Two Countries, One Business: Jonathan from JG Plumbing and Gas
Jonathan Gaines’ trans-continental plumbing career began at 16, when he began his apprenticeship in the United Kingdom. The first iteration of JG Plumbing and Gas was established there, and he gained valuable experience while becoming registered with OFTEC and HETAS to expand his gas fitting skills and qualifications.
In 2006, he spent six months in New Zealand and got a taste for the land of the long white cloud, returning to continue running JG in the UK. However, the call of the South Pacific was strong and in 2014, after completing his education by doing registered and certified exams for Plumbers and Gas Fitters, he made the move to bring JG Plumbing and Gas to our shores.
It’s been a privilege to be a part of the journey with Jonathan and his team! We picked his brain for some thoughts, reflections, and advice.
Business ownership: worries and wins
Jonathan told us that the startup period is especially tricky for trades business owners—and he had to do it twice. The costs of equipment, vehicles, and advertising, and the initial struggle to find a solid customer base, made it difficult to get off the ground. He said that when he first began JG Plumbing in the UK, it took almost two years to become properly viable.
The startup in New Zealand was a little smoother thanks to contracting to bigger companies for more regular revenue, but these beginning stages certainly stuck out in Jonathan’s mind as difficult. Why move across the world and do it all again? He loved NZ during his working holiday here, and hoped that the grass would be greener in Aotearoa. Thankfully, he feels that it is!
Surprisingly, COVID was a driver of growth for Jonathan. He said that after the initial period of loss during lockdowns, people were staying at home doing renovations rather than going on holiday, and business was booming for JG.
Using Released—in conjunction with job management software—to take some of the administrative weight has been another win for Jonathan.
On outsourcing
Even for a self-admitted workaholic like Jonathan, once a trades business gets to a certain size the off-the-tools work can become unmanageable. He told us:
“You think you can do everything, but you can’t. There’s not enough time in the day.”
On top of that, most tradies are unwilling to pull back from the hands-on work to focus on running things behind the scenes. These are talented and knowledgeable experts in their fields, and they like to be on the tools! Jonathan opted for the flexible, scalable help that a business support agency like Released can provide, and also sought other experts to lend a hand with important parts of his business such as an accountant and a business coach.
Having a virtual assistant who is experienced in Fergus, JG’s chosen job management software, gives Jonathan peace of mind that things are being done accurately while he’s busy plumbing, gas fitting, and leading his team. He’s confident that business will pick up again towards the end of the year, and is grateful to have this reliable and scalable help in place so he can adjust seamlessly when it does.
Jonathan also mentioned the value of domestic VAs who know the industry. His clients do not have to contend with language barriers, time zones, lack of local knowledge, or other communication difficulties, and neither does he.
Top tips and what’s to come
When asked if he would do things differently given his time again, Jonathan told us he’d be a brain surgeon (rather than a drain surgeon?). Although this is hardly useful advice for our other SME-owning clients, it’s worth including for any young readers or older ones considering a hefty career change.
He also advised just taking the plunge and seeking help with admin, accounts, or anything else. Don’t procrastinate! The longer you put it off, the harder the transition can be.
What’s the future like for JG Plumbing and Gas? Jonathan would like to continue to grow, but not see the business get so big it’s overwhelming. His vision for the future is to employ five or six people on the tools and to build a company that’s both reputable and profitable. That’s a goal we can get behind! JG Plumbing and Gas is already a well-regarded service, and the team has an impressive 5-star average across 75 Google reviews.
As a workaholic, Jonathan says his hobbies are few and far between—maybe that’s another goal for the years to come.
If you’re in need of a quality, reliable plumber in Auckland, head to JG’s website to get in touch. They come highly recommended!
