Ads for plumbers allow you to appear at the top of search results when customers are actively looking for services. These are not casual visitors. These are people with urgent problems who are ready to hire. Plumbing PPC campaigns, when set up correctly, target high-intent keywords such as emergency plumbing leads. This ensures your budget focuses on clicks more likely to lead to real jobs. Local Services Ads also play a major role. LSA for plumbers puts your business in front of customers with the Google Guaranteed badge, which builds instant trust. This increases the likelihood of calls and booked appointments. The key is not just running ads. It is about managing them properly, tracking every call, and optimizing cost per job so you get the highest return on your investment. Yelp Advertising For Plumbers Yelp remains one of the most powerful platforms for service-based businesses, especially in competitive markets. Many homeowners use Yelp to compare options, read reviews, and choose a plumber they can trust. As a certified Yelp advertising partner, Strictly Plumbers helps plumbing companies turn Yelp into a consistent source of inbound calls. We optimize your profile, position your business effectively, and run targeted campaigns that put you in front of customers actively searching for plumbing services. The advantage of Yelp advertising is intent. These users are not browsing. They are ready to hire. When your profile is properly optimized and supported by strong reviews, it becomes a powerful driver of high-quality leads. With the right strategy, Yelp can become a reliable channel that supports your overall marketing system and keeps your phone ringing. Business Coaching and Sales Training For Plumbers Marketing does not end when the phone rings. What happens after the call determines whether you win or lose the job. That is why business coaching and sales training are essential parts of a successful plumbing marketing system. We work with plumbing companies to improve how they handle calls, price jobs, and communicate value to customers. Small improvements in these areas can lead to significant increases in conversion rates and overall revenue. Many plumbers invest in marketing but miss opportunities due to missed calls, weak communication, or inconsistent follow-up. By strengthening your sales process, you maximize the value of every lead that comes in. This is where real growth happens. When marketing and sales work together, you do not just get more calls. You turn more of those calls into paying customers and long-term business. The Plumbing Revenue System Most marketing agencies focus on traffic. More clicks, more impressions, more visitors. But traffic alone does not pay the bills. What matters is how that traffic turns into real jobs and real revenue. That is where our plumbing lead generation system stands out. At Strictly Plumbers Inc., we focus on the full pipeline. Every successful campaign follows a clear flow. Traffic turns into leads. Leads turn into calls. Calls turn into booked jobs. Booked jobs turn into revenue. If any part of this chain is broken, you lose money. Our plumber marketing system is built to strengthen every step. We bring in high-intent traffic through search, ads, and local visibility. Then we convert that traffic into leads using optimized websites and strong calls to action. From there, we help improve call handling and follow-up so more inquiries turn into booked appointments. Here is what that looks like in real numbers. A plumbing company might generate 1,000 monthly visitors. If their website converts at just 3 percent, that is 30 leads. If only half of those leads call, they end up with 15 conversations. Now, imagine improving each stage. Increase conversion to 6 percent, improve call handling, and suddenly those same 1,000 visitors can produce 40 to 50 real job opportunities. That is not luck. That is a well-structured plumbing sales funnel designed to capture, convert, and close. We do not just bring traffic. We build a system that turns attention into consistent, predictable revenue. Why is Strictly Plumbers Different? Most agencies talk about clicks, impressions, and rankings. But plumbing companies do not run on metrics. They run on calls, booked jobs, and revenue. That is where Strictly Plumbers Inc. stands apart. Strictly Plumbers was built by Tony Gee, a plumber with 15 years of real field experience. That foundation changes everything. Instead of guessing what works, we understand how customers think, how they search, and what makes them pick up the phone. Over the years, we have worked with more than 500 plumbing companies, helping them fix broken marketing systems and turn them into predictable revenue streams. Our approach to marketing for plumbers is simple. Focus on what actually drives business growth. That means more calls, better-quality leads, and higher-ticket jobs. We are not just plumbing marketing experts. We are partners in your growth. Our strategies are built around real data, real campaigns, and real case studies that show what is possible when marketing is done right. Ready to Fix What’s Holding Your Plumbing Business Back? If your marketing feels inconsistent, unpredictable, or simply not delivering the results you expected, you are not alone. Many plumbing companies invest in plumbing marketing services but never see the return they should. That is the gap we help close. There is a better way to generate more plumbing leads without wasting time or money on ineffective strategies. When your marketing is built correctly, it creates steady plumbing growth and gives you control over your schedule and revenue. Book a free marketing consultation with Strictly Plumbers Inc. today. We will walk you through what is working, what is missing, and exactly how to turn your marketing into a system that consistently brings in calls and booked jobs.
AI SEO For Plumbers
By Tony Gee March 10, 2026
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and show you why immediate implementation is critical for your company's survival and growth.
A man is pointing at a sign that says plumbline
By Tony Gee March 6, 2024
In the competitive world of plumbing services, standing out and offering unparalleled customer service can make all the difference. That's where PlumbLine comes in, a game-changing answering service designed specifically for plumbing companies. What sets PlumbLine apart is its innovative pricing model: charging exclusively per booked call. This approach not only ensures cost-effectiveness but also aligns directly with the success of your plumbing business. Tailored for Your Success Understanding the unique challenges plumbing companies face, PlumbLine offers a bespoke solution that caters specifically to the needs of this industry. Our service ensures that every call is answered with professionalism and expertise, acting as an extension of your own business. The per booked call model means you only pay for results, making it a risk-free investment in your company's growth and customer satisfaction. One of the standout features of our service is the ability to book appointments directly into your company's scheduling software. This seamless integration ensures that the booking process is as efficient and error-free as possible, further enhancing the customer experience and streamlining your operations. How PlumbLine Works PlumbLine employs a team of highly trained professionals 24/7/265, who understand the nuances of the plumbing industry. When a potential client calls, our representatives handle the call with the same care and knowledge as if they were your own employees. They are trained to not only answer general inquiries but also to effectively book appointments, ensuring that potential leads turn into actual business. This efficiency boosts your conversion rate and, ultimately, your bottom line. Cost-Effective and Efficient By charging only for booked calls, PlumbLine ensures that your marketing dollars are spent wisely. This pricing strategy eliminates the concern of paying for services that don't directly contribute to your revenue. It's a straightforward, transparent approach that benefits your business by directly linking our success to yours. This model encourages us to work harder for your business, as our growth is directly tied to your success. Benefits Beyond Savings Aside from the obvious financial benefits, partnering with PlumbLine brings numerous advantages to your plumbing business: **24/7 Availability:** Missed calls are missed opportunities. PlumbLine ensures you're always available to your customers, capturing leads even outside of regular business hours. **Professional Representation:** First impressions matter. Our team handles each call with the professionalism and courtesy your customers expect. **Direct Booking into Your Scheduling Software:** Streamline your appointment setting process with our direct booking feature, ensuring efficient scheduling and customer satisfaction. **Increased Conversion Rates:** With expert handling of inquiries and appointment bookings, you'll see a significant increase in conversion rates, driving more business your way. Join the PlumbLine Family  PlumbLine is more than just an answering service; it's a partner in your business's growth. Our unique pay-per-booked-call model, combined with our industry-specific expertise and direct booking capabilities, makes us the ideal choice for plumbing companies looking to enhance their customer service and increase their revenue. With PlumbLine, you're not just hiring an answering service; you're investing in a tailored solution that grows with your business. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help elevate your plumbing business to new heights.