The Handyman Startup Podcast

In this episode, I had the opportunity to interview a handyman from across the pond – Will Lingard. Will is a great guy who shares helpful tips and insights based on his nine years in business as a professional handyman. Here’s a sample of what we discuss in this interview: What’s important to affluent customers How focusing on sustainability helps his business What he enjoys about his business How he deals with customers who say he’s too expensive How he runs multiple businesses by subcontracting jobs How he hired his first helper Why business isn’t always a straight line Why being a good person is more important than your home repair skills And more. HS054 – Pro handyman from the UK shares his story – Interview with Will Lingard About Will Lingard Will lives in the United Kingdom and owns and operates Surrey Hills Handyman. Will used to work with a company that set up outdoor PA systems. Although he loved the work, it involved a lot of travel. He wanted to be closer to his family. When his father-in-law recommended becoming an electrician, it sparked the idea of starting a handyman business. He quickly jumped online, found Handyman Startup, devoured all the content, invested in my courses, and launched his business while providing services from a small sedan. That was over nine years ago. Today, he enjoys a profitable business that gives him freedom, flexibility, and a sense of agency. The post Interview with Will Lingard – Pro Handyman from the UK appeared first on Handyman Startup.

Owning a business has many benefits. It gives you more control over your time. It gives you certain freedoms that employees will never have. It gives you the potential to make a LOT more money. And you get to make all the decisions. The possibilities are limitless. However, those benefits have a cost, which is often higher than what you’re led to believe on social media. Am I saying it’s not worth it to grow a business? Hell no! It’s worth it. Even if you don’t achieve your ideal lifestyle, building a business challenges you, forces you to learn valuable skills, and builds character like nothing else. However, if your expectations are too high, you’ll either burn out or give up trying to reach them. As I’ve said many times before, business is a mental game. If you can win that game, you can win at business. If you lose that game, it doesn’t matter how much money you make; you will lose. In this episode, I discuss a critical part of winning that game—managing your expectations. In the last episode, I discussed why high expectations are a recipe for constant stress and dissatisfaction and why intentionally lowering your expectations will reduce stress and help you be more effective and joyful. In this episode, I talk about how. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS053 – The power of low expectations part 2 – Simple tips for less stress and more fun Podcast Transcript I’d hate to lower your expectations, but that is the episode’s goal. Welcome to another episode of the Handyman Startup podcast. My name is Dan Perry, and today, I’m going to talk about managing your expectations. In the last podcast, we talked about why and the power of low expectations. Today, I want to talk a little bit about how to do that. So back in 2010, way back in 2010, this is 14, almost 15 years ago, after another boring day at work, my friend recommended a book called The 4-Hour Work Week. At the time, I was living in a three-bedroom home that I had purchased a year or two earlier. I lived about two blocks from my office, and I hated my job. I was so disappointed with what a 9:00 to 5:00 turned out to be. I mostly sat at a desk all day in a big open room with five other desks and five other engineers working, and then my boss was right across the room from me. And there were some good things about my job. I mean, I got to do some cool stuff with engineering, and it leveraged my skills. I was pretty good at it, but I just felt stifled. So, I read that book my friend recommended to me, and I remember being unable to put it down. Right after that first chapter, it hit a nerve. I sat on the couch and read it until my eyes turned red. Once I couldn’t read anymore, I put it down, picked it up again the next day, and I think it took me about two days to read that entire book. And this was a pretty big turning point in my life. I didn’t know that at the time, but it was because ever since that moment, I couldn’t be satisfied living an ordinary, boring nine-to-five lifestyle. I knew something else was possible. I had a clear definition of success, and I wanted it now. I didn’t quit my job right away because I needed the money and didn’t know what to do, but that book amplified my distaste for my job. It was like sticking a salty knife into an already festering wound. It made the experience of working my job worse. And as a result, I eventually quit my job. After a while, I started getting worked up and depressed and had some health issues. I started a handyman business a few months after I quit my job. Since then, I’ve grown that handyman business and done well there. I created a YouTube channel, this podcast, my blog, online courses, and all these wonderful things that bring me income and give me more freedom than most people have. I’ve also helped many people in the process, which is awesome. I regularly get emails from people thanking me, which is awesome. And on the one hand, I’m thankful for that. On the other hand, I think that content, specifically the four-hour workweek and a lot of the content you find on YouTube or Facebook about growing a business, I think it can be toxic. The reason is that it anchors your expectations so high, as I discussed in the last episode. If you haven’t listened to that, I recommend listening to that first before listening to this episode. Now, for some people like me, I couldn’t sleep at night living a mediocre life after realizing what was possible because I fell for the arrival fallacy that once I got that, then I would be happy. The need it created to reach a certain level quickly caused me a lot of stress and disappointment. I beat myself up when I didn’t achieve amazing things. I lost sleep over silly things that don’t matter. I was imprisoned by the idea that it was impossible to be happy without passive income, and I sacrificed a lot of time

In “Same as Ever,” Morgan Housel shares how, for the last 150 years, on any given day, the stock market went up only 50% of the time. Yet, over any given year, it rose 68% of the time. And even better, over any 20-year span, growth was seen 100% of the time. With this, he illustrates that you often experience failure or loss in the short term. But, if you stay in the game long enough, you’ll almost certainly see a gain. It’s like playing poker when you’ve stacked the deck in your favor. You’ll lose a few hands but eventually come out on top. The key is to stay in the game long enough. Which is also true for growing a business. As I’ve said before, growing a business is hard. And it’s not for the reasons many people think. It’s not so much about coming up with some brilliant revolutionary idea or having the IQ of Einstein. 99% of the tasks you perform when growing a business are easy – at least, no more difficult than a typical job. The real challenge is winning the mental game: Dealing with the pressure of making decisions amidst constant uncertainty, staying motivated without a boss breathing down your neck, maintaining focus, and pushing through when things get hard. If you can win that mental game, chances of success are high. So, let’s talk about one critical aspect of doing just that, which is managing your expectations. With this article (and podcast), I aim to convince you that keeping your expectations low is one secret to winning the mental game. I’m excited about this concept because I believe if you take it seriously, it can… Improve your chances of success Improve your experience of growing a business Improve your results Lower your stress levels and even make you happier. Listen to the podcast version of this article here, which includes extra content. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS052 – The power of low expectations First, let’s talk about… How to ruin your day even when you’re winning. Many of us start our businesses for more freedom and control so that we can enjoy our lives. However, entrepreneurs often end up with a business that consumes their minds, even in their free time. They want freedom, and what they end up with is constant stress. I don’t think that’s the case for everyone, but it’s more common than ever. Its cause is a combination of several factors. For the sake of this article, I’ll focus on two of them that I see as most relevant. #1 – Good old human desire We always want more. No matter how much we have, we want more. The funny thing is how we fool ourselves. We think that once we achieve our next goal or acquire a certain amount of money, we will finally be happy and content. Yet, most billionaires are still out hustling for more. That’s because of a well-known feature of our psychology, the arrival fallacy. No matter how much we have, the goalpost keeps moving further into the distance. You may think you’ll be content once your business generates consistent income. Then, when you get there, you realize you’d like to make a little more money and work fewer hours. Once you accomplish that, you realize you want to take it even further. If this goes on for long enough, and you work hard enough, you may eventually build a multi-million dollar business. And when you get there, you’ll probably want more. Is this bad? Not necessarily. It’s just human nature. The problem is when you try to do too much too fast and when you expect instant amazing results. That’s when you get hit with constant disappointment, even when you’re doing well. And that’s where the second factor comes into play… #2 Social media Social media is amazingly effective at stoking desire. We see all of these people doing amazing things, and it anchors the expectations for our own lives. Social Media distorts our perception of reality. Since everyone shares the best of their lives, we constantly see people doing better than us, and we rarely see the struggle that got them there. Everywhere you look, someone is better looking, making more money, and having more fun than you. This is especially true for entrepreneurs. Hundreds of successful entrepreneurs online make millions per year and live amazing lives (at least, that’s what they show). Then, they tell you that you can do the same. They stoke your desire and anchor your expectations at a super high level. For example, you may see someone running a multi-million dollar business offering to teach you how to do the same. They usually make it look easier than it is and imply that you can get results fast, essentially anchoring your expectations much higher than reality. Sure, with their help, you may get there faster and easier. However, getting there will still take years of struggle, hard work, and failure. In reality, following in their footsteps is ten times harder than it seems, and success is nowhere near guaranteed. Those supe

As a professional handyman, I’ve completed many jobs that paid well over $200 per hour and some that paid less than $20. In this podcast episode, I share five of my least profitable jobs. Why? Because those are the ones with some of the biggest lessons. Pricing mistakes are common for handymen. Too common. In fact, pricing mistakes cost me over $50,000 in my first year in business. That’s a lot of cheddar. By simply avoiding many pricing mistakes, you can make a LOT more money. This is especially true if you are within your first few years in this business. So sit back, grab a cup of joe, and enjoy a bunch of stories about my epic pricing failures. HS051 – My top 5 LEAST profitable handyman jobs (and the mistakes that cost me big) Resources Mentioned: Free Handyman Business Startup Kit Video course about pricing your handyman services – $100K Handyman Pricing Transcript: Welcome to another episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast. My name is Dan Perry, and today I’m going to share five of my least profitable jobs that I’ve done as a pro handyman. I’ll share what those jobs were, why they weren’t profitable, and the mistakes that I made that led to me losing time and money on those jobs. Now, pricing mistakes are very common during the first few years for most new service providers, and many of them can be avoided with the right insight and approach. Fixing or avoiding these mistakes is one of the easiest ways to boost your income as a pro handyman. I’ll say that again. Avoiding Simple pricing mistakes that almost everybody makes is one of the easiest ways to boost your income and make more money in less time as a pro handyman. If you’re just getting started, I think you’ll find this episode very helpful. And learning from my mistakes can easily save you thousands of dollars over the course of the next year, and potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of your career. Now, before we jump into the content today, I’d like to mention that this is a monthly podcast. If you’d like to learn more about starting a handyman business that can replace your income, generate over $100,000 per year in profit, and give you more control over your schedule while allowing you to do services you enjoy without having to hire employees, without having to work more than 40 hours per week, then head over to handymanstartup.com/free. There, you can sign up for my free email newsletter where I share updates and exclusive content you can only access if you’re a subscriber. Plus, I put together a free startup kit that you’ll receive once you sign up. In that, you’ll learn 10 profitable handyman services you can start offering right now, common business mistakes that new handymen almost always make and how to avoid them, and my number one marketing strategy for filling your schedule with profitable jobs. So pause this right now, open up your web browser, visit handymanstartup.com/free, and sign up for my email newsletter. It’ll only take a minute, and you’ll be all set to receive that free startup kit, plus exclusive content and updates shared only with my subscribers. All right, let’s jump right into five of my least profitable jobs ever. Now, a quick caveat here. These jobs were mostly done in 2012 and 2013, when I was just starting my business. Since then, we’ve seen inflation total about 35% since then. So $100 back then had the same purchasing power as $135 now. Or to put that a different way, you’d have to have $135 now to buy the same stuff that you could buy for $100 back in 2012. So these prices might be even lower than what you’d expect for 2024. But just keep that perspective when I am sharing the numbers. All right, job number one. This was a painting job that I did for a friend of a friend, and this was the first job that I ever did as a handyman outside of jobs that I’d done for a couple of friends and on my own home. So this is like the first one. And this was for a young couple. They just had a new baby. They’re living in this two-story home, and they needed their upstairs master bedroom painted, the hallway painted, and the guest bathroom painted. They also wanted a baseboard and they had a drywall repair downstairs. They call me; they know I’m just starting my business, and I take all the measurements and exchange pleasantries. Then I go home, and I have no idea how much to charge for this. I called up somebody I knew who was a contractor, and I asked him, How would you quote this job? And he said, Well, painters usually charge by the square foot. So you just find out whatever the rate is in your area, multiply it by that, and you come up with a number for that. The same thing applies to the baseboards; you multiply whatever the rate is by the linear feet, and you charge by the linear foot. For the baseboards, you charge for painting by the square foot

How would you like to know an easy way to grow a business where… You don’t have to make sacrifices You don’t have to spend much time or make any big commitments. You don’t have to spend lots of money. You don’t have to make any tough decisions. You don’t have to do anything you don’t like, and you can have other people do it for you. You get to do the work you enjoy most daily, plus the freedom and fulfillment of a profitable business. Sound compelling? Of course, it does. But it’s ridiculous. If starting a profitable business was that easy, everyone would do it, competition would quickly outpace demand, and it would be hard again very quickly. Starting a business will always be challenging, as it should be. You want it to be challenging, so the rewards are worth it. But, there are easier ways to start a business than others, and that’s what I discuss in this episode. Listen to the podcast version of this article, which includes extra content. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS050 – Starting a business the easy way Don’t wait for things to be easy because they never will be I was talking to a handyman last week. He was in a tough situation. He had a full-time job. He was offering handyman services on the side. He was commuting to a different city for his jobs and wanted to build his handyman business full-time in the city where he lived. But he felt there was too much competition and wasn’t sure he could make it work. He also knew that if he were going to make it work, he would need to establish an online presence to generate enough customers to keep his schedule full. So, he started building his website. He got through the first couple of steps but quickly ran into a snag. It was more challenging than he expected, and he wasn’t sure how to proceed. Riddled in uncertainty and frustration, he gave up to find an easier way. As a result, he was no closer to escaping that situation and having that full-time business in the city where he lives. There’s no judgment here. I’ve done the same thing many times. I also admire him for continuing to seek a solution, which is why we were speaking in the first place. But here’s what often happens when trying to grow a business. A task you are doing is harder than you expected. Maybe that’s naming your business, filing for an LLC, building your website, or attracting your first customers. It takes longer than you expected. It’s more confusing. It costs more money than you thought it would. So you start to doubt yourself. You start to lose motivation. You wonder if it’s worth it. You wonder if you’re cut out for this. You wonder if there’s some easier way out there. And you want to give up. Then you start to think, maybe there’s some secret others know I don’t. And so, often, that leads you to give up. Over the years, I’ve consulted with many who run into this roadblock. They want a more profitable business. I tell them a solution, and immediately, I see it on their faces. Their reaction says, “Well, that sounds hard. I don’t want to do that. I don’t know how to do that. I can’t do that. Isn’t there an easier way?” Again, this often leads to giving up or waiting for things to be easy (which rarely happens). So, they consume more information, do more research, and try to gain certainty when the reality is that certainty does not exist. You will never be 100% certain. And yes, maybe there is an easier way to move forward, and you should look for it. But most of the time, there isn’t an easier way, and waiting for an easier way keeps you stuck. If you keep waiting for things to be easy, nothing will change. Business growth happens when you face challenges head-on Almost every time I’ve created significant growth within my business, it’s because I faced a challenging situation head-on. It’s not because I found an easy way or had some advantage. For example, when deciding which business to start, I read several books on career options and how to find my purpose. I desperately wanted somebody to tell me, “Here’s what you should do, man. This is what you’re good at. You should do that.” But nobody could. I had no other option than to stick with the problem until it was solved, which took me months. It was uncomfortable, but I had no choice but to push through until I felt good about a decision. Eventually, I decided to start a handyman business. When I started my business, nobody wanted to hire me because I looked like a teenager. People would disregard me because I looked so young. They assumed I didn’t have enough skills or experience. To be fair, they were probably right. But I still wanted to start my business, and I’d already quit my engineering job. So, instead of giving up, I dove into digital marketing. I studied it. I

Mounting TVs can be a lucrative service for any handyman. It has a high perceived value relative to install time, so you can easily make $100-$200 per hour. It’s a great, low-risk way for a new customer to test your services, allowing you to quickly build your client base. And it’s just a low-stress, enjoyable job. That’s why I’ve invested time to promote and specialize in this service. And in this article and podcast episode, I’m going to share five business lessons I’ve learned after mounting well over 100 TVs. And by the way, these lessons apply to any home service. Listen to the podcast version of this article, which includes extra content. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS049 – 5 Indispensable Business Lessons From Mounting 100 TVs How I Started Mounting TVs I mounted my first TV in 2012 for a middle-aged woman who found me on Craigslist. I was surprised by the request when she called since I’d never mounted a TV before. So when she asked how much it would cost, I blurted out the first number that came to my head. “Seventy-five dollars,” I said with fake confidence. To my surprise, she agreed, and I scheduled the job for later that day. When I knocked at her door, I was anxious (and probably awkward) because I wasn’t sure what to expect. To make it even worse, she sat on the couch, watching my every move as I fumbled with the instructions. It took me well over an hour (about twice as long as it should have), but I completed the project, and she paid me with a smile. At first, I figured this was a fluke job because it was so easy, and I didn’t think many people would pay for this service. I was wrong. A couple of weeks later, I signed up for Service Magic (now called HomeAdvisor) and started paying for leads. I received my first lead to hang a TV shortly after signing up. I quickly jumped on the lead and told the customer it would cost $100 (again, just a number I pulled out of thin air on the spot). The customer said yes, and I put it on my schedule. Later that day (my schedule was wide open), I arrived at this wealthy attorney’s estate and immediately realized the job was over my head. The TV was a gigantic 80″ monster. I couldn’t put this thing on the wall by myself. But I was already there, so I went to work anyway. Once the bracket was attached to the wall, I asked the customer to help me lift the TV to place it on the wall. I felt very unprofessional, but she didn’t seem bothered. Again, she paid me with a smile and hired me for many more projects over the coming years. Again, I felt like this service wasn’t something I could consistently offer. First, I didn’t think many people would need it, and second, I figured that few customers would tolerate helping lift the TV they paid to have installed. Wrong again. Over the next decade, I’d mount over a hundred TVs for hundreds of customers. During that process, I learned several valuable business lessons that can be applied to any home service. Here are some of those lessons. Lesson #1 – Some things can only be learned by DOING. Despite doing thorough research before starting my handyman business, I’d never heard anyone discussing mounting TVs (again, this was back in 2011). This service wouldn’t have crossed my path if I didn’t start my business. Only by immersing myself in the handyman business did I make this discovery. This is true for countless insights I’ve gained by going deep with the handyman business. Another example is marketing. My #1 most effective marketing strategy, responsible for 90% of all leads I’ve received in the last decade, was something I discovered after testing a strategy I’d learned from an online marketing course I took a year earlier. But by immersing myself in marketing and doing it myself, I uncovered gold. That marketing strategy now keeps me as busy as I want to be for my most profitable jobs with virtually no time or money. I would never have discovered this strategy if I had just stayed at surface-level education, such as watching or listening to other people talk about marketing. I had to go deep, immerse myself in it, and do it myself. But many people don’t take action. Instead, they watch YouTube videos, estimate the results they might get, and decide the juice isn’t worth the squeeze. So they do nothing and, consequently, don’t learn anything. When you actually DO something yourself, that’s when you learn. That’s when your perception of the world shifts. That’s when new possibilities open up. When you engage in the world and try things (instead of living vicariously through others), you make discoveries that no one is talking about online, propelling your business and freedom forward. I’ve learned a lot from mentors, and I continue to read books, invest in my education, and learn from others. But, mo

Here’s an inspiring interview with a handyman who started his business just over a year ago. After receiving an ultimatum from his boss, Evaristo Gomez left his secure job as a finish carpenter’s apprentice to grow his handyman business full-time – even though he had a wife and young child at home to support. That takes courage. And his bravery paid off. Today, Evaristo is the proud owner of a thriving business that not only surpasses his previous job in terms of income but also grants him the flexibility to be there for his family whenever they need him. And that’s just a little over a year in! HS048 – Evaristo Gomez Shares His Story After One Year In Business as a Pro Handyman Here’s what we discuss in this episode: Evaristo’s courageous journey – leaving his secure income for a better life. How Evaristo accidentally drilled into a pipe in the wall and caused a leak on one of his first jobs. The challenges of getting started – doubts, fears, and more. How Evaristo estimates jobs. The type of work Evaristo is doing. How Evaristo stands out from the competition. About Evaristo Gomez Evaristo is the proud owner of A Pleasant Handyman Service, which serves residents of Winlock, Washington, and surrounding areas. After buying a 1930s-built home, Evaristo was overwhelmed by his growing list of repairs and lack of skills. When a contractor came in and helped him address the issues, his peace of mind returned. From that moment, he was inspired to do the same for others. So, after working in several jobs in the construction industry, he eventually went out on his own and started his handyman business – where he focuses on bringing a pleasant experience and peace of mind to his clients. And since he’s experienced so much success with his business, he’s been inspired to help others at his church start home repair businesses as well. The post Pro Handyman Shares His Story After One Year In Business appeared first on Handyman Startup.

Credibility is essential to gaining new clients and growing a business. But, this topic is often misunderstood by people new to the home repair business. Pros tend to overvalue certain credibility boosters, like having a contractor’s license or having lots of experience, and undervalue other methods for boosting credibility. This often results in competent people being too scared to start their businesses because they don’t think they can make it work without the proper credentials. Additionally, people often make the mistake of assuming that credibility is some objective truth when, in reality, it is a subjective perception. And because it is just a perception, it can be easily manipulated. Manipulating credibility is one of the main purposes of marketing. This has many unfortunate implications, such as unqualified people successfully selling low-quality services and ripping people off. However, there is a positive side as well. For those who are more than competent to provide quality handyman services yet lack the typical experience or credentials, you can pull the right marketing levers to instantly boost credibility and fill your schedule with profitable jobs. That’s how I started my business. Despite looking like a teenager and having very little home repair experience, I established credibility and built a profitable handyman business relatively quickly. And in this podcast episode, I share how I did that and other powerful ways to build credibility. HS047 – How to quickly gain credibility Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: How credibility makes everything about growing a business easier and more fun Why credibility allows you to charge more than your competition Four quick ways to boost your credibility – regardless of your experience level or credentials The most powerful methods for increasing your credibility   The post How To Quickly Gain Credibility appeared first on Handyman Startup.

It’s officially spring, which means the busy season for home services is about to ramp up. If you’ve been in business for a while, you already know that the peak season for most home services is during the Spring and Summer, peaking around May through September. If you didn’t know, now you do. So, it’s time to get prepared. In this article and podcast episode, I share four simple actions you can take right now, to not only make more money this summer, but to leverage the busy season to build momentum into the winter. Let’s jump right in. Listen to the podcast version of this article, which includes extra content. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS046 – Four Simple Ways to Make More Money This Summer #1 – Invest in Good Software A good CRM/field management software is essential to running a professional handyman business. It will make you look more professional, help you provide better service and communication, keep you organized, and more. Basically, It will help you make more money. However, one feature of a good CRM that is particularly useful for building momentum is automated review requests. Reviews are a critical pillar of online marketing for home service. You should always focus on getting more of them. However, it’s challenging to remember to always ask for a review, and even when you do, unless it is super easy, most customers won’t do it, even if they love your services. That’s why automated review requests are so useful. A good CRM will automatically send each customer a text and an email requesting a review with a link to leave the review. That way, all the customer has to do is click the link and leave a review. Plus, they have a nice little reminder to improve their chances of leaving one. Here’s the CRM I use and a list of other good ones. There are many benefits to using a good CRM, so if you’re still on the fence about using one, just do it. You can always cancel later if you don’t think it’s worth it. But the more likely scenario is that you’ll feel silly for not trying one sooner. #2 – Setup/Optimize your Google Business Profile Speaking of online reviews, the first place to focus on online reviews in 99% of cases is on your Google Business Profile. Any online review is great, but a review on Google is the best. You can learn more about Google Business Profile here. If you haven’t already set up your profile, do that immediately. That way, you can link your CRM to your profile and start racking up those five-star reviews. This process only takes an hour to two, plus up to a week to get verified. So do it now. That way, you can establish some reviews while busy this year, making it easier to attract customers during the slow season. If you haven’t updated your Google Business Profile for a while, now is a good time to do that so you can ensure your business information is up to date and spruced up. Spending just fifteen minutes here could lead to several high-quality leads over the next few months. #3 – Dial in Your Pricing Strategy The last thing you want to do is bog yourself down constantly while worrying about how much to charge, if you are charging enough, or if you are charging too much. That wastes way too much mental energy. It also leads to making less money. It’s best to enter this busy season with clarity and confidence – especially with pricing. And the best place to gain clarity and confidence with pricing home repairs is right here. Yes, there is an investment required, but it will easily pay for itself in a matter of days or weeks. Heck, maybe even with your next project. Dialing in your pricing will not just help you make a little extra money, but a LOT more money. It’s not rare for me to see someone double their profits by implementing those strategies. If you’re going to be working hard this summer, you might as well squeeze as much profit out of your hard work as you can – that way, you can invest into growing your business, take vacations, or just feel more secure financially. Don’t step over dollars to pick up pennies. Learn how to profit from your effort. Your customers will thank you, and so will your wife. #4 – Prepare your pitch I’m not talking about learning sophisticated sales techniques or constantly selling things to customers. I’m talking about having a good answer to one simple question: “What services do you offer?” When first-time customers hire you, they may not realize that you offer other services. If they like your services, they will often ask you what else you do. It’s easy to stumble on this if you aren’t prepared. So, spend fifteen minutes or an hour writing down your answer. Think of the main services you’d like to promote. Practice your answer so you are confident when customers ask. Don’t be afraid to mention how you are diff

Every once in a while, I encounter someone who transforms my perspective on what is possible in business. Tommy Mello is one of those people. After reading his book, Elevate, and interviewing him, I find myself waking up early in the morning eager to implement new ideas for my business. If you don’t know Tommy, he is the founder and CEO of A1 Garage Doors, a 200-million-dollar company based in Phoenix, Arizona. A1 Garage Doors is now in 22 states and growing at an insane pace. If you can read Tommy’s books and meet him, you can see why he has succeeded. He works hard, cares for his employees, and constantly seeks knowledge. He consistently maintains a bigger vision for his company and thinks differently than most business owners in the home service industry. It was a pleasure and an honor having him on the podcast. Give this episode a listen, and I guarantee you’ll find something you can apply to grow your business. Here’s what we discuss in this episode… How he went from painting garage doors to building a 200+ million dollar garage door company. The value of asking for help and how to get other contractors to help you. How to increase your booking rate (turn more calls into jobs). How A1 Garage Doors closes 62% of jobs they quote. Insights into his company’s structure and each employee’s roles in the sales process. Why you should offer financing to your customers and how to do it. The tools Tommy uses to run his business. Recommended books and much more. HS045 – Full Interview with Tommy Mellow: How to sell your services, book more jobs, motivate employees, get help from other contractors, and grow a $200 million home service business.   About Tommy Mello Tommy is the founder and CEO of A1 Garage Doors, the largest privately owned garage door company in the nation that does over $200 million in revenue and operates in 22 states. Tommy has been in the home service industry for 17 years. He’s also the host of The Home Service Expert Podcast and the author of two Amazon Best Sellers, Elevate and The Home Service Millionaire. Tommy is a genius at building systems, scaling businesses, motivating employees, and creating a culture that attracts top talent. When it comes to growing a home service business, few can rival his expertise. Books, Links, and Resources Mentioned In the Interview Book a shop tour with Tommy: TommyMello.com/shop Books by Tommy: Elevate and The Home Service Millionaire 7 Power Contractor by Al Levi 10X is Easier Than 2X by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martel Al Levi (helped Tommy with his org charge and helped him rebrand) Power BI Chiirp – Text automation for customer followup Rilla – AI tool for recording calls and extracting useful information Service Titan – The CMS Tommy uses with A1 Garage Doors RapidHirePro – Use to recruit top talent Paylocity – Payroll software GoodLeap – Offer customer financing. Notes and Key Takeaways Tommy mentions that he is quick to ask for help and seek people smarter than him, which is a big part of his success. How to create a vision – Whiteboard sessions. Figure out what you need to do to get to your goal. Everybody’s vision should be within five years, and part of the goal should be to sell part of your business. If you don’t sell, your hair will turn gray, and your relationships will suffer. A good CFO can do wonders for your business. 30% of all jobs financed. When a customer finances a project, they are more likely to choose a more expensive option. “When you only give one option, you give an ultimatum.” Give at least three options to customers. Six is ideal. 60% of revenue from service, 40% from installation. Technicians T up the sale of a new garage door, and product specialists close the deal on the phone. After the product specialist explains the options, they say – “do you want to use your money, or do you want to use our money?” Then, present financing options. Closes 62% of jobs they quote. He charges a $39 trip charge (which he’ll waive in some situations). Doesn’t teach his guys much sales. Smile, Listen more, be a good human being. Ask them about their life and work. Doesn’t sell everything at once because it creates sticker shock. First, he’ll get the door working. He’ll fix whatever they need. Then, he’ll try to sell the keypad, bottom rubber, surge protector, etc. The average home service company is booking 43% of the calls; they are at 87%. To increase it, pay your CSR based on the booking rate (performance pay), have an online chat on your website, and respond instantly to Angi and Home Advisor leads. Pay a CSR to take calls at night. Script: “Look, Mr. Jones. we really want to earn your work today because we know you will tell your friends and family all about us

You only need to do two things to grow a profitable home repair business. Put in consistent, focused work. Work on the right things. That’s because the handyman business is a PROVEN business model. There are thousands of handymen all over the world already doing this. Simply follow best practices, put in the work, and do that consistently, and as long as your city is big enough to have a hardware store, you will eventually build a thriving business. However, that is MUCH easier said than done. That’s because there are many pitfalls along the way that sap motivation, focus, and time, making it impossible to grow a business. These pitfalls are why competent, motivated people fail to build a business they love. So, in this podcast episode, I discuss four of those pitfalls and how to avoid them so you can finally grow your business to the level you want. If you’d like 2024 to be the year where you finally reach your business goals, then I highly recommend listening to this podcast and taking notes. HS044 – Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Four Reasons Competent People Fail In Business In this episode, you’ll learn: Four reasons competent people fail to grow a business. How your immediate environment determines whether you follow through or give up. How to boost and maintain your motivation over the long term so your business growth becomes a matter of time. How to increase confidence and clarity. How to become a more effective person in general. I’m confident that if you implement the protocols in this episode, you will make substantial progress toward your business goals this year. Links and Resources: Register for the upcoming webinar here. Podcast episode on overcoming the fears of starting a business. How to set SMART goals. The post Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Four Reasons Competent People Fail In Business appeared first on Handyman Startup.

There are many profitable services to offer as a handyman, and one niche you may not have heard about is Aging-In-Place services. Aging-In-Place services are home modifications and improvements that allow aging adults to live in their homes safely and for longer. Examples include installing grab bars and rails, building ramps, improving lighting, and installing chair lifts. Aging-In-Place services first came on my radar about eight months ago when one of my students mentioned it on a live webinar. Ever since, I’ve seen it pop up all over the place. And that’s why I’m excited to bring you this interview with Pat Lund. As the executive director of Age Well At Home, he’s an expert in this field and happily shares how to capitalize on this growing business opportunity. HS043 – How to build a profitable aging-in-place business – Interview with Pat Lund About Pat Lund Pat is the creator and executive director of Age Well At Home – a non-profit business in The Twin Cities, Minnesota, that provides home modification and improvements to help aging adults live in their homes for longer. Pat has a ton of experience in the home service industry, which started when he got a job painting houses to help him get through high school. He later became director of several non-profit programs, including Paint-a-Thon, Meals on Wheels, and A Brush with Kindness. He worked locally and nationally with Habitat for Humanity to implement programs to assist lower-income families in maintaining their homes. About six years ago, Habitat for Humanity wanted him to help create a program to help the aging population stay in their homes, eventually leading to his current venture. Aside from his vast experience and connections, he’s just an overall nice guy who wants to connect with and help others in this industry. Resources Mentioned in the Podcast AgeWellAtHome.org (Pat’s website) National Council of Non-Profits (Help to financing for non-profits) Become a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS training) Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (home service statistics) Johns Hopkins CAPABLE Notes and Takeaways From This Episode These are great services if you enjoy working with your hands and helping people. The average job size to transform a home is $4,000-$5,000, but just $1,500 in home modifications can go a long way toward making a home safer for seniors. The population of people over 60 is exploding, so the demand and opportunities are growing. Most in-demand services include: Grab bar installation, Ramps, and Chair lifts. Other services: Taller toilets, walk-in shower installation, tub cut-outs, changing appliances, changing and adding lights, handheld shower heads. It can be challenging to gain the trust of seniors, but partnering with their healthcare providers is a great way to establish trust. If you can get them to recommend you, they will trust you. This is hard to do, but it’s well worth it. Advertising in the newspaper, local radio or TV station, and other local media outlets is a great way to reach potential customers. News outlets love a story about someone who had their life improved by some of these services. About 1/3 of referrals come from the kids of the aging adults. Becoming a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist is a great way to build trust and connect with like minded individuals. Running your business as a non-profit can help build trust and allow you to help people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford your services. Aging-In-Place services are easy to learn, but business skills are what make the difference between success and failure. The post Unlocking the Business Potential of Aging-In-Place Services with Pat Lund appeared first on Handyman Startup.

After interviewing Rick McFadden and Bryan Clayton on my podcast – two guys who have scaled their home services businesses, I’ve been thinking a lot about the pros and cons of hiring employees. Is it worth the effort and stress? And since I’m certain I’m not the only one, I decided to write about the topic in-depth. So, in this podcast & article, I’ll dive into the advantages and disadvantages of hiring employees vs running a solo handyman business. I’d love to hear your thoughts as well. Please comment at the bottom of this article to share your opinion. Let’s start with the advantages of each. Listen to the podcast version of this article, which includes extra content. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS042 – Should You Hire Employees or Stay Solo? The advantages of staying solo #1 – It’s Enjoyable Being a handyman is the most enjoyable job I’ve had, which is why I continue to do it. I get to work with my hands, buy new tools, build relationships with my customers, do something new every day, and customers pay me with a smile. Jobs are short, so looming stress is rare. Sure, sometimes I’m doing something repetitive or boring, or I forget an essential tool and that puts me behind schedule and stresses me out, but for the most part, it’s a great career. I certainly enjoy it more than sitting in front of a computer. #2 – It’s Healthy Providing handyman services is relatively low-stress once your business is established and you get your systems down. Stress is a big killer in America, so this isn’t a small benefit. Providing handyman services is also an active job without being too labor intensive. You get to keep moving all day without breaking your back, carrying heavy loads, digging with a jackhammer, or working in uncomfortable positions for long periods. Lowering your stress and living an active lifestyle not only makes you feel better but it lowers your chances of diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases of modernity. Then, there is the social component of the job. As social creatures, we humans need healthy relationships with others. We also need to feel needed. As a handyman, you get both of these things. Less stress, more activity, and connection with others = better health. #3 – Flexible Schedule As a solo handyman, if you need some time off, you can take it. Your business won’t crumble to pieces while you’re gone. But when you hire employees, the stakes are a bit higher. Other people are relying on you to make tough decisions and put out fires. If you get burned out, you might not have a choice to take time off. You are fully committed. In many ways, that commitment is a good thing. It will keep you motivated and help you push through challenges you otherwise wouldn’t. But that may come with a hefty dose of stress, working long hours, and burning yourself out. Of course, once you get to the point where you have good people around you managing the day-to-day of your business, then you can take more time off. But, there will inevitably be stages where taking a break isn’t optional. A solo handyman business wins regarding the flexibility of your schedule. #4 – It’s easy (relatively) Starting any business is challenging because you not only have to work hard and make good decisions, but you also have to overcome setbacks and win the mental game. However, when comparing the two, scaling a business is clearly more difficult than starting a one-person show. There is more risk, tough decisions, and pitfalls along the journey when employees are involved. As a one-person handyman business, all you have to manage is yourself and the customer’s expectations. #5 – It’s a fast path to profits and more leisure time. Once you get your solo business up and running, which can be done in a matter of months with strategic effort, you can enjoy extra free time and control over your schedule. During the first several years of scaling a business, you will likely need to work hard six or seven days a week. Working solo is also a much faster way to a six-figure income because scaling a business requires investing much of your profits into growth, meaning a longer timeline of several years before you can have a high income, and even then, it will be limited by your motivation to grow. When working solo, any business growth immediately translates to higher income. Overall, a one-person handyman business is a great career with many benefits, but let’s look at the advantages of hiring employees. The advantages of hiring employees #1 – Higher Income Potential One of the main reasons to scale a business is to make more money, and who doesn’t want to make more money? As a solo handyman, you can make a solid income of well over $100,000 per year if you dial in your marketing, pricing, and specialties. But, no matter how well you dial i

Hiring employees for your handyman business can be scary, especially if you’ve never managed employees before. That’s why I’m excited to share this interview with Rick McFadden. Rick has managed roughly 300 employees during his corporate career and owns a handyman business in Colorado with nine full-time employees. Rick has a wealth of knowledge about growing a handyman business, but in this episode, we focus primarily on hiring and managing handymen. Here’s a sample of what we discussed… The systems you need before hiring employees for a handyman business. Where to find good employees in the trades. Essential mindset shifts for going from a one-person show to hiring your first employee. The biggest challenges of hiring employees. How to keep employees motivated How to get rid of employees who aren’t a good fit. How to get more online reviews. HS041 – Interview with Rick McFadden – How to Hire and Manage Employees and scale your handyman business to the $1 Million per year level. About Rick McFadden After being laid off from his corporate job in the mortgage industry and discovering that other companies weren’t interested in hiring him, Rick decided to turn his side gig as a handyman into a full-time business. That’s when he found the online courses from Handyman Startup. He devoured the content, took notes, and worked hard. He launched Enhance Property Maintenance in January 2018, generating $108,000 in revenue in his first year. In his second year, he and his two part-time employees generated $178,000 in revenue. By the end of his third year, Rick had three full-time employees. At the time of this interview, Rick’s business employs nine full-time employees and one part-time office manager and is on track to generate over $1 Million in revenue in 2023. Not bad for only six years in business! Rick served as an artillery officer in the Marine Corps and has his MBA from the University of Illinois. Rick’s business, Enhance Property Maintenance, provides handyman, maintenance, and remodeling services in Castle Rock, Colorado (South Denver Area). They focus on showing up on time, doing great work, and leaving their customer’s homes cleaner than when they arrived. Resources Mentioned in the Podcast My ebooks and online courses Rick used to start his business EnhancePM.com (Rick’s website) ZipRecruiter (to post jobs) ADP (payroll software) No Bull Financial (Bookkeeper) Sunshine Admin Services (phone answering service) Randy Stanbury (one of Rick’s mentors) Notes and Takeaways from This Episode Expect employees to take longer on projects than you think. Rick uses Craigslist, ZipRecruiter, and networking to find employees. Hire slow and fire fast. For every three people you hire, you will find one good employee. Nobody is as good as you. Get used to it. Employees can hurt you financially and emotionally. They can hurt you financially by taking longer than you estimated and emotionally by hurting your feelings. Laying off employees can increase your unemployment rates. Provide a verbal warning, then a written warning, and then terminate if they continue not to meet expectations. Document all this and their resignation letter to avoid paying unnecessary unemployment rates. Charge enough to afford to outsource services (bookkeeping, phone answering service, payroll, etc.) Get the following systems in place before hiring (marketing, payroll, workers comp, CRM, Insurance, written procedures, phone answering services). Simply asking for reviews is the #1 most effective way to get more reviews. We talked about much more than I’ve listed here. To get more context, I recommend listening to the entire interview. The post How to Hire and Manage Employees For a Handyman Business – Interview with Rick McFadden appeared first on Handyman Startup.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bryan Clayton – founder and CEO of GreenPal. I loved this interview because Bryan breaks down some essential skills that all entrepreneurs need – whether you have your sights on growing a massive landscaping business or are happy keeping things small. Here’s a sample of what we discussed… How Bryan went from mowing lawns to growing one of the largest landscaping businesses in Tennessee. What Bryan’s most profitable services were and why (one of my favorite parts). How to maintain motivation while working toward big goals. The difference between hard work and difficult work. The best untapped resource to find ideas to grow your business. The importance of leaning on technology to save time, make more money, and “beat the pants off the competition.” HS040 – Interview with Bryan Clayton – How to go from mowing lawns to owning a $10 Million landscaping business (Then selling that business and starting a tech company). About Bryan Clayton Bryan started his landscaping business after his dad kicked him out of the house for playing too many video games. Over the next ten years, he built a small lawn-mowing business into a large company with over 150 employees and $10 Million in revenue per year. That business was called Peachtree. In 2013, he sold his landscaping business and set his sights on an even bigger undertaking – starting a tech company. He is now the co-founder and CEO of GreenPal – an online platform that connects homeowners with local lawn care pros. Both of Bryan’s companies have been tremendous successes. In fact, GreenPal now serves over 200,000 active users. This kind of success if unusual for an entirely self-funded startup. Bryan is passionate about helping other entrepreneurs succeed, which is why he was so gracious with his time by joining me on this podcast. What is GreenPal? GreenPal is like Uber for getting your lawn mowed. It solves the headache of finding reliable lawn care companies for homeowners while making it easier for small landscaping companies to run their businesses. From the homeowner’s perspective, it makes getting your lawn mowed as easy as a few clicks of a button. You submit a job request and then receive several bids (usually five within 24 hours). You can view the business’s reliability rating and reviews and choose which company you want to go with. You then schedule jobs and pay through the GreenPal platform – no need to deal with the contractor directly. From the contractor’s perspective, you can bid on jobs like you would with Angie Leads or Thumbtack, with a couple of key differences. First, you don’t pay for the lead. You pay a percentage of the job if you get it. Additionally, with GreenPal, you can’t take your leads off the platform. You must maintain that customer through the GreenPal platform using their payment and scheduling systems. GreenPal handles all of the scheduling, billing, marketing automation, and more. This is perfect for the contractor who hates dealing with paperwork or creating systems and just wants to mow lawns. However, GreenPal is NOT a good fit for a bigger contractor with their own systems in place for communicating, billing, and scheduling jobs. Resources Mentioned in the Podcast The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People GreenPal.com Bryan’s Instagram: @BryanMClayton Notes on motivation: Bryan mentioned that he wasn’t great at sports and wasn’t the cool kid in high school, but he had a fire in his belly to grow a huge landscaping company. According to Bryan, this was essential. Always start with the end in mind (10 years from now) and work backward from there. Where do you want to be in ten years, and how will your business be a vehicle to get you there? Set small, challenging (but achievable) goals and celebrate them like big victories. Manage your psychology by managing your expectations. You can succeed and still feel unsuccessful if your expectations are too high. Notes on growing a business: Focus time working on your business, not just in your business. Otherwise, you will find yourself in the same place ten years from now. Think like a tech company to “beat the pants off of the competition,” make your life easier, and make more money. Growing a business unfolds like a video game. You start on level one, and at any given moment, your only goal is to get to the next level. What does the next level look like and what do you need to get there? Don’t solve “bowser problems” when you are on level one or two. Getting to the first million is revenue is far more difficult than going from one million to ten million. Business gets easier and more fun once you get past the first million or two. At that point you become more of an allocator of capital. The post How to Grow a $10 Million Landscaping Business with Bryan Clayton appeared first on

After ten years of estimating handyman jobs, I’ve learned a few tricks. And in this article, I will share everything you need to know to estimate jobs quickly and accurately. Whether you are looking for helpful estimating tips that will make you more money or just a free template you can use for your first estimate, I’ve got you covered. Let’s get started. Contents: Why estimating is so important How to estimate handyman jobs How to create and send a handyman estimate What to include in a handyman estimate Do you always need an estimate? Free handyman estimate template Five tips for more profitable estimates Listen to the podcast version of this article, which includes extra content and tips. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS039 – Estimating Handyman Jobs – Proven Tips for Boosting Income Why estimating handyman jobs is so important. The decision about how much to charge is where your profits are made or lost. If you underestimate a project, you lose money and waste time. Overestimating is preferable, but can lead to losing customers. When you compare how much time you spend estimating a project to how much time you spend performing the labor, estimating takes up a relatively small amount of your time. But, your decision in these short minutes (or even seconds) will impact your profitability for the entire job. A small mistake can cost you hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars. So it’s essential to give this process the respect and attention it deserves. How to estimate handyman jobs (step-by-step) You can use several methods to estimate a home improvement or repair. One example is seen with painters or flooring installers, who often create estimates based on a project’s square footage or yardage. Another example is seen with companies that charge flat rates for projects. A lawn care company may charge $35 per week for a mow-and-blow, or an electrician may charge $250 to wall mount a TV. However, as a handyman, it rarely makes sense to copy these estimating strategies. Instead, it’s usually best to stick with good old T&M (time and materials), especially when first starting. T&M is when you simply estimate how long a project will take you, multiply that by your rates, and then add on the material costs. Basing your estimates on time and materials is the best way to ensure you make a profit and avoid undercharging, especially when estimating your first few jobs. If you ask pro handymen on online forums about how they charge, most experienced pros will say that charging by the hour is a terrible idea and you can make more money with a flat rate or quoting each job. But those pros have been in business for years and have estimated hundreds of projects. Most have forgotten what it’s like to be a beginner, so don’t listen to them. There’s nothing wrong with charging based on time. Most of the pros I consult with make more money using T&M to esimate. Put simply, unless you specialize or have loads of experience, stick with T&M. As you gain more experience, you can utilize other methods. Here’s how to estimate handyman jobs based on time and materials, step-by-step. Step #1 – Assess the project The first step is to thoroughly understand what the project entails. You’ll want to learn things like: What exactly needs to be done? What materials will you need? Is the project area easy to access? Is there anything that could go wrong or be more challenging once you get into the project? Is the customer going to be difficult to deal with? Assessing the project may require a visit to the customer’s home. If you’ve never done a given project before, or if you’re just starting your handyman business, then seeing the project in person is essential to creating an accurate estimate. However, once you gain experience, you may feel comfortable estimating based on pictures sent by the customer or asking the customer some questions. This is how I quote every job now, and I never give in-person free quotes because they eat into my profits. Step #2 – Calculate the cost of labor Once you have a clear picture of what needs to be done, the next step is to figure out how much you will charge for the labor portion of the project. Pro Tip Understanding how much you must charge per hour (or per day) to generate a profit is essential before submitting your first estimate to a customer. Read this article to learn how to do that. Assuming you know how much you need to charge for your time, here’s how to calculate the labor portion of your estimate: Break the project down into steps and write down each step. Visualize yourself completing each step and write down a time estimate for each step. Add up the time (include time for shopping, setup, and cleanup). Multiply the total time by your rates to get your labor. Then DOUBLE it. Why double it? Because of the little quirk in human psychology

As I’ve said before, there are several ways to start a profitable handyman business. And while starting your business from scratch is typically the most profitable route, I’d be doing my readers and listeners a disservice if I didn’t explore the idea of handyman franchises. That’s why when a representative of Ace Handyman Services asked if I’d like to interview Colette Bell – VP of franchise development for Ace Handyman Services, I jumped at the opportunity. I immediately saw it as a chance to dig deeper into the costs, benefits, and profitability of becoming a franchisee. Then, when the interview finally came, I was not disappointed. Colette was very generous with her knowledge and time. She was also transparent, even sharing details about how much Ace Handyman Services franchise owners make in profit. And beyond the franchise information, Colette shares some best practices and strategies for any handyman business. So, even if you have zero interest in investing in a handyman franchise, I know you’ll find this interview insightful and motivating. I highly recommend giving it a listen. HS038 – Colette Bell of Ace Handyman Services: The Costs, Benefits, and Expected Profit of Investing in a Handyman Franchise About Colette Bell Colette is the VP of Franchise Development for Ace Handyman Services, a nationwide handyman franchise. Colette has over 20 years of experience in the handyman business. For 18 years, she was the chairman and co-owner of Handyman Matters (a large handyman franchise) and grew that business from scratch with her husband, Andy Bell. In 2019, Handyman Matters was acquired by Ace Hardware and rebranded as Ace Handyman Services, which (at the time of recording this interview) has 378 territories in 46 states. Colette is a wealth of knowledge about the handyman business, and I’m excited to have her on the show. What are the benefits of an Ace Handyman Services franchise? One of my focuses for this interview was to better understand what a handyman franchise can bring to the table. Here is a summary of what Colette mentioned in the interview (which you can listen to toward the top of this page). Consolidation of Power – Having 378 franchises can bring some negotiation firepower because of the volume. She gave the example of getting better prices on software, but I can see how this could be helpful in many other areas. Consolidation of Knowledge – Colette explained that one of the franchise’s job is to continue improving systems and roll them out to the territories. While doing this, they benefit from learning from all of their franchisees. So instead of only learning from one business’s mistakes and successes, they can learn from hundreds of businesses to help them make better decisions. Keeping operating expenses low while expanding – Colette explained that one of the challenges of scaling a handyman business is that operating costs can balloon as well, but with Ace Handyman Services systems and software, these costs are limited – allowing a business to scale with lower costs. Emotional Support – Running a business can be lonely. With Ace Handyman Services, you have access to a dedicated business coach you can reach out to for counseling and advice. There are also regional groups where business owners get to meet with each other and discuss problems and opportunities. A Large women owners group – This can be a big plus for women looking to get into the home repair industry. A large group of Vets – Colette mentioned that many veterans get involved with the franchise. How much does an ace handyman services owner make? One of the main things I was interested in during the interview was how much an Ace Handyman Services owner can expect to make. And as you may expect, the answer to that is more complicated than just giving a number. The region someone operates in, how many territories a franchisee owns, how long a territory has been operating, and the effectiveness of the franchise owner are just some of the factors that can influence the bottom line. But Collete was able to provide some numbers. She mentioned that the top 20 franchisees average roughly $852,000 in revenue and operate at about 22% profit. Once you remove about 6% of that profit for the franchise royalty fee and an additional 2% for the national marketing fund, a franchisee can expect profit to be 14% of total revenue. So, if we multiply $852,000 by 14%, you get $119,280. So, the top twenty Ace Handyman Franchise owners generate an average profit of about $120K. To put that into further context, some of these franchisees also collect a paycheck so that profit is in addition to what they pay themselves. Also, some of these franchisees have multiple territories, further complicating things. While this still doesn’t fully answer how much you can expect to make, it provides insight into the upside of becoming a handyman franchis

Unexpected challenges and setbacks are unavoidable when growing a business, and if not managed properly, can really fuck up your progress. One day you might feel on top of the world, then BAM, a customer gives you a bad review, you lose a job you quoted, and you find out that your sales are dropping. Or, maybe you are just starting your business, and your enthusiasm gets squashed by realizing there is a LOT more competition than expected. There are endless ways that setbacks can hit, but when these inevitable bad days happen, they can crush your spirit and leave you anxious and stressed. They’ll have you questioning yourself and your abilities and, in many cases, lead you to give up. Overcoming setbacks is one of the two things that make growing a business hard (the other one is showing up to do the work consistently). And, if you can learn how to overcome setbacks without letting them destroy your confidence, motivation, and momentum, then you are infinitely more likely to succeed. The Reality of Setbacks Setbacks are unavoidable in business and life. Period. I don’t care if your name is Elon Musk or Michael Jordan, you’re going to go through some shit at some point, and it will challenge your resolve. No amount of worrying, planning, list-making, mentoring, researching, practicing, investing, or experience will allow you to escape this reality of being alive. Life is fun and interesting, and sometimes it’s really hard. My purpose in highlighting this is not to be pessimistic. In fact, I find it liberating and motivating. It reminds me that I’m not the only one who hasn’t figured it all out. I’m not the only one who loses sleep when my income drops for a couple of months, when a marketing strategy that I relied on stops working, or when new competition enters the arena making my life harder. Embracing this reality is one of the things that helps me get through the struggle. It also allows me to turn my head toward dealing with the setbacks when they happen instead of beating myself up, bathing in anxiety, and spiraling downward. How to Overcome Setbacks and Unexpected Challenges Once you accept that they are inevitable, the obvious next step is to learn how to work through them. I’m 99% certain that there is no way to completely avoid the negative emotions and painful experiences of setbacks. They will always suck to a certain degree. However, I’m equally sure that how you process negative emotions that arise will determine the duration, intensity, and impact they have on you and your business. I’ve found that failing to process my struggles in a somewhat structured way will prolong the suffering, cause me to lose sleep, and lead to poor decisions that hurt myself or others. In the past, I’ve let setbacks destroy my peace of mind and productivity, but over time, I’ve learned strategies for overcoming them so I can move on within minutes or hours instead of days or weeks. So, in this podcast episode, I wanted to share strategies I’ve found effective for dealing with these mental struggles. I hope you find them helpful. Mastering the mental game of business is essential to your success. Listen to the full podcast to learn eight strategies for overcoming setbacks faster and while taking less damage. HS037 – Overcoming The Setbacks of Growing a Business Books Mentioned in This Podcast The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Persig (I recommend the audiobook) The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess by Caroline Leaf (useful journaling practice) The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh The post Overcoming Setbacks – Mastering the Mental Game of Business appeared first on Handyman Startup.

Few business mistakes are worse (or more common) than consistently undercharging. You’ve done all of the work to get the customer, they hired you, and then you did more work to complete the project for them. The only problem is that you don’t make enough money to justify the time and effort if you undercharge. You waste your time, and you don’t get that time back. Undercharging makes investing in growing your business, buying better tools, improving your marketing, and having free time to relax nearly impossible. It destroys all the fun and forces you to grind. Every. Single. Day. Even worse, undercharging can cause you to build a clientele based on having low prices, making it even more difficult to raise your rates in the future. The truth is that pricing your services is hard, and there are many pitfalls that are easy to fall victim to. So, in this podcast, I discuss nine pricing pitfalls that are guaranteed to kill your profits and enjoyment in this business IF you fall victim to them. I hope that by sharing these mistakes, I can help you avoid making some of them and, in turn, make more money. HS036 – 9 Pricing Pitfalls That Destroy Profits and Fun Pricing mistakes are common, and you’ll never avoid them completely, but you can avoid many of them most of the time and, in doing so, make more money and have more fun. Like, a LOT more money. Listen to the full podcast to learn what they are. The content in this podcast is taken from my handyman pricing course: “$100K Handyman Pricing.” If you find this helpful and want to learn how to price your services to maximize profits and customer satisfaction, I recommend checking that out. If you like this podcast, you’ll enjoy my article on how I lost over $52,000 by undercharging. The post Pricing Pitfalls – Nine Ways Handymen Leave Money on the Table appeared first on Handyman Startup.

Handymen are well known for their “big or small, we do it all” approach, offering a wide range of services. Many view us as “jacks of all trades, and masters of none.” And this generalist approach has its benefits. You need fewer customers to keep your schedule full, every day is different, and you get to build close relationships with clients. There’s also built-in job security when you can handle a wide variety of projects. However, from a purely business standpoint, it can be significantly more profitable and enjoyable to specialize and limit the services you provide. So in the rest of this article, I will explore the benefits of specializing and compare that to the typical MO of a pro handyman. You’ll find this concept motivating and intriguing, even if you enjoy being a generalist. Listen to the podcast version of this article, which includes extra content. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS035 – Make Your Business More Profitable By Specializing What does it mean to specialize? In most cases, it means you focus on one specific trade, such as plumbing, electrical, or HVAC. Most licensed contractors are specialists. However, you can specialize even further. For example, an electrician can specialize in home theater installation. A plumber can specialize in unclogging drains or emergency services. A carpenter can specialize in custom door installation or building decks. A handyman can specialize in power washing. With the internet now connecting you to virtually endless people, it’s possible to specialize in a very specific niche and still keep your schedule full. For example, I once met a guy who specialized in trampoline assembly and was making a killing. Here’s a picture of the work truck of a guy who specializes in picking up dog poop. The options are endless when it comes to services you can specialize in. Do you have to limit yourself to that one service? No, not necessarily. Even if you offer a wide range of handyman services, it’s beneficial to choose one or two services to get good at and then promote those to customers. The benefits of specializing Benefit #1 – Expert Positioning When you specialize, you automatically position yourself as an expert, which is helpful for marketing. Being seen as an expert builds trust and helps you stand out. This is especially true when trying to attract wealthy clients. They often have refined tastes and aren’t looking for some weekend handyman who can “probably figure it out.” They want somebody that’s like, “This is what I do!” They want an expert. For example, one of the services I specialize in is TV wall mount installation, and it’s one of the primary services I promote to gain new clients. Simply promoting this service has positioned me as an expert. The funny thing is that customers who hire me to hang a TV will often ask me if I do anything else. I love when I hear this because I know that my marketing worked. Although I am a handyman and do all kinds of services, they see me as a TV wall mounting expert. Most handy people can wall-mount TVs, but customers hire me more often because I’ve chosen to promote it as my specialty. Benefit #2 – Higher Income Potential By specializing, you can make more money in less time. This is true for a few reasons. Customers are willing to pay more for an expert. That’s because hiring an expert implies more certainty that the job will be done well. It’s a form of insurance. Additionally, customers often assume the job will be done better when a specialist is at hand. You become more proficient, allowing you to complete a project in less time and often with higher quality. This is especially important in a competitive area because it will enable you to make more money without raising your prices. You can package your services in more profitable ways. For example, instead of charging based on time, you can charge flat rates. You can also create packages, upsells, and even recurring services. There are all kinds of creative ways to package your services, and specializing gives you the time and focus to develop and test different offerings. You can avoid free quotes, which is an insidious practice that eats into your profits. Of course, you can do all of these things without specializing in one service, but it’s more complex. You only have so much time and mental energy, after all. The simplicity of specializing allows you to get more creative. Benefit #3 – Higher Conversions Whether you are marketing with craigslist, your website, or Thumbtack, you will have higher conversions if you specialize. That means a higher percentage of people that see your ads will contact you. By promoting your specialty instead of general “handyman services,” you stand out from other handymen. Example: Let’s say a customer is looking for a fence repair on Craigslist.

The handyman business is surprisingly versatile. While many outsiders assume that all handymen businesses are identical, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Since starting my business over ten years ago, I’ve seen a wide array of business models in this industry and had the opportunity to speak with several handymen who have carved out interesting (and profitable) niches for themselves. Each model has some unique benefits and, of course, some disadvantages. Some are more profitable. Some are easier to set up. Some require minimal experience. And some of them might even surprise you. In this article, I’ll provide insight into each business model so you can pick the one that works the best for your goals, skills, and lifestyle. Listen to the podcast version of this article, which includes extra content and insights. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS034 – 7 Profitable Handyman Business Models #1 – The “Do It All” Handyman When I say do it all, I mean everything. I once spoke with a contractor from Atlanta who prides himself on serving all of the customer’s home needs. It doesn’t matter what it is. Whether it’s plumbing, electrical, bathroom remodels, a leaky faucet, or just mowing the lawn. His “We do it all” approach aims to provide the customer with the benefit of never having to call another contractor or handyman. That means he keeps them in his little web. This model often cashes in on bigger jobs like remodels and additions by providing small repairs and maintenance at very little or no charge. Although this was more common in the past, it’s rare now due to complexity and contracting laws. To pull this business model off legally in most states, you’d need to have dozens of different trade licenses, which would take decades to acquire for a single person. Of course, many people still do it; they just aren’t following the contracting laws 100%. Additionally, as homes get more advanced, many improvements require specialized knowledge to offer the highest quality products and services. Since it’s impossible to be an expert at everything, the quality of work will likely suffer with this model. But there are some advantages. The biggest one is that you’d have to invest far less in marketing because you can stay busy with just a few clients. So if you have an aversion to marketing, this might be a decent model for you. There’s also a lot of variety in the projects you take on, and you practically become family to those you serve. However, this model gets a big thumbs down from me. Other than the issues I mentioned, it’s far too complex and challenging to streamline with no added profit advantage. Plus, if I operated this way, I’d have to offer many services I hate providing to get the jobs I want. While this can be a profitable and enjoyable way to run a home repair business, it’s not my favorite. #2 – The To-Do List Handyman I didn’t know about this unique handyman business model until I interviewed Jim Copenhaver from Chicago. Since, I’ve tried it in my own business with success and have helped many others take this approach. This model takes advantage of the opportunities created by our overly busy lives. Busy working parents don’t have the time (or skills) to take care of simple repairs and maintenance, wealthy people simply don’t want to, and the elderly can’t or don’t want to either. The type of work with this model usually includes hanging pictures, small painting projects, hanging shelves, adjusting doors, furniture assembly, and countless other small things that homeowners don’t get around to. Since this model only requires basic handyman skills, the barrier of entry is pretty low from a skill perspective. A handy teenager could easily start this type of business. I’m a big fan of this business model. Even though there are more profitable models out there, this is a low-stress, simple, and reliable way to build a handyman business. It’s also easier on your body than many other models since you are doing a wide variety of small projects instead of repetitive and labor-intensive big projects. Of course, there are downsides as well. The work is often not very challenging and can be tedious at times. Secondly, while you can make a solid six-figure income doing these types of services, there are more profitable models out there (I’ll talk about those next). Making this business model work requires just four ingredients: Good customer service and communication Attention to detail Good marketing to attract customers who are willing to pay higher rates for convenience and service. The right pricing model. #3 The Specialist Don’t assume that to start a handyman business you have to do everything. In many cases, it can be more profitable to specialize. For example, you can start a business jus

Naming a handyman business can be challenging since so many names have already been taken. I remember struggling for weeks to lock down a name that was professional and memorable when starting my business. However, in this article, I’ll share a quick and easy way to generate a unique and professional name for your new handyman business. I’ll also share some great examples. This process has helped thousands of people worldwide, so you’ve found the right place. Let’s start with some examples… Now, listen to the podcast version of this article, which includes extra content. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS033 – Finding the Perfect Name for Your Handyman Business Contents 50+ handyman business name examples Best practices when naming your business How to come up with the perfect name Legal considerations when naming a handyman business 50+ Handyman Business Name Examples Catchy Handyman Business Name Ideas Handyman From Mars Odd Job Bob Mr. Handy Hands Punch-list Handyman Extra Hand Handyman Fix-It Professor Mr. Fix All Honey-Do Handyman HandyPro Home Services The House Dr. Mr. Handy Hands Handy Dan Blue Bear Home Repair Creative Names for a Handyman Business Oak Tree Handyman Silver and Blue Handyman Sunset Hills Handyman Wolfpack Handyman Blue Sky Home Repairs Whispering Oaks Handyman Cactus Jack Home Repair Franchise Handyman Business Names Mr. Handyman Handyman Connection Handyman Matters The Honey-Do Service House Doctors Handyman Services Andy OnCall Maintenance Made Simple Odd Job Bob Home Fixology Handy Pro Handyman Service Handyman Network Yellow Van Handyman Home Task Handyman Services Clever Business Names for Handyman Himalayan Handyman Medieval Home Solutions Odd Job Home Services TV Mounting Experts Smart Home Maintenance Rocky Mountain Home Repair Sierra Home Solutions Rowdy Creek Home Maintenance Professional Handyman Business Names Diamond Home Services Perry Construction Premiere Door and Window Paramount Builders Credible Construction More Handyman Business Name Ideas Kalamazoo Home Repair UpKeep Home Maintenance All Pro Fix It Handyman Service Professional Perfectionist Handyman DNA Handyman Copper Creek Handyman Overhaul Handyman 1st Service Handyman Harmony Improvements All Service Home Repair High-End Handyman Services Welcome Home Handyman The Handy Bee All American Handyman Power Pro Handyman To-Do List Handyman What a Useful Guy Gold Star Handyman Handyman Repair Guy JHJ Handyman Highlands Home Solutions Trinity River Handyman Long List Handyman Tips and best practices for choosing the perfect name As you can see in the example above, handyman business names range from creative and catchy to direct and to the point. In many cases, pros will simply name their business after themselves. Mike’s Handyman Services or Paul Jones Home Repair are two examples. Regardless of the route you take, here are some essential things to keep in mind, so you avoid common naming mistakes and come up with a great name that helps, instead of hurts, your marketing efforts. #1 – Pick a name that is easy to say and spell. If people can’t pronounce your business name, it will be more difficult for them to recommend you to others. Not only will your name be less memorable, but people also don’t like to sound dumb, so they’ll just avoid saying your business name. Additionally, if your business name is hard to spell, it can confuse customers searching for your business online. Since online marketing is the most effective way to attract customers, having a name that is easy to spell can make a big difference in your marketing efforts. #2 – Pick a unique or catchy name (sometimes). If you plan on eventually scaling your handyman business into a nationally recognized brand, then choose a unique and catchy name. You want your business name to stick in your customers’ heads and be memorable. Odd Job Bob is a great example from above that does this well. Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Apple, and Zoom are examples of large-cap companies that did this well. However, I don’t recommend modeling your name after these large tech companies because you won’t have the marketing budget to build brand recognition as they have. And that leads me to the third tip. Pro Tip If you never plan to hire employees, then having a memorable name is far less important. You’d be better off just being direct and to the point, or even naming your business after yourself. #3 – Your business name should tell people what services you offer. Being catchy or memorable is great for big businesses with a worldwide audience. But for a local handyman business, it’s typically better to simply communicate what you do with your name. You’ll never have the marketing budget to gain the recognition that bigger brands have. Catchy names may just confuse your potential customers unless the name also indicates what services you provid

The handyman business is a perfect side hustle. The overhead is low, and it only takes a few hours per week to generate a profit as long as you charge enough for your services. So in this article, I’m going to break down the numbers to show you exactly how much you would need to charge to make an extra one thousand big ones each month while only working five hours per week total. If you’re starting your business while working full-time, this is a great initial goal to have because if you can accomplish it, then you have a proven formula for a six-figure income as a pro handyman. Plus, $1,000 extra each month is nice. You can buy all kinds of fun stuff and experiences with that much moola. Let’s dive into the math and get a realistic view of how to do this. Listen to the podcast version of this article, which includes extra content. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS032 – Make $1,000 per month in five hours per week with a part-time handyman business. How to Make $1,000 Per Month In Just 5 Hours Per Week To make $1,000 per month in just five hours per week, you’ll need to average about $95 per hour when providing services and then work about 3.5 hours per week in billable hours. That doesn’t mean you should charge by the hour, it just means you need to average that much for each hour you work. Let’s talk more about how I got to this number. The Math First, we need to figure out how many hours per month five hours per week equates to. So, let’s take 5 hrs and multiply that by 52 since there are 52 weeks in the year. Then, we’ll divide that number by 12 since there are 12 months in the year. That means that five hours per week is 21.7 hours per month. Now, many people might be tempted just to take $1,000 and divide it by 21.7, but it’s not that easy. If you did this, you would get ~$46 per hour. But if you charge that much, you’d actually make much less than $1,000 per month because you aren’t accounting for taxes or expenses – a mistake I see happening way too often. Just because your business generated $1,000 doesn’t mean you get to keep $1,000. I know that’s obvious to anybody who has been in business, but those who haven’t often don’t realize this. So let’s do some better math that includes these basic expenses. Since you are just operating part-time on a small scale, there’s a good chance you can keep your expenses lower than you would if you went full-time. Let’s say you already have your own tools and a vehicle you can use. At a minimum, you would still have the following expenses. Very basic expenses for a lean part-time handyman business: Liability Insurance: $70-$100 per month (optional but a good idea) Vehicle Mileage and Gas: $75 per month Tools and Supplies: $40 per month City Business License: $300 per year = $25 per month Marketing Budget: $50 per month Total Expenses: ~$260 per month. You’d also need to pay self-employment taxes – which, at the time of writing, are 15.3% of your gross profits. So assuming your expenses are $260 and you are, in fact, going to pay your taxes, how much would you need to charge? Well, the math gets slightly more complicated, so I’m not going to break it down here. I’ll just tell you. (You can go to this article to see the math.) After accounting for expenses, you’d have to charge $66.39 per hour to hit $1,000 per month in five hours per week. But…that still isn’t 100% correct. That’s because if all you have is five hours per week to dedicate to your business, then there is zero chance that you will get paid for all five hours. You’ll have to spend time driving, picking up supplies, following up with customers, quoting jobs, and doing things like accounting – all things you don’t get paid for. A good estimate is that those business admin tasks take an average of 1.5 hours per week. That only leaves 3.5 hours per week to actually make money – which is 15.2 hours per month. So if you spent a total of 21.7 hours working in your handyman business, you’d only bill customers for about 15.2 hours. Obviously, that will vary, but it’s a good estimate to start with. And, since you are working fewer hours, you’ll need to charge more to hit the $1k per month mark. After factoring in the time for various admin tasks, your rate bumps up from $66.39 to $94.78. So just to round up and keep things simple, that puts your target hourly rate at about $95 per hour. How to Make $95 Per Hour Doing Basic Handyman Services To many who read this, $95 per hour sounds like a lot, and it is. There are many handymen out there who make nowhere near that much – and as much as I try to teach them how, many still haven’t found me yet. But I assure you it is totally doable. The key to making $95 per hour isn’t just charging $95 per hour. You’d probably

Starting a business while working full-time is totally doable, and it even has some unique advantages that, if leveraged properly, can make building your business enjoyable. I’ve helped hundreds of people start their businesses while working full-time jobs, and in this guide, I’m going to share how you can do the same without over-working yourself. Here’s what I’m going to cover: Why starting your business while working full-time is advantageous, and how to leverage the benefits of your day job to accelerate your business growth. A step-by-step process for growing your business with limited time. The #1 reason people fail to start a business while working full-time. Quick Tip If you’d prefer to listen instead of reading, you can listen to the podcast at the bottom of this page. The Advantages of Starting a Business While Working Full-Time Starting a side hustle may seem daunting because you’re probably busy. You may even think you’re at a disadvantage. But there are some pretty sweet benefits. Personally, I quit my job before starting my first business. While this gave me a lot more time and energy to grow my business, it also made me realize that having a job can be a powerful tool if leveraged. So before I walk you through the process of starting step-by-step, I’ll reveal how to leverage the advantages of your job to accelerate your business growth. Advantage #1 – Cash flow The first advantage is obvious: when you have a job, you have more money! You’re forced to live off of your savings if you quit your job before starting. That means you have a tighter budget and less to invest in your business. But if you continue to collect a paycheck, you can instead use your savings to grow your business. That means you can do things like hire consultants and freelancers to help you get your business off the ground. You can also invest in online courses, mentorship, and other learning experiences to accelerate your success and make starting your business more enjoyable. This can actually help you reach your goals faster than having more time because utilizing these resources can 10x your effectiveness. Four hours of informed and guided work can easily exceed 40 hours of guesswork. I remember I had to bootstrap the whole process while starting my handyman business. Because of this, progress was slow, and I spent a lot of time learning things that I could have hired freelancers to do. So when time is short, and cash is plentiful, use that money to accelerate your business growth. This can also make the process a lot more fun. Advantage #2 – Low risk There is minimal risk involved when starting a side business. Even if you spend $10K and things don’t work out, that’s a relatively small loss. Compare that to quitting your job; you could easily blow through $10K in a couple of months on living expenses alone. If you choose a proven business model like a home repair business or another type of service business, the risk of failure is even lower. This limited risk relieves a lot of stress and pressure, allowing you to have a more zen approach to business and life. Lower stress can boost your creativity and help you grow your business more effectively. The key to keeping stress low is to be OK with slower progress. Since you have a job, you will have less time to work on your business, and it will take longer to build. Accept that fact so you don’t burn yourself out by pushing beyond your limits. Advantage #3 – Time is on your side By keeping that full-time job, you’re also relieved of the time pressure. There’s no need to stress and worry about turning a profit immediately. Because of this, you can think long-term. Instead of taking on customers or projects you don’t like because you need the money, you can afford to turn some jobs down and patiently build your business while only working for clients you enjoy. You can also focus your time on building systems and marketing that form a foundation for a profitable and enjoyable business. Of course, you can do this whether you have a job or not, but it’s far more difficult to invest in activities that will make next year more profitable when you are struggling to pay the bills today. So as you can see, there are some great advantages to starting a side hustle, and as long as you leverage these advantages, you can grow your business faster, easier, and with less stress than you can without your full-time job. How to Start a Business While Working Full-time (Step-by-Step) Step 1 – Conserve your energy. Starting a business will take energy (and lots of it), so managing this limited resource is important. Don’t assume you can pack more activities on your plate without consequences. That’s how people burn out. Since much of your energy is being taken by your current job, you’ll want to scale back your efforts. Give up the competitive-overachieve

Unfortunately, we handymen can’t just go out, buy a few tools, and start building houses. That’s illegal without a contractor’s license, and for a good reason. Without these laws in place, the quality of our homes would be seriously compromised. People with no business in construction would be scamming and endangering homeowners (more than they already do). Despite my issues with the contractor’s board, I understand that law enforcers are a necessary evil. However, many home services can still be offered without a contractor’s license. In fact, I’ve run a very profitable handyman business without one. For me, getting licensed in a trade just doesn’t make sense, at least not yet. But the real question is should you get a contractor’s license? Many of my readers have asked me this same question, and the answers I give might surprise you. Read on to learn what you should consider before studying and applying for a contractor’s license. Disclaimer: Construction law varies significantly in every country and state. Make sure to check your local regulations to help you make and informed decision. Benefits of getting a contractors license Obtaining a contractor’s license can make your business more profitable by offering a few benefits. #1 – A boost in credibility – Credibility can help to build trust with your customers. It’s important to note that there are other, arguably easier, ways to gain credibility, but any way you can position yourself as a pro rather than cheap labor is beneficial. However, I wouldn’t expect that getting a contractor’s license will bring you a significant amount of new business. You still need to do some good marketing. #2 – Ability to tackle larger projects – Having a license allows you to tackle larger and potentially more profitable jobs. Assuming you bid jobs appropriately, can sell your services, and then work efficiently, large projects such as kitchen and bath remodels can be more profitable than small repairs for several reasons. #3 – Ability to tackle certain higher-paying projects – Speciality services like plumbing, electrical, HVAC, mold remediation, and many other projects can only be provided by contractors. That means there are usually fewer qualified people able to do these services, which allows you to demand a higher rate. As an unlicensed handyman, you are offering services that anyone can do, so in many cases, there is more competition. #4 – Ability to hire subcontractors – Let’s say you were overly busy and needed to hire some help but didn’t want to bring on a permanent employee. You may consider subbing out jobs to other pros. That means you still get a chunk of the profits from each job you sell, but you don’t have to perform the labor. Having a contractor’s license allows you to do this legally. You can also hire subcontractors to help you complete parts of a project you are hired for. While these benefits make getting a license seem like a no-brainer, here are some other things to consider before deciding. How much contracting experience do you have? If you are like me when I first started, meaning you have no experience bidding jobs, then a contractor’s license is probably the wrong choice. For example, if you have never quoted a job, what are the chances that you are going to quote it accurately? Close to zero. And you’ll probably quote too low, which means you’ll lose money. Trust me on this one. I’ve bid too low on way too many jobs. In fact, I lost over 50 grand in my first year to underbidding small jobs. If I had to learn my lesson on $10,000 jobs, I’d be out of business begging for food on the streets. Regardless of how skilled at home repairs and improvements you may be, there are several business skills you must develop before quoting big jobs. And these business skills are arguably more important than your handy skills when it comes to making money. What services do you plan on providing? Before getting a license, make sure you will still be able to offer all of the services you are planning to offer. In many states, like Nevada, where I live, getting a contractor’s license can limit the services you can legally provide. For example, without a license, I can do just about anything as long as it’s under $1,000 and doesn’t include plumbing, electrical, or HVAC. This leaves a lot open. If I was to get a contractor’s license, I would technically be limited to only performing jobs within that license. Meaning if I got a carpenters license, I would no longer be able to legally offer painting, tile, drywall repair, and several other services that I occasionally provide for my customers unless I also go licensed as a general contractor or for each trade. Even a general contractor’s license would limit my services because be limited to projects that requ

When starting a small business like a handyman service, HVAC business, or other local service business, one of the first things you must do is choose between a Sole Proprietorship or an LLC for your legal business structure (aka business entity). This is an important decision because it affects how much you pay in taxes, your personal liability, and how much boring paperwork you have to deal with. Unfortunately, it can be a tough decision because most articles out there give you vague advice and speak far too generally. So in this article, I’m going to keep things specific to home-based service business, so I can make this decision easy for you. What’s the best business entity for a small service business? There are several types of business entities you can choose as your legal business structure, including Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, C Corporation, or LLC. However, only two of these make sense for 99% of local service businesses: LLC or Sole Proprietorship. Let’s talk about the differences and benefits of each. I am not an attorney or accountant, and this is not legal advice. This article is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a qualified professional when making important business decisions. Sole Proprietorship vs. LLC: A quick comparison Sole Proprietorships are great if you’re running a side business and have no employees and just want to keep things simple. They are free to set up, require no paperwork, and are simple to manage. LLCs are slightly more complicated and expensive to set up but have some advantages as your business becomes established. Generally speaking, the benefits of an LLC are that it provides more legal protection for your personal assets and potential tax savings. The downside is that an LLC is slightly more expensive and complicated to set up and maintain. What is a Sole Proprietorship? This is the most common business structure. In fact, Sole Proprietorships make up 87% of non-employer small businesses (source). Sole Proprietorships are easy to set up and provide you with complete control over your business. Many handymen, consultants, freelancers, and other small businesses choose this structure for its simplicity. Owners of a sole proprietorship are responsible for taxes on the net business income, which is taxed at individual rates on their personal tax returns. This is referred to as pass-through taxation because all of the business income simply passes onto the owner’s tax return and is added to other income the owner may have. Owners are responsible for paying self-employment taxes (social security and medicare) as with all business entities. In a sole proprietorship, the owner is generally liable for all debts and financial obligations of the business. This essentially means that your business is looked at as an extension of your person by the IRS and the law. If the business is in debt, the owner is in debt. If the business gets sued, the owner is essentially getting sued. Unlike a corporation, a sole proprietorship is NOT a separate entity. If you have employees working for you, then you are liable for any mistakes they make, so businesses with employees typically choose a different structure. Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of a Sole Proprietorship. Advantages It’s easy to set up. There is no state registration required unless you plan on using a fictitious name (any name other than your own). You do this by filing a DBA. If you work from home and use your own name for the business, you may have no startup costs at all. Much less paperwork and record keeping when compared to a corporation. Tax preparation is very straightforward and less costly when outsourced. Disadvantages Since a sole proprietorship is not a separate entity, the owner is responsible for all debts and financial obligations incurred by the business. The structure provides no legal protection for the owner’s assets. You can’t take advantage of tax-saving strategies that are available for an LLC or Corporation (more about this later). How to Setup Up a Sole Proprietorship A Sole Proprietorship is by far the easiest business entity to set up because it requires you to do nothing with the state. All you have to do is NOT form your business as an LLC or Corporation, and you will automatically be considered a Sole Proprietor. You will, however, need to obtain any local licenses or permits that are required to operate in your city. And, if you want to name your business anything other than your name, you’ll need to file a DBA with the state. What is an LLC (Limited Liability Company)? LLCs are also very popular as they provide business owners with many of the benefits of a corporation without most of the downsides. Like a corporation, an LLC can provide a financial and legal barrier for the personal assets of its members. A business owner who files under an LLC has basic liability protection from having his or her

Starting a handyman business can be profitable and fun with the right approach. I know this because I’ve been doing it for over ten years. However, it’s important to understand that a truck full of tools and some home repair skills will only get you so far. You’ll also need to learn a few business skills to build a profitable business that generates six figures per year or more. The good news is that it isn’t hard, and you don’t need employees. Here are the steps I’d take if I started from scratch today. How to Start a Handyman Business in 10 Easy Steps Define Your Skills & Services Learn the Handyman Laws in Your State Identify Your Ideal Customers Set Your Pricing Nail Your Marketing Strategy Name Your Business Register Your Business Buy Essential Tools Get Handyman Insurance Simplify operations with the right software BONUS Content How much can you make as a pro handyman? Is starting a handyman business a good idea? How can I be certain this will work for me? Step #1 – Define Your Skills & Services The first step is to evaluate your current skills and decide on the services you will provide. You may be thinking, “Don’t I need to be able to do everything?” The short answer is no; you don’t. Very few professional handymen can repair or improve everything in a home, and even those who can still don’t. You can generate large profits by offering a limited range of services. In fact, in some cases, it can be more profitable to specialize. For example, I can’t legally provide most plumbing, electrical, or HVAC services without specialty licenses in those trades where I live. Additionally, I don’t enjoy painting, so I don’t offer that service either. Yet, I still have more business than I can handle. And I’m not unique. Almost every other pro handyman I’ve spoken to (well over 1,000) avoids certain projects and gravitates toward others. So, even though it’s common for people to think of the slogan “big or small, we do it all,” that’s not required (or even ideal) for running a profitable handyman business. Additionally, think about the other handyman-like service businesses, such as garage door companies, lawn care companies, locksmiths, home security installers, masons, etc. These businesses all focus on a specific service and can be very lucrative. As a handyman, you will have a much broader range of services that will span several trades, but you can indeed get started by offering what you know how to do and grow from there. That’s how I started my handyman business, and I’m still learning new skills every day. Starting this way also allows you to acquire the necessary tools slowly. Here’s a good list of tools to start a handyman business. So, the first thing to do is list all the possible services you can offer now. To get some ideas, I recommend reading the free report below. In it, I share ten profitable handyman services you can offer without a contractor’s license, plus some insight into how much to charge. Step #2: Learn the Handyman Laws in Your State One of the best ways to ruin your day is to start a business as a handyman, only to realize later you need a contractor’s license to provide the services you want to provide. Hopefully, you don’t discover this the hard way as I did. Before you get too excited about the service list you just made, it’s time to read about your state’s contracting laws because every state is different. Find out which services you can and can’t offer without a license, or determine what license you need to provide the desired services. In most states, you won’t need a special license to provide minor repairs for profit. However, there are usually two limitations on handymen’s services without a contractor’s license. The first is a dollar limit. Most states have an upper limit for the job size. In California, the limit is $500. In Nevada, it’s $1,000. Every state is a little different (more on that below). Secondly, most states restrict unlicensed handymen from performing electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work without a specialty license in those trades. However, they typically allow handymen to change light fixtures and ceiling fans, replace toilets and faucets, and do other minor jobs that don’t alter the plumbing or wiring of the house. These restrictions may sound very restrictive, but plenty of jobs fit within those limits—more than enough to run a profitable home repair business. In fact, despite the $500 limit in California, I’ve met dozens of pro handymen who are making a killing even without a license. To learn more about the laws in your state, visit my complete guide to handyman licensing laws here. If you can’t find the information you need there, you can get a good idea of the laws in your state by going to your state’s contractors&#8217

The cost to start a profitable handyman business will usually fall somewhere between $2,000 and $6,000, depending on how much of the process you outsource vs. do yourself. However, that doesn’t mean you have to spend that much upfront. These costs can be paid over the first several months in business while you are making money. While this may seem expensive, the start-up costs for a handyman business are low compared to most businesses, especially if you already have the tools and a work vehicle. Additionally, I don’t like to think of them as costs but as investments since you are investing in a business that will bring you freedom, high income, and fulfilling work. Of course, you can start a handyman business for just a few hundred bucks, but that means you’ll be cutting corners that will cost you in the long run. Here’s a more detailed explanation of costs. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. That means I receive a small commission if you click on them and buy. This is at no additional cost to you and helps me to continue publishing free content. List of Handyman Business Start-Up Costs This list assumes that you already have a lot of the necessary tools and a work vehicle. If you don’t have either of those, then the cost will be significantly higher, of course. Business Licensing: $100-$1,000 This expense will vary depending on the city and state in which you plan to run your business, the business structure you choose (LLC, S Corp, or Sole Proprietor), and whether or not you pay somebody to help you submit the forms. If you go with an LLC and file the forms yourself, expect to spend about $400-$500 here. However, that is the cost for filing with the state, you’ll also need to consider other business licenses such as a city business license. But, those are usually less expensive and should only be around $100-200 for each city you plan to work in. Contractor’s License (optional in most situations): $0 – $1,000 In most states, you won’t need a contractor’s license to start offering home repairs. However, if you want to tackle large projects such as kitchen or bath remodels and don’t want to be limited to only small repairs, then a contractor’s license is usually necessary. The cost to obtain that license can vary significantly depending on where you live and other factors. This is something you’ll want to look into for your state. Liability Insurance: $30 – $200 per month Getting general liability insurance as a pro handyman isn’t required by law unless you have a contractor’s license, but it’s still a good idea and something I recommend. Here’s a guide to getting the right coverage at the right price. Tools and Equipment: $0 – $3,000 Typical handyman services only require basic hand tools and a few power tools. Usually, no expensive specialized equipment is necessary. If you already have most of the essential handyman tools, this will be a small expense. However, if you possess very few tools, then you’ll obviously spend more. Either way, it’s best to avoid throwing a bunch of money at fancy tools during the first few months. Instead, buy tools as you need them. Software: $0 – $75 There are two types of software most handymen will need: accounting software and estimating software. There are excellent free options for both, as I mention here. However, these are usually “freemium” models where you will have to pay for certain optional features. Logo Design: $0 – $1,000 You can design your own or have a pro do it for you. I’d recommend the latter. Crowdsourcing your handyman logo is probably the easiest way to get a great logo designed for about $500. But in a pinch, you could use a service like Fiverr to get one for much cheaper. Build a Website: $200 – $8,000 If you build your own website (easier than you think), you can save a LOT of money here. To have a decent website designed by a professional will usually cost a few grand. If you hire somebody who can both design and understands marketing, you can easily pay $8,000 or more. Or, you can go through my Handyman Marketing Machine course and learn how to do it yourself the right way, so your website actually generates leads for you. Uniforms: $100 – $500 Investing in a professional uniform (which can be as simple as a nice polo shirt with your logo on it) will help you build trust with customers and sell your services. This is obviously not required but will make a big difference in how customers perceive you and, therefore, how much they will pay for your services. Business Cards: $20-$100 You can get 100 basic cards for just under $20, or you can get nicer cards and spend considerably more. Truck Decals: $0 – $3,000 Branding your work vehicle is a great way to look more professional and get your name out there. I spent about $250 and applied them myself. But if you d

Having a career as a pro handyman can be surprisingly lucrative. For example, I currently average over $100 per hour doing basic home repairs and often make over $150 per hour. And I’m not special. Many of my students make more than this and easily generate a six-figure income each year. How do we do it? I explain how in this step-by-step guide here, but for now, let’s focus on how much an average handyman makes each year to get a good idea of how much you can make as a handyman. Contents What is the average handyman’s salary? What is the average income for a self-employed handyman? How much can you make as a self-employed handyman? Employee vs. Self-Employed handyman. Which is more lucrative? How much is health insurance for a self-employed handyman? Average handyman salaries I hunted for relevant stats regarding handyman salaries. Here are the important ones I dug up: According to Zip Recruiter: The annual salary for a pro handyman in the U.S. ranges from $29,000 to $75,500. The national average annual income for a handyman is $53,009 ($25/hour). 71% of handymen make between $42,000 and $63,500. Here are a few handyman-type careers and their annual median pay in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics: Construction laborers and helpers: $39,520 General maintenance and repair workers: $44,980 Carpenters: $51,390 Plumbers: $60,090 Electricians: $60,240 Construction managers: $101,480 Construction and building inspectors: $64,480 Figure 1: National Average Salary For Handyman-Type Jobs   Again, these numbers are the median. Some handyman workers make more, and others make less. A highly skilled handyman with a decade of experience will make more than someone less experienced or knowledgeable. Location plays a significant role in how much you can make as well. To get a better estimate of potential income in your specific area, check out a website like Zip Recruiter. As you can see from the numbers above, employed handymen tend to make more than construction helpers, but neither is rolling in cash. Plumbers and electricians make quite a bit more, but if you want to make six figures in this industry as an employee, your best bet is to land a job as a construction manager. Now, let’s look at how much you can make with a handyman business because this is much more fun and interesting. How much can you make as a self-employed handyman? The average self-employed handyman can earn between $53,000 and $120,000 annually (after expenses). This is for a handyman working solo with no employees. So, if you’re wondering if the handyman business is profitable, the answer is YES. Operating a handyman business can be pretty lucrative if you set up your business correctly and provide excellent service. Take a look at this table, which I’ve created to estimate your potential income as a self-employed handyman based on how much you charge and how many billable hours you work each week. Table 1: Estimated Self-Employed Handyman Income Table 1 is based on the following assumptions: $7,622 yearly fixed overhead expenses, $6.50 per billable hour for variable costs (gas, vehicle, supplies, and tools), self-employment taxes of 7.65% already paid from net earnings, 49 weeks per year worked. This table represents actual income. Typical handyman business expenses (insurance, licensing, tools, marketing, etc.) and self-employment taxes are already factored into the equation. This means it provides a near apples-to-apples comparison with an employee’s salary. As you can see from the table, two main variables will affect your yearly income as a pro handyman: Your rates (how much you generate per billable hour, regardless of whether you charge by the hour). The number of billable hours worked per week. Of course, other things will also affect your income, such as expense variations, but these tend to be similar for most self-employed handyman businesses. Since I’ve been nerding out about the handyman business for nearly a decade, I can estimate typical expenses with enough precision to be valid. How much can you expect to make, given your unique circumstances? To answer this question, you’ll need to estimate your rates and how many hours you will bill for, on average, each week. Here’s one way to figure that out. Estimating your self-employed Handyman rates As I demonstrated in my article about setting handyman hourly rates, pro handymen in the U.S. average between $40 to $139 per hour, with the majority charging $60 to $90 per hour. That’s a decent range, and what you can charge will depend on where you live, the services you provide, and how good you are at what you do (just like for employees). However, as a business owner, your income will also be affected by your business skills. If you learn how to market your business effectively, sell your services, and manage yourself and your expenses well, it will dramatically impact your profits and income.

I used to wake up every day with one single question on my mind… “How many days are left until the weekend?” I was counting down the days because, like millions of people, I hated my 9-5 job. And this wasn’t just a mild dislike. I truly, deep down, despised almost everything about it. Waking up each day and realizing I had to go to work was torture. I felt my stomach drop every Sunday when I realized Monday would soon be here. But since I’m not a trust fund baby, I needed that money. So I stuck it out. That was in 2011. Today is a completely different story. Now, I like my work (most of the time). I enjoy the freedom and free time that comes with owning a business. I haven’t used an alarm clock in years, and every Wednesday, I go mountain biking, snowboarding, or golfing. I work fewer hours, enjoy that work more, and make more money. But I had to learn a few lessons to get to this point. A lot, actually. It turns out that many of my assumptions about starting and running a business were completely wrong. One of my biggest lessons came from having to wade through all of the get-rich-quick schemes. Everywhere I looked, someone was revealing a “secret” strategy for making easy money online or generating passive income with real estate. The people sharing this information made it look like they are living the dream because they figured out some secret you don’t know and that once you pay for them to reveal that secret, money will fall into your lap. SPOILER ALERT: If it were that easy, everybody would do it! But thankfully, there is a reliable way to escape your day job. And in this article, my goal is to help you see through that bullshit, so you can actually start a business and eventually quit your job, and do it all without risking your savings or overworking yourself. Let’s start with a few major success-killing mistakes to avoid so you can one day give your boss the finger. Avoid “Winner-Take-All” Businesses I’ve been reading Nassim Taleb a lot lately, which seems to be helping me avoid stupid mistakes in life. That seems to be essential to succeed in business these days. It’s not necessarily about being smart. It’s about NOT being what Taleb calls a “sucker.” And one of the biggest sucker moves is to start a business where the odds are stacked against you so heavily that you only have a sliver of a chance to succeed. So what is “winner-take-all”? It’s characterized by any business or event where only a small percentage of people enjoy the lion’s share of the rewards while everyone settles for peanuts. Take the book publishing industry, for example. A few dozen authors sell millions of books, while 98% of books and authors only sell a few hundred copies (if any). Or look at the tech industry, where you have a few companies that dominate the market. Take Amazon, for example. It’s long been, by far, the largest bookseller on earth. Now, it continues to disrupt entire industries and accounts for 38% of e-commerce spending in 2023. Amazon is a giant among ants. The same phenomenon applies to anything where a small advantage produces disproportionate results. And more often than not, that advantage has to do with luck and circumstance. No matter how skilled you are, how prepared you are, or how hard you work, you still need a healthy dose of luck to win in an industry that is “winner-take-all.” Sure, Jeff Bezos is a smart dude, but plenty of others are just as smart and creative. They just didn’t win the business lottery. Winners like Jeff get to buy giant yachts while other smart, hard-working, and very talented losers go get a job. So you want to start an internet business? Create the next big app? Or, get a patent on some great idea you have for an invention? I wish you the best of luck. But if you want to guarantee your freedom in the next year, those are all terrible choices. Sure, you may have recently heard a story of another guy getting rich from the app store. But what about the other ten thousand people who spent thirty grand to have their app developed and didn’t even make their money back? You didn’t hear about them because they’re not all over Instagram sharing how to get rich by creating apps. They’re stuck in a day job trying to piece together their confidence. Unfortunately, seeing things clearly is hard when you only hear about the winners. Avoid “Passive Income” Opportunities There’s no shortage of experts out there teaching you how to make easy money, whether that is through real estate, YouTube, online courses, selling through Amazon, or becoming a social media influencer. These can all be amazing ways to create freedom in your life. Even though there are some “winner-take-all” effects in these businesses, the odds are actually pretty good if you stick it out long enough. But there’s

“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” – Unknown Fear nearly stopped me from starting my business and made me want to give up along the journey several times. One of my biggest fears was related to fixing someone else’s property. I had the confidence to fix just about anything in my own home. Yet, the idea of fixing another person’s home (and charging them money to do it) was a completely different animal. It was a scary thought. What if I made a mistake or broke something I couldn’t fix? What if they asked me to do something and I didn’t know how? What would I say? What if I wasn’t fast enough or the level of quality wasn’t high enough? What if I got over my head on a project? I know I’m not alone with these fears because I’ve received dozens of e-mails from other aspiring handymen who are concerned with the same scenarios. That’s why in this article, I’m breaking down the most common fears and providing you with the strategies and perspectives to overcome them so you can start building a thriving business. Fear #1 – Looking stupid What if a customer asks you to do something and you don’t know how to do it? What if it’s something you are “supposed” to know as a handyman? Solution 1 – Understand that you don’t need to know everything. I know I didn’t when I first started, and I still don’t a full decade later. In fact, I gained most of my home repair experience while growing my handyman business. And I can still remember one of the first quotes I gave to a customer. The customer’s six-foot wood fence had blown over in the wind, and a fence post was broken. You can say I was NOT a fence repair expert. I had never fixed a fence before. I had never built a fence before. I didn’t even know fence posts were set in concrete. So here’s what I did. First, I told the customer I’d be happy to come out and provide a quote. She said, “OK.” When I got there, I looked over the situation thoroughly, took some pictures and measurements, let her know that I’d get back to her with a quote, and went home. Then I spent the next few hours researching how to fix a fence post. I watched YouTube videos, found the materials to repair the fence, read contractor forums, and learned what tools I’d need to get the job done. I soon realized that I’d done more challenging projects at home, and it wasn’t rocket science. I’d have to buy a few tools and work with materials I’d never worked with before, but I was confident I could handle it. So, I created an estimate. I estimated how long it would take me, how much materials would cost, and called the customer back with a quote. She said yes, and I landed my first real job! Of course, the job ended up taking about twice as long as I expected, and I ran into a few unexpected challenges, but I learned a skill that would make me a lot of money in the following years. I also gained confidence. This wasn’t the only time I learned a new skill on the job. I did this same process dozens of times with other customers. I’d get called for a quote, go out and inspect the job thoroughly, and head back to my home office to research the process – teaching myself home repair through YouTube videos. I always had some fear to contend with, but a bit of research and effort would usually put my mind at ease. Solution 2: Embrace the words “I don’t know.” One of the surest ways of looking stupid is to pretend you know how to do something when you don’t. So don’t do that. Instead, just say you don’t know if you don’t know. Honesty can be freeing. And I’ve noticed that saying “I don’t know” gains trust from customers. That’s because most people are used to dealing with businesses who say or do anything to get our money. When you admit your ignorance in a way that potentially costs you the job, it signals they can trust what you have to say in the future. Now, the next time you answer one of their questions, they’ll trust that you aren’t just blowing smoke. Customers don’t expect an all-knowing handyman. They just want to deal with somebody they can trust, and when they find that, they will hire you again and again. Many repeat customers know I’m not the foremost expert with home repairs, but they still prefer to hire me because they trust me. Fear #2 – Making a mistake What if you make a mistake on a repair or break something you can’t fix? Solution – Stay in your lane As long as you aren’t taking on jobs that are over your head or outside of your legal abilities, these situations will be rare. But, let’s say you do make a mistake on the job (like when I dropped a customer’s brand new 60″ TV on the ground and bro

Need help with your bookkeeping or accounting? Good news! In this episode, I interview Randal DeHart, the leading expert in outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services for small construction companies across the USA. And,Randal isn’t just an accountant, he’s also a former plumbing contractor with twenty years of experience. Not only does he understand handyman businesses from a accounting perspective, he understands it from the contractor’s perspective. Randal’s been involved in the construction industry pretty much since he was born as his dad was a contractor. After going to school to become an accountant, he decided, like many of us, that he didn’t want to work in an office. So he changed his direction and set out to become a plumber. After very successfully starting, growing, and selling his plumbing company, he got back into accounting and now does it full time, focusing solely on helping contractors, handyman, and other tradesman grow their businesses through an intelligent and strategic approach. I’m honored to have Randal on the show and I’ve personally gained a lot of highly valuable business knowledge from him. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: The biggest mistake new handymen make when choosing a business structure and how to avoid it. Randal’s definition of a quality service (it’s more simple than you think.) How focusing on the right target customer (and he shares which ones) took his plumbing company to the next level. Why you should never have your bookkeeper do your taxes. and a whole lot more! Resources mentioned in the podcast: Get a free Contractor Services Bookkeeping Guide. Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill (affiliate link) $100K Handyman Pricing Guide (Has since been upgraded to an online course called “$100K Handyman Pricing“) Learn how much you’ll save in taxes by filing as an S corp in this article. To learn more about Randal DeHart: Listen to his podcast: Contractor Success Map Visit his website: FastEasyAccounting.com Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed this podcast! If you did, and you’d like to hear more, please take a couple of minutes and leave a review on iTunes! The post HS023 – Business And Accounting Advice From Construction Accountant Randal Dehart appeared first on Handyman Startup.

Are you still on the fence with whether or not a handyman business can actually work? Or, are you hesitant to get started? If so, you’re going to get inspired by this episode where I share a great interview with brand new Australian handyman business owner, Justin Terrill. This is the first time I’ve had a handyman on the show who is just getting started, and it turned out amazing. Justin started his handyman business only a couple of months ago and is already booked out two weeks in advance while charging a premium for his services. He was previously a teacher, when he realized that he enjoyed working with his hands much more. So, he put his skills that he learned from working on a farm to good use and got started with his handyman business in Sydney, Australia. I got in touch with Justin when he contacted me to thank me for helping him get started. As a member of the Handyman Web Academy (Now called Handyman Marketing Machine) and a reader of this blog, he took action on the knowledge that he learned and has had amazing results. It was inspiring to talk with Justin, and even though he’s just getting started, I learned a lot from him. Whether you are just getting started or have been in business for a while, Justin’s got some great insights to share. Here’s what we cover in this episode: The marketing methods Justin used to jumpstart his business. Why customers aren’t just looking for the highest skilled handyman and what they want instead. How a handyman business is surprisingly profitable. Challenges of going from employee to business owner. Talking money with customers and tips for getting more comfortable. The importance of choosing your clients. Simple and effective tips for getting more referrals. The importance of a professional image. Resources mentioned in the Podcast The Handyman Web Academy (Has been updated and is now called “Handyman Marketing Machine“) Turn Your Skills Into Profit – Referred to as “the startup guide” in the podcast. Justin’s Website: Prime Handyman Solutions Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoyed this podcast. If so, please do me a favor and leave a short written review on iTunes. Also, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! The post HS 022 – How to Jumpstart Your Handyman Business – Interview With Brand New Handyman Justin Terrill appeared first on Handyman Startup.

When I started my handyman business 3 years ago, I didn’t look like the typical handyman. I didn’t have much experience, I didn’t have a reputation to help spread the word, and I looked like I was 18. Let’s just say customers weren’t sprinting to their phones in a mad dash to call me. That’s why I knew I’d have to go through extra steps to make myself look professional. I had to find a way to look like I was actually an established business. Otherwise, what reason would a customer have to even trust me? So, I spent some time branding my business. I did all the things necessary to make it appear as if I’d been doing this for a while. I went out of my way to differentiate myself from other handymen. As it turns out, overcompensating for my weakness ended up helping my business tremendously. Not only did the extra time branding my business convince customers I was worth hiring, but it increased my perceived value in their minds. The fact that I looked like I was a kid didn’t matter anymore. I presented myself as if I had my shit together, and that was enough to convince them to at least give me a shot. Of course, haveing a pretty logo designed and putting on a uniform didn’t get me customers by itself. I still had to put effort into generating leads. But it certainly helped close the deal on many occassions and it continues to do so. That’s why in this podcast, I discuss the power of branding and tips for creating your brand. Whether you are just getting started or have been in business for a while, a great brand can take your business to the next level. Here’s A Sample Of What I Cover in This Episode: 5 questions you must ask yourself before even naming your business. The steps I took and recommend to building a great brand on a budget. What a brand can do for your business. Tips for creating a brand that you are proud of and enjoy for years to come. Here are some resources mentioned: Free video training to help you generate leads 24/7 Fiverr.com – Get a decent log for just $5 A logo design you love, or 100% of your money back at 99designs.com (affiliate link) As always, thanks for listening! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and leave me a review in iTunes! The post HS 021 – The Power of Branding Your Handyman Business (plus tips for success) appeared first on Handyman Startup.

Have you ever thought about becoming a franchisee? If so, you’re going to love this Interview. In this episode of the Handyman Startup podcast, I talk with Linda Stanfield, owner of Benjamin Franking Plumbing in Chandler, Arizona. Linda has worked with her husband to grow their own Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and has had a lot of success doing it. She’s also a great person who is interested in improving the home service industry and is willing to share what she’s learned to help others. With over 15 years as a business owner, Linda has a lot of valuable lessons to teach and it was a pleasure having her on the show. Regardless of whether you are buying a plumbing franchise, or starting a handyman business, the insights that Linda shares are extremely valuable. Here are some of the topics we cover in this episode: How the home service industry is changing and what you need to do to adapt. The secret to giving amazing service. Benefits of becoming a franchisee. What to consider when purchasing a franchise. The power of simply wearing a uniform. The importance of learning your financials. The key metrics to focus on in your business. Recommended Resources Mentioned: The Handyman Web Academy – Online marketing made easy for the home service industry (Now called “Handyman Marketing Machine”). Linda’s personal website – LindaStanfield.com Linda’s book recommendation – “Where Did the Money Go?“ Thanks for listening! And, if you haven’t yet done so, please leave a review on iTunes and let me know how I’m doing! You may even get featured on the next episode. Comments or Questions? Have any thoughts on a topic for the next show? Know somebody I should interview? Or, just want to share your thoughts on this episode. Let me know in the comments below! The post HS020 – An Inside Look At A Plumbing Franchise – Interview With Linda Stanfield appeared first on Handyman Startup.

Time for another episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast! In this session, I sit down with social media expert, Rick Mulready. We’ve all been hearing the buzz about social media over the last couple years, and there is no doubt it can be a powerful marketing strategy for businesses of all sizes. Just take a look at Dollar Shave Club, who built a business based on social media marketing almost exclusively. Social sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and the like are reshaping how we think about promoting our businesses and as far as I can tell, they aren’t going away any time soon. That’s why I asked Rick Mulready of the Inside Social Media Podcast to join me to discuss how us handymen and other home service providers can take advantage of social media to get more customers. Rick has over 12 years of corporate internet marketing experience gained from working for companies like AOL, Yahoo!, and Funny or Die. Now, he shares big brand social media strategies with small business owners on his podcast. Social media is what he does. Beyond that, he’s just a good dude. So, I figured who better to share some valuable marketing advice with you! Here’s what we cover in this episode: What social media can do for your business. Which social media platforms YOU should be using. How to get the most from your social media efforts with a limited time investment. How to get more Facebook likes without shelling out your cash. Best practices for gaining traction on Facebook. Additional Resources: To Learn more from Rick, visit his site and podcast here: RickMulready.com Lowe’s is doing a great job with Social Media. Check out this article to learn from them. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the podcast, I’d be really thankful if you’d share it or reviewed it on iTunes. Click here to share a pre-populated tweet. Comments or Questions What’s your preferred social media platform? Where do you hang out on the internet? Let me know in the comments below! The post HS 013 – Social Media For The Handyman Business (Interview With Rick Mulready) appeared first on Handyman Startup.

In this episode of The Handyman Startup Podcast, I discuss a fundamental part of any good marketing strategy – Your story. You may be thinking, “who cares about my story, I’m just a regular dude starting a handyman business.” That’s what I thought when I first started my handyman business, too. I thought customers just wanted to have an experienced handyman fix what they needed fixed and to leave when they were done. Man was I wrong. Customers do care about your story. In fact, it can significantly impact their hiring decisions. If you can craft a decent story that includes at least one of five key elements, you will not only attract more customers, but you’ll attract more loyal customers. I’m talking about customers that recommend you to their friends, give you online reviews, and hire you over and over, without you even asking them too. My story has certainly helped me with my business, as it has with Christy Webber, Nick May, and Chris Maxwell-Gaines. So, I spent some time researching and breaking down what makes a good story and why a good sales story is so effective. I’ve recorded this podcast to share what I’ve learned with hopes that it will help your business. Enjoy! Here’s what I discuss in this episode: The 5 critical components of a good sales story. Examples of good sales stories. How to use your story to generate more leads and build loyalty. What a sales story is NOT. Additional Recommended Resources: Simon Sinek’s Ted Talk and Book: “Start with Why“ Brene Brown’s Ted Talk on the power of vulnerability. Thanks for listening! If you get a chance, I’d really appreciate a written review on iTunes to let me know what you think. The post HS019 – How To Craft A Sales Story That Attracts Customers And Builds Loyalty appeared first on Handyman Startup.

In this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast, I sit down with Ed Padilla, founder of ACHP (Association of Certified Handyman Professionals). Ed has a really interesting story. After being trapped in the corporate rat race for several years, he realized that he wanted something else. So, he quit his job and capitalized on the demand he could see present for home repairs. In 2006 he started Padilla Home Inspection and Handyman Services. Soon after getting started, he noticed that handymen had a terrible reputation in the eyes of homeowners. Tired of getting the stink-eye every time he entered a home, he had the urge to change this perspective. Three years later, he took action and created ACHP, a non-profit, member based organization to help handymen all over the country appear more reputable to homeowners. Now, ACHP is growing and offering benefits to it’s members such as great insurance rates. I’m honored to have Ed on the podcast. He’s doing great things for the handyman industry and by listening to him you get the sense that he really cares about our industry. Here’s what we cover in this episode: Where to go for your general liability insurance and what to consider. Insights into the home inspection industry. How to limit liability as a home inspector and handyman business. The importance of confidence when starting your own business. The most important skills you need as a handyman. Quality over quantity. The benefit of taking your time on your jobs. What is the ACHP and why is it important? Resources mentioned in the podcast: ACHP website (go here for general liability quotes and more) ACHP LinkedIn Group (Great place to interact with other handymen even if you’re not a member of ACHP) Handyman Web Academy – Learn the best strategies for getting customers. (Now called “Handyman Marketing Machine”) The post HS018 – Interview With Ed Padilla: Home Inspector, Handyman, and Founder of ACHP appeared first on Handyman Startup.

In this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast I’ve got a special guest – Chuck Solomon. Chuck is a former handyman business owner, an author of multiple books, and a business consultant. He’s literally written the book on how to start and grow a handyman business. (See resources below for a link.) He’s also just an all around nice guy who’s looking to help tradesmen like you grow your business. Just like most handymen, Chuck kind of fell into the business and before he knew it had a list of customers asking him to do all kinds of work. He capitalized on the opportunity, offered excellent service, and soon enough he was running a successful biz. After 10 years, Chuck decided to hang his hat and sell his business and became a consultant. He’s now using the valuable knowledge he gained during his own journey to help others. Back in episode #10, Jim Copenhaver talks about the importance of mentors. Chuck was one of the mentor’s he was speaking of who helped him build his business. Talking to Chuck in this episode is very humbling as it makes me realize that there is still a lot I can learn about this business. Here are a few things we cover in this episode: Why you shouldn’t give free quotes and what to do instead. How to build instant credibility with customers. Who you should hire first if you’re looking to grow. How to find and hire skilled labor step by step. How to qualify customers and avoid tire kickers before they waste your time. Resources mentioned in the podcast: Chuck’s books: “Building Your Successful Handyman Business” & “Upkeep“ Chuck’s website: ChuckSolomon.com (Want help growing your business? Chuck offers consulting services. Contact him through his website.) The Handyman Web Academy – Learn how to generate your own leads online. (Now called “Handyman Marketing Machine”) Thanks for listening! And if you get a chance, be sure to leave a written review on iTunes. It helps me tremendously and you may even get a shout-out on the next episode. The post HS017 – Grow Your Handyman Business With Chuck Solomon appeared first on Handyman Startup.

In this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast I share 7 of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in the last 3 years in business. These are lessons that have changed my mindset and the way I view business, people, and the world in general. Today marks exactly three years since I quit my engineering job and decided to venture out on my own in an attempt to control my own destiny and design a better life for myself. Deciding to quit on that day was the best (and hardest) decision I’ve ever made for myself. Because of that decision I was able to start a successful handyman business, create this website, and enjoy the entire experience (well, most of it). That’s pretty cool considering that while working as an engineer I was depressed, out of shape, and really unhappy. Things have pretty much made a 180 degree turn for the better. While quitting my job was a great decision, it wasn’t always easy. There were a lot of struggles over the last three years and many times where I wanted to give up and just go get another job. There’s a steep learning curve as a beginning entrepreneur. But, with the support of my readers, friends, and family I was able to stick it out. Through those struggles I learned a LOT, often times things that I didn’t even know I needed to learn. That’s what this latest podcast is all about – those major lessons I’ve learned along the way. I’m excited to share these with you today because they are things I think about all the time. It’s great to share my story with the hope that it may help you along your journey to dominate life and start a successful handyman business. Here is a sneak peak of what you can expect in this episode: Why you shouldn’t care if a customers say your too expensive. Why saying no is such a valuable skill. Why you shouldn’t even worry about your competition. How to learn what you don’t know you don’t know. My best tips and secrets on how to enjoy this business to the fullest and design it exactly how you want. Related Resources: How to get more customers – Handyman Marketing Machine The Ultimate Handyman Pricing Guide Michael Port – Book Yourself Solid JamesAltucher.com (I don’t mention this in the podcast, but I think his blog is worth mentioning. Check it out.) Thanks for listening and if you get a chance, please leave a written review on iTunes. It helps the show gain more exposure and you may even get featured on the next podcast. Comments or Questions What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned since starting your business? Or, if you haven’t started yet, which one of my lessons hit home the most? Let me know in the comments below! The post HS 016 – 7 Lessons Learned From 3 Years In Business appeared first on Handyman Startup.

In this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast, I’ve got something special for all you landscaping contractors out there. I bring on Christy Webber of Christy Webber Landscapes in Chicago, IL and uncover her story and how she went from a small town lady mowing lawns, to running one of the largest Landscaping companies in Chicago. I know this isn’t the typical type of guest I bring on the show and Christy isn’t a handyman, but the lessons she shares are applicable to all trades. Christy’s story is incredible, especially considering that she didn’t graduate with a business degree. In fact, her education was in physical education. She knew nothing about operating a business and just got started mowing lawns. And that’s the key to her success, she just got started. Her determined attitude and love for her job helped her build a business that currently employs roughly 400 people! Listen in to find out how. Here’s what we cover in this episode: Why some companies fail in bad economic times and others succeed. How to scale a service business even if business isn’t your strong suit. How integrating your story into your business can get your customers working to help you. Struggles with employees and how to deal with them. How to overcome fear and finally get started with your business. How brutal honesty with your customers can take your business to the next level. The importance of letting go and allowing others to help you. Links and Resources Check out Christy’s website here. Handyman Web Academy Info (Now called Handyman Marketing Machine) As always, thanks for listening! And a special thanks to Christy Webber for joining me on the podcast and sharing her story to help others succeed. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. Comments or Questions Did you find Christy’s story inspiring? If so, let me know in the comments below. Then, sign up for my e-mail newsletter to get updates when future episodes are released. The post HS 015 – How To Go From Mowing Lawns to $32 Million In Revenue With Christy Webber appeared first on Handyman Startup.

Looking for an easy way to increase your profitability? Consider limiting your service area. That’s what Michael Rodriguez (a.k.a MROD) of BelleCreak Handyman & Remodeling did. In fact, he built his business while focusing primarily on a single subdivision. Listen in to this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast to learn all about it. I’m fascinated with what Michael and his partner Alex were able to achieve. It really goes to show how in demand a good handyman service can be. Now, I understand that is may sound counterintuitive that limiting your service area can actually be more profitable, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Here are some of the benefits of limiting your service area. Save time – Time is your most valuable asset and you want to use it wisely. Driving all over town all day isn’t providing any value to your customer, and it’s wasting your time, especially when there are plenty of customers within a small area to keep more than one guy busy. Save Money – Gas isn’t cheap, neither are tires and regular car maintenance. Why travel extra miles when you have plenty of work close to you? Better service – By limiting your area, you can actually provide a better service. You’ll have a faster response time and be more available to your customers. Increase Profitability – You have two options to increase your profits when limiting your service area. You can either pocket the time and money savings, or you can lower your prices to stay more competitive. Either way, your profits will likely rise. In this episode… In this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast, I sit down with Michael Rodriguez and discuss exactly how he built his business with a very limited service area. That’s not all we cover, either. MROD was generous enough to share his best practices and what he’s learned while building his business. Here’s what to expect in this episode: A cheap and effective method for generating leads. (Hint: Anyone can start using this right away) How to build a successful business in a single subdivision. The power of having a partner in this business. How to sell more services to your customers once you’re in the door. An easy way to make your customers feel special and build instant trust. Plus a whole bunch of handyman business insight from a handyman who just got started last year. Links & Resources BelleCreek Handyman – bchandy.com ThumbTack.com Interview with a Californian handyman – Here is another example of an interview with a handyman who introduced me to the idea of limiting my service area. The E-Myth Landscape Contractor – Mike highly recommended this book and says that it’s very applicable to handyman business. (affiliate link) Thanks for listening! And thanks to Michael Rodriguez for sharing what he’s learned to help others. I definitely appreciate him taking the time out of his busy schedule. I always enjoy connecting with other handymen and hearing their stories andI hope you enjoy it, too! Know anybody else who would like the podcast? If so, do them and me a favor and share it! Comments or Questions Do you limit your service area? If so, how has it effected your business? Let me know in the comments below! The post HS 014 – How To SERIOUSLY Limit Your Service Area appeared first on Handyman Startup.

Hire artists for contracting? That’s what Nick May, founder of Walls By Design, did. He’s a successful interior painting contractor with over 14 years of experience and get this, he only hires artists! Surprised? Be sure to listen to this episode to find out why. Here are some other topics we cover in this interview: Why targeting high end customers actually brings in a wide variety of customers and gets your phone to ring. A unique way that Nick builds relationships with industry partners in order to get into those million dollar homes. How hiring employees makes you better at what you do. How to hire your first employee (more specifically, how I should hire my first employee.) Where to look, who to hire, and when. While Nick isn’t a handyman, his knowledge and ideas can be applied to any home service business. He has a ton of great marketing info to share and you can hear is passion while he talks about how to get more customers. Here is my favorite quote from the interview: “Almost all marketing methods will work for somebody. You’ve got to find what works for you.” Wise words for sure. Other important notes from the podcast: Are you looking to get the phone to ring with quality customers? I’ve got your back. I’m currently preparing to launch the Handyman Web Academy in January, and it’s going to be better than ever. I’m using the feedback I’ve received from those who signed up in October to make a great product even better. In the mean time, how would you like some FREE video training on how to get your phone to ring? I’m working on it right now and it will be ready soon, sign up here to get access when it’s ready (it won’t be posted on the blog). As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please show me some support and give me a review on iTunes! I’d really appreciate it. The post Interview With Successful Painting Contractor Nick May appeared first on Handyman Startup.

In this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast, I bring on Chris Maxwell-Gaines, co-founder of Innovative Water Solutions in Austin, TX. Chris started his home service business back in 2004 and has since grown it to the point of having 14 employees and over a million dollars in revenue. He’s got a lot to share from his 10 years of experience. So, I brought him onto the show so you can benefit from his knowledge and grow your business. I love Chris’s story because he started his business without a plan and was literally wingin’ it in the beginning. He had his first customer sold before he even had a service to offer! 10 years later he’s reaping the benefits of his courage. A great example of why you should just get started. Here are a few highlights from the interview: How crafting a story can jumpstart your business. A powerful way to use web based content marketing. Strategic partners and what they can do for your business. Why wingin’ it is sometimes the best option and why you should just get started. Chris doesn’t provide handyman services, instead he installs and maintains water caching systems, among various other services. However, his insights and tips can be applied to any home service business. For those of you interested in water conservation systems, Chris is your man. Not only can he install them for you but he is offering a comprehensive training program for contractor’s looking to add water conservation services to their businesses. If you’re looking to add another revenue stream, be sure to contact Chris and he’ll get you set on the right path. The post Crafting A Sales Story, Strategic Partnerships, and The Power of Wingin’ It. appeared first on Handyman Startup.

It’s been a while since my last podcast, so I wanted to bring The Handyman Startup Podcast back with a bang! In this episode, I interview Jim Copenhaver, a successful handyman business owner from Chicago, IL. Jim has successfully built Punch List, a thriving handyman business that currently employs at least 4 full-time handymen. But get this, he’s only been in business for a about a year and a half! He obviously knows what he’s doing, that’s why I asked him to join me on the Handyman Startup Podcast so I could pick his brain and share his secrets with you. Here are some of the things we cover in this episode: Why finding a mentor can skyrocket your success. The challenges of having employees. How to hire and keep good employees. Why milking the clock will actually lose you money in the long run. Why Jim charges hourly for most of his services. How to use the power of online reviews to grow your business faster than ever. and much more. Whether you are looking to go big and hire employees or just want to keep rollin’ solo, this interview is packed with golden nuggets of tips and advice that will propel you forward with your business. After listening to the review, I’d love it if you’d do two things: #1: Leave a comment below telling me the most valuable thing you gained from this podcast. #2: Leave me a review on iTunes! (if you haven’t already) The post The Importance of Mentors, Sticking To Your Guns On Pricing, and the Power of Online Reviews appeared first on Handyman Startup.

In this session of the Handyman Startup Podcast, I share five of my most valuable time saving tips that I use every day in my business. As a handyman or other home service provider, you get paid for your time. Time is a form of currency, with one major difference from other currencies – you can never get more time. That being said, it’s obvious why saving a few seconds, minutes, or even hours each day is extremely valuable – in fact, it’s priceless! That’s why I’ve decided to share these 5 tips with you so you can enjoy the many benefits of more time. Who doesn’t want more time? Here are some of the highlights of this podcast: 5 easy to implement time saving tips that you can start using today. Why saving time is so important to not only your free time, but the growth of your business. BONUS TIP: A tool I use everyday to literally save hours each week. (hint: It’s less than $20) Mentioned in this podcast: My marketing course for handymen. Click Here to learn more. Tim Ferriss blog post on saying no. The post 5 Time Saving Tips That Will Shave Hours Off Your Work Week appeared first on Handyman Startup.

As a home service professional, developing new skills to keep up with the competition is necessary. For handymen, learning new skills is basically our job description. Not only is learning new skills important, but learning how to learn new skills efficiently is getting ever more important. We are now in what is commonly known as the information age. That means it is easier than ever to get starting with your business, but it also means that more people have access to quality information. That means more competition. This tells me that in order to get ahead and pull away from the pack, developing a system for learning rapidly could mean the difference between success and failure. In this podcast, I discuss: 4 methods for developing your home repair skills. How I gained my handyman experience and skill set. My method for developing new skills (while getting paid). 3 Tips to accelerate your learning process. This podcast was designed to help you develop your home repair skills, but the methods described are applicable to any skill. Enjoy! The post How To Learn Any Skill And Get Paid To Do It appeared first on Handyman Startup.

I’m taking the entire week off from my handyman services to celebrate Independence Day, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity. This excitement about the ability to control my schedule and take time off at will has my brain turning with all of the benefits of owning a small business, specifically, a handyman business. You see, two years ago, I was still working at an office job that I, for lack of a better word, hated. I don’t mean to be negative, but it’s true. I had been working at this desk job for the previous three and a half years, and every day seemed like a little bit more of my soul was draining away. I sat at my desk feeling imprisoned from 8 am to 6 pm every. Single. Day. I was 28, unhappy, unhealthy, and clawing desperately to gain the courage to turn things around and improve my life. Finally, I mustered up the courage to say, “screw a good paycheck and full benefits, I’m unhappy, and something needs to change.” So on Monday, May 3rd of 2011, I put in my notice, and two weeks later, I was free! On that day, I decided I would never live a life suppressed by “the man.” Quitting my job and starting my handyman business was one of the best decisions. So in this podcast episode, I discuss the many benefits of owning a handyman business and some of the disadvantages. This podcast is meant to help you decide if the handyman business is right for you. And if you’ve already started a home repair business, it will make you happy you did! Here are some of the key points: The many financial benefits of starting a handyman business. The many Lifestyle benefits of starting a handyman business. The financial and lifestyle drawbacks of the handyman business. The must-have personal characteristics of a good handyman business owner. Why I chose to start a handyman business in the first place It took me a long time and some deep soul searching before I finally decided to start a handyman business. I had so many questions before getting started. Like… How much does a handyman make? What skills do you need? Is there too much competition already? Are there better business opportunities out there? But ultimately, when I stepped back to analyze what I wanted from a career, the decision became clear. Instead of trying to compare the infinite options of careers available, I defined the things that were most important to me in a career. I started with a lifestyle design approach. You may have heard of lifestyle design before, but maybe not. Either way, I believe deliberately designing your life is one of the keys to being happy. Unfortunately, most of us spend our time submitting to society and letting the masses force their values upon us. We constantly think that we “need” to do something based on whatever influences we’ve had along the way. It’s important to break away from this thought process and figure out what you want and what makes you happy on a day-to-day basis. Otherwise, your only chance at satisfaction is to get lucky. The practice of lifestyle design starts with one simple question. What do you want? Pretend for a minute that you have Bill Gates’s bankroll and zero responsibilities. How would you fill your time? Seriously, take two minutes to think about this. You could travel the world on your own yacht, buy the Laker’s franchise, and own every sports car you can get your hands on. But I seriously doubt this will provide you with long-term fulfillment. So, think for a while about what you really want in life. What makes you happy? When do you feel best? At what point in your life were you the happiest, and why? Hopefully, these questions will give you insight into whether a handyman business is right for you. If you are like me, you’ll realize that it’s not about the end goal. It’s about enjoying yourself as much as possible along the way. I can honestly say that if I didn’t have to work, I would still want to be help people. It just makes me feel good. When I asked myself the questions above, I came up with a list of benefits that I wanted from a career. Some of these benefits are absolute must-haves, and others would be nice but unnecessary. Here’s the list I came up with. Freedom – I have a bit of a problem with authority and don’t like being told what to do. Business ownership was the only choice. I have the freedom of taking time off when necessary and not a measly two weeks per year. Working in the physical world. Computers are amazing, but they’ll drain your soul if you let them. Plus, I just feel way better when I’ve been up and moving all day. Challenge. If I’m comfortable, I’m bored. Life’s too short to be boring. Take risks and leave your comfort zone. It’s the best way to learn and the only way to accomplish great things. Options. I like having several doors to choose from. If you reach a point where you

Welcome to my May 2013 monthly income report! I’ve been writing these reports each month since I started my business and this marks my 18th month in business as a handyman. 1.5 years baby! For those of you that enjoy my podcast, good news! This month, you can listen to my monthly report as I’ve featured it on the Handyman Startup Podcast. You can find it in the itunes store or listen to it directly from this page (bottom of page). Enjoy, and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! In these reports I share my income for each month, how I made that money, how much it cost to make that money, and anything interesting that happened along the way. I also share tips to help you dominate the home service industry. If you are first time reader of the blog, I’m not rich (yet :)). In fact, this is my first business and I still have a lot to learn. However, I’ve successfully created an income stream that supports my lifestyle doing something that I enjoy and have complete freedom over. I used to work as a mechanical engineer and absolutely hated what I did. Somehow, I mustered up the courage to quit and start something on my own. It was the best career decision I’ve ever made. Now, I’d like to help you create the same level of freedom that I’ve created. May was an awesome month for my handyman business. I continued to grow my client list despite the fact that I limited my schedule to only 3 days a week and have put zero effort into advertising in the last several months. Not only did I gain customers, but I was more profitable than I have been since January of this year. Old customers that I thought I’d lost were even calling me for more service. Schedule Upgrade – Part 2 I’m really exciting about this… In last month’s income report, I discussed limiting my workdays to only 3 days a week. I did this so I could pack my schedule into less days giving me more time to work on this website and a product that I’m working on. My goal was to only schedule customers on Monday through Wednesday while answering the phone the rest of the week. Now that I’ve been doing this for over a month, I’d like to share my results, which are pretty awesome. Previously, I’d been scheduling jobs throughout the week and even work an occasional weekend. When I did this, I’d leave a ton of time in between jobs just in case one of my jobs ended up taking longer. Additionally, I would usually schedule one job a day until I filled up a week and then start stacking jobs up once I had a job for each day booked. This naturally led to a lot of downtime in between jobs where I wasn’t making money or doing anything else productive. I was wasting a LOT of time. Now, with my new schedule, I only schedule jobs Mon-Wed and pack the jobs much closer together. This takes a little more finesse to avoid scheduling mis-haps, but it’s way more efficient. I’ve scheduled up to 5 customer in a single day so far – a significant increase over the the 2 I’d have scheduled before. Take a look at the pictures below to see the difference between the two schedules. Example of a weeks schedule using my old scheduling method. (16.5 Billable Hours) A weeks schedule using my new method. (21 Billable Hours) As you can see, my old scheduling method wasted a lot of time in between jobs and took up the entire week. My new method of scheduling doesn’t waste much time between jobs and packs the same amount of work into just three days! So I’ve managed to work less days and make just as much money. Another benefit of this is that I’m now consistently scheduled out at least one week. That means I know exactly what I’m doing for the entire next week and allows me to make fewer trips to Home Depot. If I do everything right and plan accordingly, this could reduce my trips to the hardware store by half. Sound enticing? Why not apply this to your business and have more free time to spend doing other things you enjoy? It’s The Busy Season Spring is THE time for home improvement projects. Just go to Home Depot next Saturday and you’ll see what I mean. With my handyman business it was no different. Sometimes it felt like I couldn’t get away from the phone for 5 minutes without it ringing. Since I’m only working 3 days a week, I ended up turning down a lot of business. In fact, I could have easily done another 2 to 3 grand in work if I was as hungry as I was last year. While constantly answering the phone can get annoying at times, there are some good side effects of being too busy. One, I could be much more selective about jobs. If a customer lived too far away or was asking for work that I don’t like to do, I would just turn them down. I’d either say that I didn’t service their area or that I didn’t do that kind of work. Existing customers are an exception to this, however. If a cu

It’s no secret that internet marketing is where it’s at these days whether you are selling a product online or trying to generate new leads for your handyman business. Other marketing methods such as direct mail and flyers are also effective, but they cost more and are (in my opinion) more difficult to execute properly. In this episode of the Handyman Startup podcast, I share my most powerful online marketing strategy for my handyman business – blogging for business. The blog posts I have created for my handyman business website have driven customers my way starting as early as my third month in business. Not only that, but blog posts I wrote over a year ago are still bringing me high quality customers every week. The beautiful thing is that each blog post I write only takes a couple of hours maximum. Talk about ROI! These blog posts have allowed me to turn off all other forms of advertising and still have more than enough business to keep me satisfied. Here is a brief outline of what you can expect in this podcast: How to get leads from writing blog posts on your handyman business website. How blogging builds trust and makes selling your services even easier. Why you should start blogging right away. My personal blogging strategy and process for creating blog posts. Recommendations on what to do and what NOT to do when blogging. Resources mentioned in the Podcast How to build a website Recommended Website and Blogging Platform: WordPress Thanks! Thank you for listening. I’m honored to have the ability to share my experiences and knowledge to help you along your path to dominating your business ventures. Be sure to subscribe in iTunes so you don’t miss an episode. The post HS 005 – Blogging For Business (How to Turn Your Knowledge Into Leads) appeared first on Handyman Startup.