Electrical Contracting

Provide electrical installation, repair, and maintenance services for residential and commercial properties as licensed electrician contractor

Startup Cost
$10,000-$40,000
Difficulty
Advanced
Time to Profit
4-10 months
Profit Potential
$8,000-$29,000/month

Overview

Electrical contractors install, repair, and maintain electrical systems in homes and buildings - wiring, panels, outlets, lighting, and electrical troubleshooting.

You work on new construction, renovations, repairs, and upgrades as licensed electrician.

Jobs range from $200-$2,000 for residential repairs to $5,000-$50,000+ for commercial projects.

Revenue reaches $100,000-$350,000 annually for solo electrician or $300,000-$1M+ with crews with 35-55% net margins.

Target clients include homeowners needing electrical work, general contractors on construction projects, property managers, commercial buildings, businesses, and electrical emergencies.

Services include electrical repairs and troubleshooting, panel upgrades and rewiring, lighting installation, outlet and switch installation, commercial electrical work, electrical inspections, emergency electrical service, EV charger installation, and home automation/smart home.

Success requires electrical license and certifications, strong technical electrical knowledge, adherence to electrical codes, diagnostic and troubleshooting skills, customer service and communication, and potentially hiring and managing electrician crews.

Many electrical contractors specialize in residential or commercial, potentially offer emergency 24/7 service at premium rates, build relationships with builders and property managers for recurring work, focus on service work versus new construction, and scale by hiring licensed journeymen and apprentices.

Required Skills

  • Electrical Work
  • Electrical Codes
  • Troubleshooting
  • Safety
  • Customer Service

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • High demand for electrical work
  • Premium rates for skilled trade
  • Licensing creates barrier to entry
  • Emergency work commands high rates
  • Can scale with electrical crews

Cons

  • Requires electrical license (years of training)
  • Dangerous work with safety risks
  • Liability and insurance costs
  • Staying current with electrical codes
  • Finding qualified electricians to hire

How to Get Started

  1. Complete electrical apprenticeship
  2. Earn journeyman then master electrician license
  3. Obtain contractor license and insurance
  4. Invest in tools and work vehicle
  5. Get initial clients through network
  6. Build relationships with contractors and property managers
  7. Consider hiring crew to scale

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