It’s a grind to run this kind of business. You’re sometimes dealing with life and death situations (you’re liable for someone’s electricity or heating 24/7). Talent is really hard to come by at a reasonable rate, especially reliable master electricians or plumbers and the trades people that work under them. And then it’s an extremely cost and labor intensive business involving large machinery, equipment, and vehicles - inside people’s homes. (Watched my dad scale one of these businesses for 30+ years, his work was stressful and unending)

lol. 24/7 heat and electricity are not life and death situations. There are billions of people who live without either everyday

you’re not wrong. But on the other hand, there are events like this. https://www.npr.org/2022/01/03/1069974416/texas-winter-storm...

So at least sometimes, it is life or death.

In North American winter temperatures?

For someone with an oxygen machine, yes it is. Many of those billions just don't have the option for this, they would end up committed to a hospital or dying because the treatment would never be seen as viable.

And now that I say it: hospitals need electricians too. Electricity goes out in a hospital for too long, lots of people die.

And actually a third point: electricity -going out- is not the only thing that could kill a client, it's not too hard to start a fire.

Well for one when someone’s AC is out during the summer, heat is out during the winter, their water doesn’t work, or worse yet is flooding, then that person has a pretty poor negotiating position. Plumbers and HVAC can basically name their price for emergency work.

And the licensing system ensures that everyone has slaved away so long to get into the "I can make the big bucks now" club that they won't compete on price once they're there.