Starting a Home Inspection Business

The job

A home inspector performs a visual, non-invasive examination of a home's readily accessible systems and components and reports on their condition. Most inspections happen during a buyer's inspection contingency period, which is often only 5–10 days, so speed matters.

A standard residential inspection typically covers:

• Roof, flashing, gutters, and chimneys (as accessible)
• Exterior: siding, trim, windows, doors, decks, grading, drainage
• Structure and foundation (visible portions)
• Attic, insulation, and ventilation
• Plumbing: supply, drain, waste, vent, water heater
• Electrical: service entrance, panel, branch circuits, a representative number of outlets and switches
• Heating and cooling systems
• Interior: walls, ceilings, floors, stairs, railings, doors, windows
• Built-in appliances (in many standards, a basic operational check)
• Garage, including garage door safety reverse
• Fireplaces (visible portions)

It's not a code inspection, an appraisal, or a guarantee. Inspectors generally don't move furniture, open walls, or predict how long components will last unless their state standard or agreement says so.

Who hires you

The economics

Annual revenue = Inspections per year × Average fee per inspection (including add-ons)

Example: 300 inspections × $475 average = $142,500 gross revenue.

A full-time solo inspector might perform anywhere from about 150 to 400 inspections per year, depending on the market, season, marketing, and whether they also write reports in the evening. Average fees often land somewhere around $350–$600 for a typical single-family home, plus add-ons. As of 2026, verify local pricing.

Expenses for a solo inspector commonly include insurance, vehicle, software, marketing, association dues, continuing education, tools, and lab fees for add-on tests. Net margins for well-run solo businesses are often healthy because overhead is low, but the work is seasonal, and income tracks the housing market. When home sales slow, inspections slow.

A typical day and a typical year

A busy inspector's day might look like this:

• 7:30 a.m.: Load the truck, review the day's two homes, confirm access with listing agents.
• 8:30–11:30 a.m.: First inspection (2,200 sq ft, 1985 home with crawl space), plus sewer scope.
• 11:30 a.m.: Drop a radon monitor at a home inspected tomorrow.
• 12:30–3:30 p.m.: Second inspection; client walk-through for the last 30 minutes.
• 4:00–7:00 p.m.: Write and deliver both reports, answer client questions, return booking calls.

The year is seasonal. In many markets, spring and summer are busiest, with a slowdown in late fall and winter, though warm-climate markets are steadier. Rising interest rates and low inventory can also reduce home sales and inspections. Save during busy months to cover slow ones, and use the slow season for training, marketing, and maintenance inspections.

Independent or franchise?

Several home inspection franchises operate in the U.S. A franchise can provide a brand, training, software, marketing systems, and sometimes call center support. In exchange, you'll typically pay an initial franchise fee plus ongoing royalties and marketing fees, often a percentage of revenue.

If you consider a franchise, read the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) carefully. The FTC's Franchise Rule requires franchisors to provide it, and the FTC publishes a consumer guide to buying a franchise at ftc.gov. Talk to several current and former franchisees, and have a franchise attorney review the agreement.