An aircon service cleans, repairs and installs window-type and split-type units in homes, offices and shops. Most start as a technician and a helper on a motorcycle, working from home and booking jobs by phone and online. The money is in repeat cleanings every few months, so careful work, clear prices and reminders matter more than the lowest price.

This guide walks through what it takes to start a home-service aircon business in the Philippines: the capital, the monthly costs, the permits and the first 90 days. The peso figures are sample estimates for a two-person home service in Cebu as of October 2026; get your own quotes before you decide.

How much capital you need

The sample comes to about ₱178,550 including one month of fixed costs kept as a cash buffer. It splits into equipment and tools (₱46,800), vehicle (₱66,000), opening stock (₱22,000), permits and deposits (₱8,000), launch (₱8,000) and working capital (₱27,750). Other ways to start: small shop with a van at ₱600,000–₱1 million and contract service for businesses at ₱1.5 million and up.

Monthly costs and break-even

Fixed costs in the sample are ₱27,750 a month; the biggest are helper wage (₱15,600), SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG (₱2,180) and motorcycle upkeep, registration and insurance set aside (₱2,000). Each job sold earns about ₱833 after its own costs, so the break-even is 1.3 jobs a day, and the startup capital comes back by month 8 if sales start slow and build up.

Permits and registration

Register the business name with DTI (or SEC or CDA), then get the barangay business clearance, the Mayor's permit through the city or municipal BPLO, and BIR registration; register with SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG once you hire. A home-service aircon business also needs: TESDA certificate for your technicians, refrigerant handling rules and work permit for condos and malls. Requirements and fees differ by city, so ask each office for its checklist first. DTI Negosyo Centers help for free.

Where to set up

  • Subdivisions and condo areas with many split-type units
  • Business districts with small offices and clinics
  • Areas near appliance stores that sell but do not install
  • Within 30–40 minutes of your home base

Mistakes to avoid

  • Damage to a customer's unit or home. Covers and drop cloths every time, tests before and after, and photos of the unit's condition before work starts.
  • Callbacks for leaks and weak cooling. Leak-test every refrigerant job, tighten fittings, and fix callbacks fast and free when the fault is yours.
  • Falls during installation. Sturdy ladders, a harness for high or outside walls, and never work alone on a ledge or roof.
  • Electric shock. Switch off the unit at the breaker before every job, and check with a meter before touching wiring.

Plan it with the starter kit

The Aircon Cleaning & Repair · Negosyo Starter Kit has every worksheet behind this guide in a 26-page PDF, plus an Excel calculator: type in your own quotes and it works out your capital, break-even, profit and payback month. It costs ₱349 and downloads right after payment.