HVAC business

Where are you in your HVAC journey?

Updated on 24 September 2026

Pre-launch and operating owners need different things. Pick the track that matches you. You can switch any time.

I want to start an HVAC business

Costs, licensing, the entity, the gear, the order to do it in. Honest guides for the part you have to do yourself. The one thing we'll do for you on day one is your website.

What it really costs
License, registration, and insurance
Gear, branding, and the basics
A starter website that books calls

See the start guides (9) → Already operating

I want to grow my HVAC business

More clients, better pricing, your first hire, Google and Facebook ads, and the systems that take you from solo to a real team.

Local SEO and Google Business Profile
Google Ads, Facebook, retargeting
Pricing that protects margin
Hiring, training, and scaling teams

See the grow guides (14) →

What we do for owners, either track

Build your business plan Numbers, target market, launch sequence, what to spend and what to skip. The written plan you'd otherwise pay an accountant $3k for, built with you. Create your plan → Build the website Fast, clear, conversion-focused. The one thing you should not DIY when you're trying to take your first call this month or your first hire this year. Get a website that books work → Grow your business Google Ads, local SEO, paid social, retargeting, lifecycle. The "grow" playbooks done for you by people who run them for a living. See grow services →

Start here

The guides to read first: what it costs, what it pays and how to get going.

Is an HVAC business right for you?

HVAC is one of the best service businesses for recurring revenue. Maintenance plans create predictable income, replacements are high-ticket, and demand spikes every heating and cooling season.

It suits a licensed tech (or someone who hires one) who will invest in a service-agreement engine. The install is straightforward. Pricing, dispatch, and converting service calls into replacements is where the money is.

Startup cost $10k–$40k Van, tools, gauges, license, insurance
Earning potential $72k–$800k+ Solo tech vs. multi-van company
Licensing Required State HVAC + EPA 608 certification
Demand Seasonal peaks Year-round with summer/winter surges

The money figures come from our startup cost guide and profit guide, where each range is broken down line by line.

What you can realistically earn from an HVAC business

Solo operator

$18k–$28k / morevenue

$8k–$15k / moowner profit

Service calls plus replacement upsells, in season. Shoulder months run about half.

2-van team

$45k–$90k / morevenue

$14k–$28k / moowner profit

A maintenance-plan base and dispatch.

Established company

$150k–$280k / morevenue

$35k–$80k+ / moowner profit

Six-plus trucks, 1,500+ maintenance plans, a service manager.

Ballpark monthly ranges for a typical US operation, worked through in the profit guide. Your market and pricing move these.

HVAC business: common questions

What owners ask before they commit.

How much does it cost to start an HVAC business?

Roughly $10k–$40k: a van, tools and gauges, recovery equipment, license and EPA certification, insurance, and a simple website.

How much can an HVAC business make?

Solo owner-operators commonly clear $72k–$154k. Companies running multiple vans plus a service-plan base scale into the high six figures and beyond.

Do I need a license and certification?

Yes. Most states require an HVAC license and EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerant, plus liability insurance.

How do I get my first customers?

A Google Business Profile, reviews, maintenance-plan offers, and ranking for "AC repair + your city" beat paid ads in year one.

How should I price HVAC work?

Flat-rate per task with a diagnostic fee. Build a service-agreement program. Replacements are quoted as good/better/best options.

How do I grow beyond myself?

Grow the maintenance-plan base, hire and train techs, and systemize dispatch so service calls reliably turn into replacements.