Plumber Business Startup Checklist

Choose the work your evidence supports

Identify general plumbing, heating specialism and the tasks you will take. Keep the relevant qualification, assessed work evidence and gaps. Use the plumbing qualification planner; a course title does not establish competence for every heating technology.

Check gas registration and actual categories

For gas work within the applicable regulations, confirm the registered business, listed engineer and relevant work categories. GB and NI have separate legislation. A plumbing qualification or an old employer's record does not register a new business. Use the gas scope checklist.

Identify the water supplier and notification decision

WaterSafe approval creates specified exceptions, not a blanket exemption. Use the installation country and actual supplier's requirements. Prepare the description, plan, contractor details and response record with the supplier notification worksheet. Keep supplier consent separate from quote acceptance.

Prepare the business, cover and job access

Choose the actual business structure and registration/record obligations. Confirm insurance matches the services and any scheme/client requirements; if hiring, check employers' liability requirements. Record the authorising customer, property and access contact rather than assuming them.

Agree scope and the documents the customer receives

Use a quote to identify work, exclusions, approval dependencies, price basis and variations. Name the applicable work, gas, water and building records separately. The first-job handover pack shows how agreement connects to the actual work evidence.

Track the actual credential dates and changes

Record body, person/business, scope, actual expiry/review date and action owner. For relevant official updates record country, effective date, affected work and the form or record changed. Renewals, competence assessment and booked job dates are separate events.