05 - Starting a Home Inspection Business: From Plan to Profit

Send us Fan MailDescription: Dreaming of starting your own home inspection business? This episode gives you the roadmap to success. We'll guide you through creating a comprehensive business plan including market analysis, competitor research, and realistic financial projections for your first critical five years. Explore the four main types of business ownership—sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, and corporation—with honest pros and cons of each structure. Learn which government licenses and registrations you'll need, from professional home inspector licenses to business privilege licenses, EINs, and office-in-home registrations. We'll demystify accounting basics including double-entry bookkeeping, cash versus accrual accounting, and the crucial concept of depreciation. Most importantly, discover how to properly set your inspection fees by calculating your true business expenses and allocating costs per inspection. Understand why "failing to plan equals planning to fail" and what it really takes to survive and thrive in your first five years. This is the business education most home inspectors never get.Intro This episode is brought to you by GetSync.pro This episode is hosted by Charlie Bellefontaine of Chicagoland Home InspectorsFor complete training with visual materials, practice exams, and certification support, visit nhiexamprep.com© 2025 National Home Inspector Exam Prep Podcast. All rights reserved.