Water Restoration Business Startup Checklist
Everything to check off before and after your first water job, in the order I’d do it.
1. Set up the business
- Pick a business name and set up your company (many start with an LLC; ask an accountant what fits you).
- Get a business bank account and keep business money separate.
- Get a business phone number you’ll answer every time.
2. Check the rules where you work
- Check whether your state or city requires a contractor license for repair work.
- Check your state’s mold licensing rules before you offer mold work.
- Talk to an insurance agent who knows contractors before you take mold or commercial work.
3. Get trained
- Get your IICRC WRT certification.
- Learn the business side: intake, documentation, estimating and collections.
4. Get your tools
- Buy a moisture meter. It’s the one tool to own from day one.
- Basic demo tools and safety gear: utility knife, pry bar, drywall saw, gloves, respirator.
- Find an equipment rental source for air movers and dehumidifiers.
- Line up a subcontractor or helper for labor.
5. Get your paperwork ready
- An intake script for the first call.
- A work authorization with scope and payment terms.
- A daily drying log and a simple moisture map.
- An invoice template and a 30-60-90 follow-up plan.
6. Find your first jobs
- List 20 property managers, realtors, plumbers and HVAC companies near you.
- Visit them, ask for a chance on the next leak, and follow up every few weeks.
- Set up your Google Business Profile and ask every happy customer for a review.
Want the templates and scripts done for you? They’re inside the 6-Figure Launchpad. Or start with the free From Leak to Paycheck playbook.
General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Requirements vary by state.
