Small Plumbing Owner
Compensation Benchmark
$85K – $115K
Side-by-side comparison · 2025–2026
Plumbing vs Roofing
Compare revenue, profit margins, owner compensation, startup costs, crew productivity, storm-driven demand, scalability, and valuation benchmarks.
Decision Snapshot
| Best For | Winner |
|---|---|
| Revenue Predictability | Plumbing |
| Peak Revenue Potential | Roofing |
| Lower Startup Cost | Roofing |
| Recurring Revenue | Plumbing |
| Emergency Call Volume | Plumbing |
| Profit Margin Stability | Plumbing |
| Year-Round Operations | Plumbing |
| Valuation Multiples | Plumbing |
KPI Comparison Dashboard
| Metric | Plumbing | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue | $800K – $2.5M | $800K – $4.5M |
| Net Profit Margin | 8 – 14% | 6 – 15% |
| Owner Compensation | $85K – $165K | $80K – $220K |
| Revenue Per Crew | $150K – $280K/plumber | $400K – $900K/crew |
| Startup Cost | $150K – $400K | $100K – $350K |
| Business Value | 2.2× – 3.5× SDE | 2.0× – 3.2× SDE |
| Revenue Volatility | Low – Moderate | High |
Winner Scorecard
Revenue Stability
Plumbing9/10
Roofing6/10
Winner: Plumbing
Peak Earnings Potential
Plumbing7/10
Roofing9/10
Winner: Roofing
Emergency Demand
Plumbing10/10
Roofing4/10
Winner: Plumbing
Capital Efficiency
Plumbing8/10
Roofing9/10
Winner: Roofing
Business Model Overview
Plumbing
Revenue Sources
- Drain & Sewer Service
- Water Heater Repair/Replace
- Repipe & Remodel Plumbing
- Commercial Service
- Emergency Leak Response
Roofing
Revenue Sources
- Residential Roof Replacement
- Storm & Insurance Restoration
- Roof Repairs
- Commercial Roofing
- Gutter & Exterior Add-Ons
Revenue Comparison Center
How each model converts service calls into revenue.
Plumbing
Call/Lead
Dispatch
Diagnosis
Repair/Replace
Revenue
Roofing
Lead/Storm
Inspection
Estimate
Install
Insurance Close
Revenue
Revenue Drivers
| Driver | Plumbing | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Field Staff Model | 4 – 14 plumbers | 2 – 8 install crews |
| Average Service Ticket | $275 – $525 | $450 – $1,200 |
| Replacement Ticket | $2K – $8K | $8K – $22K |
| Recurring Revenue | 10 – 25% of revenue | 5 – 15% of revenue |
Customer & Job Economics
Lifetime value and job economics — the core financial differentiator.
Plumbing
Homeowner
Service Call
Repeat Repairs
Upgrade/Repipe
Referral
Roofing
Homeowner
Inspection
Replacement/Repair
Insurance Claim
Referral
Metrics Comparison
| Metric | Plumbing | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Lifetime Value | $1,200 – $3,200 | $2,000 – $8,000 |
| Repeat Visits Per Year | 1 – 3 | 0.2 – 0.8 |
| Average Ticket | $275 – $525 | $8K – $22K (replacement) |
| Insurance-Driven Revenue | Low | 20 – 40% in storm markets |
Technician Productivity Comparison
Revenue per technician and field productivity.
Plumbing
Plumber
Jobs
Revenue
Roofing
Crew
Jobs
Revenue
| Metric | Plumbing | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Per Technician/Crew | $150K – $280K | $400K – $900K/crew |
| Jobs Per Day | 4 – 8 | 1 – 2 (install) |
| Crew Utilization | 75 – 90% | 60 – 85% (weather-dependent) |
Profitability Comparison
Plumbing
Weak 4 – 7%Avg 8 – 11%Strong 12 – 15%
Roofing
Weak 3 – 6%Avg 7 – 11%Strong 12 – 15%
Expense Breakdown
| Expense | Plumbing | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Labor | 30 – 40% | 25 – 35% |
| Materials | 16 – 24% | 30 – 42% |
| Fleet & Equipment | 5 – 9% | 5 – 8% |
| Marketing | 6 – 10% | 8 – 14% |
Recurring Revenue & Demand Analysis
Maintenance contracts and emergency demand shape margin stability.
Plumbing
Emergency Demand Driver
20 – 35% from emergency calls
Roofing
Storm Revenue Driver
20 – 40% insurance restoration
| Metric | Plumbing | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance/Recurring Revenue | 10 – 25% | 5 – 15% |
| Insurance/Storm Revenue | Low – Moderate | 20 – 40% |
| Project-Based Revenue | 25 – 40% | 70 – 85% |
| Weather Dependency | Low | High |
Owner Compensation Comparison
Multi-Crew Plumbing Operator
Compensation Benchmark
$150K – $280K+
Small Roofing Owner
Compensation Benchmark
$80K – $130K
Storm-Market Roofing Operator
Compensation Benchmark
$150K – $400K+
Startup Cost Comparison
Investment required to launch or acquire each home services business.
Plumbing
- Vehicles & Equipment30%
- Inventory & Tools20%
- Marketing Launch18%
- Working Capital32%
Roofing
- Trucks & Equipment25%
- Tools & Safety Gear15%
- Marketing Launch25%
- Working Capital35%
Cost Breakdown
| Expense | Plumbing | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles & Equipment | $60K – $150K | $40K – $120K |
| Tools & Inventory | $30K – $80K | $15K – $50K |
| Marketing Launch | $20K – $50K | $30K – $80K |
| Total Launch Budget | $150K – $400K | $100K – $350K |
Valuation Comparison
| Metric | Plumbing | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| SDE Multiple | 2.2× – 3.5× | 2.0× – 3.2× |
| Revenue Multiple | 0.5× – 0.9× | 0.4× – 0.8× |
| EBITDA Multiple | 3.5× – 5.5× | 3.0× – 5.0× |
$2M Revenue Company → Estimated Value
Plumbing
$700K – $1.12M
2.8× SDE on $320K SDE
Roofing
$640K – $1.15M
2.6× SDE on $360K SDE
Break-Even Comparison
| Metric | Plumbing | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Revenue Needed | $120K – $180K | $100K – $180K |
| Jobs Needed (monthly) | 280 – 450 jobs | 12 – 25 installs |
| Months To Break-Even | 10 – 20 months | 8 – 18 months |
| Crews/Techs at Break-Even | 4 – 8 plumbers | 2 – 4 crews |
Growth Potential Analysis
Plumbing Growth Path
1 Truck
2 – 4 Plumbers
Commercial Accounts
Multi-Crew Operation
Roofing Growth Path
1 Crew
Storm Marketing
3 – 5 Crews
Regional Brand
Capital Efficiency
Which model gives the best return on invested capital?
If You Invest $250,000
Plumbing
- Revenue Generated
- $1.2M – $2.0M
- Profit Generated
- $144K – $280K net profit
- Payback Period
- 2.5 – 4 years
Roofing
- Revenue Generated
- $1.2M – $3.5M
- Profit Generated
- $120K – $380K net profit
- Payback Period
- 2 – 4 years
Who Should Choose What?
Choose Plumbing If
- You want predictable year-round revenue from emergency and repair demand
- You prefer steadier operations over weather-driven revenue spikes
- You want higher valuation multiples and less project-based volatility
- You value frequent service calls and customer retention over one-time installs
- You want recession-resistant demand tied to essential water and sewer systems
Choose Roofing If
- You're in a storm-prone market with strong insurance restoration demand
- You want lower startup costs and faster initial break-even
- You prefer high-ticket project revenue over frequent service calls
- You can manage weather-dependent scheduling and crew utilization
- You want upside from hail/wind events and large replacement projects
Interactive Decision Tool
Interactive Decision Tool
Answer four questions to get a trade recommendation based on your capital, revenue goals, and growth plans.
Recommendation: Plumbing
Plumbing aligns with your goals — predictable emergency demand, stable margins, year-round operations, and stronger valuation multiples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is more profitable — plumbing or roofing?
Plumbing typically offers more stable margins (median ~11% net) with steady emergency and repair demand. Roofing margins range 7–15% with higher volatility — storm years can produce exceptional profits while slow years compress margins. Plumbing is more predictable; roofing has higher upside in event-driven markets.
Which generates more revenue?
Plumbing has a higher median (~$1.6M) with tighter distribution. Roofing revenue is more volatile — median operators run $1.2M–$2.0M, but storm-market companies can exceed $4M in peak years. Plumbing wins on consistency; roofing wins on peak potential.
Which has more recurring revenue?
Plumbing has more service-based repeat demand through emergency calls and maintenance plans (10–25% contract revenue). Roofing is overwhelmingly project-based — repairs and replacements drive 70–85% of revenue, with minimal recurring contract penetration (5–15%).
Which is cheaper to start?
Roofing startups typically require $100K–$350K versus $150K–$400K for plumbing. Roofing needs fewer specialized tools and can launch with a small crew and basic equipment. Plumbing requires licensing, diagnostic tools, and vehicle inventory but offers steadier cash flow.
How do valuation multiples compare?
Plumbing businesses sell at 2.2×–3.5× SDE (median ~2.8×) while roofing companies trade at 2.0×–3.2× SDE (median ~2.6×). Buyers discount roofing for weather dependency, insurance claim concentration, and revenue volatility.
Which is better in storm markets?
Roofing benefits disproportionately from hail, wind, and hurricane markets — insurance restoration can represent 20–40% of revenue. Plumbing still operates in storm markets but benefits mainly from pipe damage and water intrusion repairs rather than full replacement cycles tied to insurance claims.