How Does a Professional Plumber Handle Legal and Compliance Issues?
Starting a plumbing business and hiring others to work for you is one of the best ways of increasing your income and boosting your career. However, it can be challenging because small companies have to comply with countless rules and regulations. They have to protect customers' data, create fair working conditions for employees, make sure there are no health and safety issues, and pay several types of taxes.To remain compliant, plumbers have to first make sure they are aware of all the regulations. Because there are federal and regional laws, it's best to consult with a local attorney when setting up a new business. They can explain the most important rules and show the business owner how to prevent compliance issues.
Employment Laws
In most states, there are strict employment laws that determine how you hire, treat, and pay your employees. You have to give everyone equal opportunities, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, background, or disability. You also have to pay your employees fairly. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour, but many states have additional laws, so you might have to pay more.Before you can hire others, you have to make sure that you can provide a safe working environment. If your employees are injured due to your negligence, they can sue you. A personal injury lawsuit can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and put your business's reputation at risk. To avoid this issue, provide all your workers with the necessary training and safety equipment.
Data Protection Laws
You're not allowed to share your customers' and employees' data with third parties. Anything that identifies a person is confidential, so you can't display it in public. Explain your data protection policy to new workers and customers before you collect their personal information.Almost every small business stores data on computers because it's easier and more convenient than keeping paper records. However, it's important to keep data protection laws in mind. The easiest way to prevent data breaches is to use home service software. With a program like ServiceBox, you can store sensitive information in a safe place, so it can only be accessed by you and other authorized employees.
Health and Safety Laws
You must keep your employees safe during working hours. Conduct health and training safety classes every year to make sure they understand how to lower their risk levels. Keep your equipment in good condition and have your company vehicles inspected and serviced at least once a year. Check the local health and safety laws for home service businesses to make sure you're adhering to all the rules.If you want to attract and retain excellent employees, you might want to offer them a health insurance plan. Check the laws in your area and find out what kinds of plans are available. Look into the Small Business Health Options Program, which allows small companies to offer workers affordable health and dental plans.
Tax Laws
As a small business, you have to pay several kinds of taxes. Every year, you must file a tax return that demonstrates how much your business earned and how much you spent. If you have employees, you have to pay employment taxes. They might include Federal Unemployment taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicaid taxes.You must also withhold federal income tax from your employees' wages. If you don't have any experience running a business, it's best to hire a tax attorney or an accountant who is used to working with home service businesses.
Do Plumber Schools Teach Compliance?
Most plumber training programs have one or two business classes, so future plumbers can find out more about setting up their own companies. However, this isn't typically a major focus of the programs. Because most plumbers don't start out self-employed, they don't have to worry about legal issues and compliance right away.If you'd like to set up a plumbing business, start by researching federal and regional laws online. Create a business plan. Then, book an appointment with a local attorney and go over your ideas with them. Ask them to check that you've taken all the relevant laws into consideration. They'll be able to tell you about the most common compliance issues and how to avoid them.
What Are the Consequences of Compliance Issues?
Not all compliance issues have the same consequences. If you disregard a minor rule, you might receive a warning or a fine. Sometimes, plumbers who don't comply are asked to take part in ethics-related classes or counseling.After a major compliance issue, you might lose your license. If it is just suspended, you can regain it after some time, but if it is revoked, you might never be able to work as a plumber again.
Is Plumbing Software Essential?
As you can see, you have to consider lots of rules and laws when running your own business. That's why it's important to automate as many of your admin tasks as possible. When you use home service software, you're much less likely to make mistakes with customer data management, quotes and estimates, invoicing, and your employees' wages. A program like ServiceBox saves you a lot of time and makes compliance easier, especially if you have a lot of customers and several employees. Before setting up your plumbing company, you have to know about the federal and local laws related to employment, data protection, health and safety, and taxes. Although some of the necessary information is taught in plumber schools, you might have to consult experts to prevent legal issues. Tools like plumber software can help you remain compliant. Get in touch with us at ServiceBox to request your free demo.
