There’s a lot of prep work involved in getting your HVAC business ready to go, and you’ll want to be sure you hammer down all those details before your first day open. One of the most important things to take care of is your HVAC certification. Whether you’re looking to earn it yourself or want to make sure your new employees are HVAC certified, being in compliance with national, state, and local regulations ensures that your technicians are highly trained and skilled. It also goes a long way toward earning the trust of your new customers!
Becoming HVAC certified is not quite the same as acquiring a business license – while both are crucial to owning and operating an HVAC business, HVAC certification is proof that you’re qualified to perform the services that your customers have hired you to do. It can require years of experience, and is usually the culmination of a training or apprenticeship program. Read on to learn more about what you can expect from the HVAC certification process.
Getting Your HVAC Certification
All HVAC contractors in the United States are required by the Environmental Protection Agency to pass a one-time refrigerant handling exam and hold an EPA Section 608 certification. Additional requirements for getting your HVAC certification vary by state, so it’s important to research what is required for the state you plan to work in well before choosing to open an HVAC business. In most states, the state licensing board sets standards that involve a certain amount of on the job training, as well as the successful completion of trade exams. Many states follow an apprentice-journeyman-master model, and some ask that you pay a surety or performance bond. You may also be required to choose a specialty; for example, Florida and Georgia have different licenses depending on the size of the equipment. Depending on where you live, there may also be standards set by labor and trade organizations. Regardless of state and local requirements, all HVAC contractors are expected to be 18 or older, have a clean criminal record, hold a high school diploma or GED, and acquire HVAC business insurance.
No license is required to work as an HVAC contractor or operate an HVAC business in the following states:
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Wyoming
While these states don’t have any specific HVAC contractor licensing requirements, there may be other requirements set by the state – as an example, Minnesota requires a $25,000 surety bond and Montana requires HVAC contractors to earn a contractor license. You’ll also want to look into the local requirements for the cities and counties you plan to operate in. If you’re not compliant with state and local regulations, your business may be subject to legal action or even shut down, so it’s important to make sure you’re up to date on all your licensing and certification requirements.
What does HVAC certification cost?
Because there’s so much variance in state and local requirements, there’s no set cost for receiving your HVAC certification. Generally, it will cost a few thousand dollars. Those expenses will usually include exam and course registration fees, class materials, and renewal fees. If you’d like a better idea of what will be required for your location, the DUCTZ franchise team will be happy to help you make a plan.
Your Career Path After HVAC Certification
HVAC certification can involve years of time and energy, and you may be wondering what your HVAC career options are once you’re certified. While most people with HVAC certifications become HVAC technicians and installers, you aren’t limited to those two options. Depending on what you’re most interested in, you could also choose to specialize in refrigeration or work on automotive HVAC systems. You could even enter the energy sector and work with green energy sources like wind and solar.
Why choose franchising?
There’s no two ways around it: franchising is simply the smartest choice for entrepreneurs looking to build a profitable business quickly. Here are just a few of the reasons why we recommend franchising over opening your own business.
- Franchises have a turnkey business model. One of the most stressful parts of opening your own business is not knowing whether or not your idea is going to work. On the other hand, franchises have honed their business model over the years and have worked out all the kinks. All the work of developing operating procedures, systems, and policies has already been done! Since you don’t have to worry about building a business from scratch, you can devote your time to getting your new franchise off the ground and building your customer base.
- Franchises offer unmatched resources and support. When you choose franchising, you’re not limited to the industry you’ve been working in or skills that you already have. A successful franchise owner can come from any background – at DUCTZ, our successful franchisees include teachers, lawyers, veterans, and a whole lot more. Any franchise worth its salt will offer thorough, hands-on training, as well as resources for how to develop a business plan, market your business, and hire employees. DUCTZ franchisees are supported throughout the life of their business, and our team in Ann Arbor is here to help however we can.
- Franchises give you a network. A less-known benefit of franchising is that you become part of a team! While you might be working for yourself now, you’ll also have access to a nationwide network of franchisees who have been in your shoes and are eager to help a fellow franchise owner. Unlike starting your own business, which can leave you with nowhere to turn when there’s a problem, your franchise network has got your back. It’s a truly invaluable resource.
- Franchises have a safety net. With as much energy and time as entrepreneurs devote to their business, accepting that it may fail can be incredibly painful. In fact, nearly 20% of businesses fail in the first year, with that number rising to 50% after five years and 65.5% after ten years. There is no way to guarantee that your franchise will be successful, but franchise models are built to be profitable. Between the resources and training you receive from the home office and the support you receive from your network, you have all the tools you need to succeed. As long as you’re a hard worker, the chances of your franchise becoming a success are great!
Your Success as a DUCTZ Owner
Once you’ve decided on franchising, the next step is to choose a franchise that’s trusted nationwide and has proven profitability. Thanks to the essential services we provide, DUCTZ hasn’t just survived the last few years – we’ve thrived! Our competitors can’t match our record of success during the pandemic, and in times of economic uncertainty, knowing that you’re working with a recession-resilient brand gives you one less thing to worry about. DUCTZ franchises across the United States and Canada succeed because our customers know they can trust our technicians to do honest work at competitive prices and make their homes comfortable again.
To learn more about franchising with DUCTZ, give us a call today at (855) 355-1119 to request a copy of our franchise opportunity report. We look forward to counting you among our network of franchise owners!