* With new plumbing for new construction, the work is easy, and the pay is great.
* There is a huge demand for repairs (crawling under old houses during winter and the like), with constant harassments from many customers who want the jobs done for little or nothing.
"Consensus on this thread is that a $250k plumbing business is pretty standard for 3-4 employees. The kind that Joe might work toward owning in a country that rewards, not punishes success."