Their chimneys won't need sweeping so frequently.
Other customers will be people who have switched to alternative heating fuels but who still have an open fire every now and then. Some householders living in thatched properties may have insurance policies that say chimneys must be swept twice a year. Some of your domestic customers may be elderly people living in former coal mining areas who still use coal as their primary heating source and who will need their chimneys swept every year.
Many chimney sweeps carry a selection of brushes and rods of different sizes and diameters so that they can tackle most chimneys. You may have a mix of different customers, such as: They might be prepared to include your details in their promotional material and on their websites - and even recommend you to people looking for a sweep. It might be worth talking to local coal merchants and heating appliance suppliers and installers to find out whether they are aware of a shortage of chimney sweeps.
Although your prices will have to be competitive, customers will be more concerned that you provide a professional, reliable and clean service that reassures people that their chimneys and appliances are safe to use. You could consider approaching potential customers to see if they are interested in the chimney services you propose to offer. If there are many rented properties locally you might be able to enter into contracts with the landlords to sweep chimney flues on a regular basis. Ideally you will be based near a large centre of population with major residential areas so that you don't have to travel too far between jobs. It's also a good idea to make sure that the area in which you propose to operate has enough potential customers. It may be that you will only be competing directly against some of these firms because you will be offering a very specialised service, for example cleaning factory chimneys. Have a look too at the number of related businesses which might offer chimney sweeping services, for example coal merchants, chimney builders, stove installers, contract cleaners and window cleaners. You could also look at local print directories. A look through the relevant classifications on and other similar online directories will help you to research not only the number of existing sweeps near you but also to get an idea of the range of services they offer and the area they cover (for example within a 20 mile radius). Most of the trade associations and the HETAS websites let you search for a member by postcode. This will help you to build up a reputation for good quality work which will generate word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied customers.įirst of all check out the competition in your area to identify how many other chimney service firms are operating locally.
#Average price for chimney sweep professional#
However, if you become a member of the National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS), the Association of Professional and Independent Chimney Sweeps (APICS), the Northern Ireland Association of Chimney Sweeps (NIACS) or the Guild of Master Sweeps - or become a HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep - you will demonstrate to potential customers that you offer a professional and clean service to a high standard. And of course it's reasonably easy for householders to sweep their chimneys themselves and many people do, particularly during times of economic downturn. So as well as competing against reputable master sweeps, you may also be competing against 'cowboy' type outfits which are likely to undercut you on price. However, it is still easy for anyone to set themselves up as a chimney sweep with no training or experience and with very little capital outlay. According to HETAS, the number of people applying to become registered installers and chimney sweeps grew by nearly 40% during the mid 2000s. In the past few years, demand for open fires and multi-fuel stoves has grown, initially because of fashion but more recently because consumers have become more aware of the environmental benefits of burning low and zero carbon fuels. It's very important to find out whether there is enough demand in your area for your chimney sweeping business. Research your target market Estimating demand
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