Every plumber remembers their first job. The nerves, the excitement, the relief when it went well.

But getting that first customer.. and then the next, and the next is where most new plumbing businesses get stuck.

You’re licensed, you have the tools, you’re ready to work. But the phone just isn’t ringing.

Here’s how to change that. If you apply some of the techniques I will show you below, I guarantee you that you will find that first gig.

Start Hyper-Local Before You Even Think About Running Ads

The biggest mistake new plumbers make is jumping straight to big marketing channels before tapping the most powerful one: their immediate community.

And yes, Facebook or Google ads can bring immediate results. But before you decide to do that I highly recommend you to get some work under your belt.. most importantly – some work photos and testimonials. Because without these, your ads will perform poorly.

You must realize, your first customers are closer than you think.

Join Your Neighbourhood Facebook Groups

This is one of the single fastest ways to get your first jobs.

Every town, suburb, and neighbourhood has a local Facebook group. Sometimes several. People post in these groups constantly asking for tradespeople recommendations. “Anyone know a good plumber?” is one of the most common posts in any local community group.

Join every group that covers your service area. Set up your profile so it’s professional and links to your website. Then do two things:

  • Comment on recommendation requests – when someone asks for a plumber, be there with a short, professional response.
  • Post an introduction – a simple “Hi, I’m [name], a local plumber based in [area]. Just launched my business and happy to help with any plumbing jobs big or small” goes a long way.

Important.. Don’t try too hard to sell. Be a friendly neighbour who happens to be a plumber.

Actionable Tip: Search your local Facebook groups for past posts asking for plumber recommendations. Message those people directly – the job may still be available, or they might need you for something else down the line.

Tell Everyone in Your Personal Network

Before you spend a penny on marketing, work your network.

Text your friends. Tell your family. Message former colleagues. Post on your personal Facebook and Instagram. Tell your neighbours.

You’d be surprised how many people in your immediate circle either need a plumber right now or know someone who does. And a referral from someone they trust is worth more than any ad.

Knock on Doors in New Developments

For extroverts, if there are new housing developments, apartment buildings, or renovations happening in your area – that’s literally a goldmine.

Introduce yourself to builders, site managers, and contractors on site. Leave your card. Offer to quote on any plumbing work they need. Builders who find a reliable plumber they trust will keep calling you back for every project.

One relationship with the right builder can keep you busy for months.

Again.. if you’re great with people and can make connections easily, this one will do wonders for you.

Partner With Other Trades

Electricians, tilers, builders, kitchen fitters, bathroom renovators — they all regularly need a plumber for their projects and don’t always have one they can rely on.

Reach out to local tradespeople in your area. Meet for a coffee. Make it clear you’re available, reliable, and fast. Offer to refer work their way too. These relationships are mutually beneficial and often turn into a consistent stream of jobs.

Actionable Tip: Find 5 local tradespeople on Facebook or Instagram this week. Follow them, engage with their content, then reach out with a genuine message introducing yourself. Don’t ask for anything immediately – just start building the relationship.

Offer a First-Job Discount

When you’re just starting out, getting your first few jobs done and getting reviews is more valuable than your full margin.

Consider offering a small discount to your first 5-10 customers in exchange for an honest Google review. Be transparent about it.

Most people are happy to help when you’re upfront about it.

When I was starting out with websites 10 years ago, I reached out to people with offer to build them website for free in exchange for testimonial. On top of that I also used the work in my portfolio and that got me ahead more than just waiting for the opportunity to come.

Set Up Your Google Business Profile

This is non-negotiable. It’s free and it’s the most important thing you can do for online visibility.

When someone searches “plumber near me” or “plumber in [your city],” your Google Business Profile is what shows up on Google Maps. Without one, you’re invisible.

While this one probably won’t help you land your first customer (as you won’t have any reviews) but it’s great to have it set up because once you get the first job done, you can ask for a review.

Check our guide on how to set up your google profile.

Get a Professional Plumbing Website

Before someone hires you, they want to check your work. Of course, you won’t have any work to show – but you can have already website in place that shows who you are. People will trust you more if they see that you have nice-looking professional website.

Also, it’s great long-term investment that pays off once you start ranking for local search phrases.

If you’re hesitant, read article I wrote on why every plumber needs a website.

List Yourself in Local Directories

This one is less effective if you have zero reviews. But it’s worth trying.

Get your business listed on:

  • Google Business listings
  • Yelp
  • Thumbtack
  • HomeAdvisor
  • NextDoor

These platforms have built-in audiences actively looking for tradespeople. They won’t replace your own website and Google presence long-term, but they’re a solid source of early leads while you build up your rankings.

Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are identical across every listing. Consistency matters for local SEO.

Don’t Give Up and Keep the Momentum Going

A few last words of encouragement.

I’ve been in your place. You’re starting something new. It’s exciting. But also unforgiving. Getting first job as someone who has no proof or testimonials can be difficult.

But let me tell you.. once you get that ball rolling, it’s like a snowball effect. By every job you finish customer will reffer you and in the end you’ll end up becoming a go-to guy in your local area.

Show up professionally every time. Your van, your uniform, your invoices, your follow-up messages.. every touchpoint shapes whether that customer refers you or forgets you.

Ask for review. Once you finish the job, send the customer direct link to your google business profile so they can leave you a review.

Follow up after every job. A simple text a few days later asking if everything is still working well leaves a lasting impression. Almost no plumber does this. It’s a small gesture that generates enormous loyalty.

Track where your jobs are coming from. Ask every new customer how they found you. After a few months, you’ll know which channels are working and where to double down.