- Register as a sole proprietor or incorporate with BC Registries (~$40–$380)
- File your Richmond business licence ($150–$350/yr)
- Get general liability insurance
- Set your rates ($95–$150/hr, with service-call minimums of $150–$250)
- Build a brand, website, and online booking
- Set up card payments and simple bookkeeping
- Launch a Google Business Profile focused on Richmond
Every city rewards a different kind of hvac business — here's what Richmond specifically pays for. Richmond's big single-family homes run big mechanical systems — multi-zone setups, high-end installs, and owners who maintain their properties on schedule. Fewer, larger jobs with clients who pay for polish.
Why Richmond specifically
Where the work is: Ask satisfied clients for same-street referrals — estate neighbourhoods talk. Neighbourhoods like Steveston, Terra Nova, Broadmoor each have their own client base — your Google Business Profile and local pages should name them.
Startup costs in Richmond
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| BC business registration (sole prop) | ~$40 |
| Name request fee | ~$30 |
| Richmond business licence | $150–$350/yr |
| General liability insurance | $500–$1,200/yr |
| Equipment & supplies | $3,000–$8,000 (gauges, recovery unit, vacuum pump, van stock) |
| Branding, website & booking setup | $0 DIY – $3,000+ agency |
Government fees change — confirm current amounts with BC Registries and the City of Richmond. Richmond's business licence fees run a little higher than neighbouring cities ($150–$350/yr depending on category) — Prontco prepares and files the application as part of every launch.
Realistic earnings
Expect to charge $95–$150/hr, with service-call minimums of $150–$250 in this market. Solo operators who stay booked commonly reach $8,000–$15,000+ per month solo with red seal or gasfitter credentials; the spread comes down to niche, area, and whether you look like a business worth premium rates. Refrigeration work requires certification and gas work requires a Technical Safety BC gasfitter licence — the business wrapper is what turns your ticket into a company.
Let's name it
Here's the worry that stalls more Richmond launches than money ever does. “What if a callback or a gas issue puts my ticket at risk?” Documented scopes, permits pulled properly, insurance, and clean paperwork protect the licence you worked years for — every Prontco launch includes the agreements written right.
Talk it through on a free callTrue Cost of Launching Calculator
Before you quote your first job in Richmond, work out what launching actually costs you — then price so the work covers it. Real 2026 Canadian rates, every source listed.
Run the numbers →Your first clients in Richmond — the hvac playbook
- Position around multi-zone and high-efficiency installs for large homes — Richmond buys the premium option.
- Sell annual service agreements at install; large-home owners renew maintenance like clockwork.
- Ask satisfied clients for same-street referrals — estate neighbourhoods talk.
The shortcut
Every step above is DIY-able if you have the evenings to spare. The alternative: Prontco builds it all in roughly 10 business days — Richmond licence filed, brand and website live, booking and payments connected, books set up — then stays with you for 30 days of launch support. From $997, and you own everything.
Related guides
How to start a hvac business in BC · How to start a business in Richmond · The complete BC startup guide · Free calculators & checklists