How to Start a Home Inspection Business: Complete Guide for New Inspectors

TL;DR:

• The main steps of starting a home inspection business include training, licensing, getting insurance, defining offerings, setting pricing, and marketing your services.
• Home inspectors need various tools and equipment for performing inspections, taking photos, writing reports, and billing clients.
• They can charge more for specialty services, like mold or radon testing.
• Landing your first clients might involve partnering with realtors, paying for short-term marketing, or using a referral system.

Being a home inspector can be fascinating work and an excellent career path, whether the job is full-time or a side gig for extra income. Getting started is easier and more affordable than you may think—even if you have no prior experience.

Getting your ICA certification is step one. Turning it into consistent income will take some planning and strategy, but it’s totally doable and worthwhile for many people.

If you’re wondering how to start a home inspection business, you’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through every phase of launching your business, from education and licensing to getting insured and landing your first client.

10 Steps to Starting a Home Inspection Business

Want a clear, actionable path to starting a home inspection business? Here are the steps:

1. Complete your training.
2. Pass the state exam.
3. Get licensed.
4. Set up your business structure.
5. Insure your business.
6. Set up your tools and reporting software.
7. Get your on-the-job equipment.
8. Define your offerings and price your services.
9. Get your first clients.
10. Boost revenue with specialty services.

Keep scrolling for details and tips for completing each step.

Ready to start your home inspection career today? ICA’s affordable, comprehensive programs include self-paced coursework, field training, help with licensing, bundled tools and insurance, and lifetime support. Select your state to begin the process.

Step 1: Complete Your Training

First, you’ll need to sign up for and complete an accredited home inspector training program. This is where you learn on-the-job inspection skills for how to assess a house, plus business fundamentals to help you succeed.

ICA’s curriculum covers both. Our comprehensive, flexible learning structure allows you to learn at your own pace, anywhere, anytime. Here’s how it works:

• Start by selecting your state or province.
• Next, choose your training option.
• Select your training package.
• Enroll.

You can do an online-only program or a combination of online home inspection courses with hands-on field training. (The latter is highly recommended to prepare for the job with confidence.)

Step 2: Pass the state exam.

Some states require you to pass an exam before getting a home inspector licence. The most common test is the NHIE (National Home Inspector Examination), which offers exams for each state.

Your best bet is to take the test as soon as possible after finishing your training program. That way, the curriculum will be fresh in your mind.

ICA offers exam prep for students as part of the comprehensive curriculum. You can get a feel for what to expect with a 700-question practice test. And you can take it as many times as you need (at no extra cost) to feel ready for the real test.

Step 3: Get Licensed

Once you pass the state-approved exam (if that’s required in your state), apply to get licensed as a home inspector. When submitting your application, you’ll likely need to include the certification showing that you completed the training, along with documentation showing that you passed the exam.

Once your state’s regulatory board approves your application, you’ll get a license (with a unique license number), allowing you to start working as a home inspector.

Step 4: Set Up Your Business Structure

After you get your license, it’s time to set up your business structure.

If you’re choosing the self-employed route rather than trying to get hired as an employee at an established home inspection company, you’ll need to decide whether to operate as a sole proprietor or become an LLC (limited liability company). Depending on where you live, you may need a state-level business license for either of these.

You should also start thinking about things like:

• What your startup costs may be
• Whether you’ll work alone or hire contractors
• How many inspections you’ll complete each week
• How you’ll get the word out so potential customers can find you
• Setting up a business phone number, email address, website, and social media pages

There are benefits of working for yourself, including the potential to earn more money. But you need a solid plan, so it’s good to consider all the details and have an idea of how your business will operate.

Step 5: Insure Your Business

When running your own business, you’ll need to carry general liability and home inspector errors and omissions insurance (E&O).

These policies can protect you and your business from going bankrupt. For example, insurance covers you in the event you get injured on the job or a customer files a claim about possible damage to their property.

If you do your training through ICA, you might be able to get your first three months of InspectorPro Insurance for $30 for $500,000/$500,000 general liability and E&O coverage. This can save you at least a couple hundred dollars and help lower the cost to launch your home inspection business.

Not only that, but InspectorPro startup plans include pre-inspection agreements and pre-claims assistance to help you resolve issues quickly, before they snowball. Your policy will also smoothly transition into an annual plan.

Step 6: Set Up Your Tools and Reporting Software

Next, set up your digital tools and software. Report-writing software is critical for home inspectors. It’s included with your ICA training package—one less startup cost to worry about.

Beyond that, you might need a scheduling and payments platform for clients, along with a tablet for managing accounts, taking notes, and creating reports.

A home inspector also needs a digital camera or smartphone with a high-quality camera for taking photos. You can expect to take up to 300 photos (sometimes more) for each job, depending on the size of the property and when it was built. So, camera storage, like a memory card or cloud storage, is also important.

Step 7: Get Your On-the-Job Equipment

A self-employed home inspector will have their own on-the-job tools and equipment. Besides a tablet and picture-taking device, you’ll likely need a:

• Telescoping ladder
• High-powered flashlight
• Search moisture meter and measure moisture meter (or a device with both capabilities)
• Electrical outlet tester
• Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) tester
• Level and tape measure

You’ll need wearable gear, too, like coveralls, heavy work gloves, high-traction boots, safety glasses, a respirator, a headlamp for hands-free inspecting, and a tool belt.

If you offer specialty services, you’ll need the proper equipment. For instance, a carbon monoxide analyzer, an infrared thermometer or camera, or a continuous radon monitor.

Step 8: Define Your Offerings and Price Your Services

Figure out the exact services you’ll offer as a home inspector and how much you’ll charge customers.

Home inspectors typically charge $300 to $500 per standard inspection. There might be an extra fee or tiered pricing for base inspections for factors like:

• Home size (priced by square footage, number of stories, or overall property size)
• Older homes (priced per year or decade)
• Mileage (for each job or when traveling to remote locations)
• Last-minute booking or same-day reports

If you have specialty training, you can offer add-on tests and charge more for each inspection. For example, radon testing might be an additional $125 to $275 per inspection. If you have a mold inspection certification, you might charge an additional $100 to check for mold.

Step 9: Get Your First Clients

Once you’re licensed and have all the tools and equipment to take on your first job, how do you land your first clients? There are a few ways to go about this. You can:

• Create a Google Business Profile – Set up a free profile to be listed in Google’s business directory to help local clients find and contact you.
• Work with realtors – Home inspectors often work with real estate agents, who can give a trusted recommendation to home buyers who may be new to the inspection process.
• Use referrals – When you complete a job, you can include your business card with the report and ask clients to refer you to others in need of a home inspection.
• Ask for customer reviews – Positive reviews on Google, Yelp, or Angie’s List can help you book new clients.
• Create business pages on social media – This can help with visibility, offering a way for potential customers to find your business.
• Run ads – Consider running paid ads on Google or social media for the first few months to help people find you.

Step 10: Boost Revenue With Specialty Certifications

To boost your revenue as a home inspector, consider getting additional training for niche skills and specialty certifications. Through ICA, you can broaden your horizons with:

• Radon inspection training
• Mold inspection training
• Septic inspection course training
• Sewer camera inspection training
• Wind mitigation training
• A 4-point inspection course
• A FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Part 107 drone pilot course

ICA students can get a bundled discount on mold inspection and radon measurement courses.

You can also increase your earnings potential by getting a commercial inspection certification. This gives you the opportunity to inspect much larger properties and charge accordingly.

FAQs

See answers to frequently asked questions about starting a home inspection business.

Is home inspection a good business to start?

Absolutely. A home inspection business can be a great full-time career or side job to earn extra income. With the real estate market warming back up and forecasting a rebound, home inspector job demand is expected to rise. Plus, the cost and timeline to get started might be lower and shorter than you may think.

As of 2024, the median salary for home inspectors in the U.S. is roughly $72,000, and the top 10% can make over $112,000 a year.

How much does it cost to become a home inspector?

On average, the cost to become a home inspector is anywhere from about $700 to $3,000. The total investment includes coursework, field training, exam fees, licensing, insurance, tools, and equipment.

How much do home inspectors get paid per house?

Home inspectors typically get paid $300 to $500 per house. This is the standard base-rate inspection fee, but inspectors can charge more for specialty add-ons, like mold, radon, or sewer testing.

How difficult is it to become a home inspector?

It’s not necessarily difficult to become a home inspector. However, you do need to complete the coursework, get up to speed with technical knowledge, and have a business plan to successfully get off the ground.

With ICA’s self-paced, mostly online training and state licensing support, many aspiring home inspectors find that this career path feels achievable. How long to become a home inspector depends on how quickly you complete the coursework, but many can finish within six months.

How do home inspectors get clients?

Home inspectors can get clients by setting up a Google Business Profile, partnering with realtors, using referrals, and asking for reviews. You can also explore digital marketing for home inspectors, like running targeted ads, setting up email marketing, or optimizing social media.

How ICA Prepares You for Business, Not Just Inspections

If you’re a motivated career starter wanting to pursue home inspection, ICA is here to help every step of the way—from training to your first paycheck and beyond.

As an industry leader in home inspection training, ICA is trusted by over 15,000 students and growing nationwide. We offer start-to-finish support and guidance for how to become a home inspector.

The flexible training programs include:

• Mobile-friendly online coursework and field training
• Help with state-specific home inspector license requirements and approval
• Home inspection exam prep and report-writing practice
• Excellent reviews and job support after completing training
• Marketing courses and business-building curriculum
• Discounted general liability and home inspector E&O insurance
• $100 off a one-year InterNACHI membership
• Report-writing software
• Lifetime access to all tools, courses, training videos, inspection templates, and home inspector marketing content

ICA’s affordable programs start at $695, with the option to add specialty training. You can save hundreds of dollars compared to classroom-based programs and even pay over time if you need financing assistance.

Ready to get certified and launch your home inspection business? Enroll at ICA today.

Sources:

Inter­national Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). Starting Your Home Inspection Business. https://www.nachi.org/starting-inspection-business.htm

Inter­national Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). Fee Calculator Instructions. https://www.nachi.org/fee-calculator-faq.htm

National Association of Realtors (NAR). 2026 Real Estate Outlook: What Leading Housing Economists Are Watching. https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/real-estate-news/2026-real-estate-outlook-what-leading-housing-economists-are-watching
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Construction and Building Inspectors Pay. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/construction-and-building-inspectors.htm#tab-5