How to Become a Handyman: A Complete Guide

Thinking about monetizing your DIY skills? It's time you learn how to become a handyman and build a thriving career. It sure is a lucrative path that gives you flexibility. There are diverse work opportunities and a high demand for the skill set.

However, launching a successful handyman business requires more than just basic knowledge of the tools. You need to be a problem solver and handle everything from repairs to business logistics.

Already felt the challenge to figure out the whats and hows when it comes to setting fair prices, generating professional invoices, and managing your time?

The good news is with the right guidance, you can overcome these hurdles and build your own business.

Time to roll up your sleeves and know how to launch your handyman career!

What Does a Handyman Do?

A handyman is someone who conducts basic maintenance on properties. Their main duties include repairing plumbing systems and carpentry to ensure they work properly. The opportunity of work is diversified to small and medium-sized projects.

While some of their work might not call for formal training, they're still the go-to individuals for homeowners, landlords, and business owners whenever they need to get something fixed in their properties.

Scope of work of a Handyman

A handyman often goes by the name of "a do-it-all service worker."

The detailed overview of the possible scope is given further:

What are the benefits of a handyman career?

Economic downturns and layoffs are common, with over millions of layoffs annually during recessions. Therefore, the most attractive aspect of a handyman's job is that it is recession-proof.

If you're learning how to become a handyman, it is advantageous to you in the following ways:

Skills Required to Be a Handyman

A successful career in this requires a combination of essential handyman skills based on varied technical expertise.

Here's a detailed breakdown of the top 5 skills handyman needs to make a name for themselves in their field:

5 Steps to Becoming a Handyman

If you're thinking of becoming a full-time handyman, you need to understand some basic protocols, with a series of strategic 5 steps to ensure success and comply with regulations.

Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this path:

Step-1: Acquire essential skills

First things first, think about developing your skill set to become a competitive handyman. A handyman may need to learn every repair work that a property owner may encounter. You can consider applying for internships and vocational training to get hands-on experience. Focus areas should include your core jobs, such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical repairs, and general maintenance.

Step-2: Get practical experience

Nothing works better for a handyman than hands-on training. Theory can only teach you the basics like plumbing or carpentry but with application, you can understand the critical thinking process and adaptation of the tasks.

Manual work also demands physical proficiency and familiarity with the basic tools. Repeated practice builds muscle memory that helps hone skills in drilling or assembling features. It also helps you learn how to avoid and fix errors.

One way to apply your skills in real-world settings is by working under experienced professionals or volunteering for projects. This practical training is invaluable for becoming a handyman.

Step-3: Understand handyman license and regulations

Not every task requires you to have a handyman license. But if you want to be a professional, it is a safe bet to get one. Research the specific handyman licensing requirements in your state and locality as they vary across the US.

Apart from the licensing requirements, you need to consider getting general liability insurance as well. This is in case of any workplace accidents or mishaps. If you plan to hire employees, you need workers' compensation insurance as well.

Step-4: Develop business acumen

Even if you're a freelancer, you need to develop business acumen to build your presence. Start by creating a business plan where you outline your services, target audience, and pricing structure. Consider the operating costs, tools, and potential revenue.

You also need to automate invoicing and accounting tasks to save time and money. It is advisable to use tools like InvoiceOwl to generate invoices, track outstanding payments, and maintain a steady cash flow.

Step-5: Build a professional network

Networking is the key to growing your own handyman business. Collaborate with real estate agents, property managers, and contractors who can get you in touch with potential clients. Get yourself registered on platforms to create a professional profile and positive reviews. You should also engage with local communities. It helps you build rapport, establish trust, and lead to word-of-mouth recommendations.

How Do You Set Up as a Professional Handyman?

You need a defined plan to succeed if you're a handyman business owner who wants to expand their business, hire workers, and create a professional handyman business that provides an extensive range of services. Check out the steps mentioned below.

1. Create a business plan

A solid business plan is the foundation of a successful handyman business. Define your brand name and logo for brand recall and professionalism. Here's what you should include once you decide to launch a handyman business.

• Define your goals: Outline the short-term and long-term goals of your business. This significantly helps you allocate resources and figure out your operations. For example, as a business owner, your goal is to serve 20 clients monthly within the first year or expand services to include specialized repairs.
• Identify your target audience: Determine who you want to provide services to. These can include homeowners, landlords, property managers, or businesses. Understanding your audience helps you tailor your services to their needs.
• Service pricing: Research local competitors and establish a pricing model based on industry standards, experience, and project complexity.
• Accounting and budgeting: Figure out the needs for accounting and invoicing tools. Invest in these tools to automate the tracking of income, expenses, and taxes. Plan your budget to include maintenance, marketing, and insurance costs.

2. Establish a marketing strategy

A well-executed marketing plan ensures that your business reaches potential clients. Some of the marketing strategies you should consider are:

Online marketing strategies

Having an online presence significantly boosts your visibility, as search engines and online listed platforms are the first places users visit to find local services. Some of the ways you can build an online presence are:

Offline marketing strategies

Along with online marketing, don't forget to ace the traditional marketing game that gives your business a higher visibility. Distribute flyers or brochures and also target festivities, such as Christmas and New Year to get more leads as demand for home renovation gets higher. Take advantage of your local community and advertise in the local newspapers or bulletin boards.

3. Start networking

Local handyman businesses rely considerably on positive word-of-mouth marketing. If you want people to talk about the services your handyman business provides, start building your network and get people talking. Some of the audiences and groups you can target are real estate agents, property managers, and contractors.

Building a rapport with them can ensure consistent work opportunities and lead to long-term partnerships. Also, engage in community events to establish your presence and connect directly with clients.

How Should You Price Your Handyman Services?

Pricing your handyman services effectively has its challenges as it involves balancing competition. You'd also have to balance client expectations and add the costs of learning new skills for unique tasks.

Considering all these factors, you can decide on the pricing accordingly:

• Conduct market research: See how your competitors are pricing them. What are the average rates for the services of a handyman in your area? What are the prices for each of the services individually? For example, a handyman business in the US typically charges between $50 and $100 per hour, depending on the region and the job complexity.
• Adopt transparent pricing practices: Provide clients with detailed estimates that break down the individual costs of labor, materials, and additional costs. Ensure that you add these costs to invoices and estimates that you generate. It builds client trust and ensures faster payments.
• Set hourly rates and flat fees: Divide your rates based on the complexity of the jobs. For simple and quick jobs such as hanging shelves and lawn maintenance, consider flat fees. But for larger and more complex tasks, such as remodeling, and furniture building, you can charge hourly rates and material costs.
• Account for overheads: Record all the costs of tools, vehicle maintenance, insurance, and handyman training when you set your rates. Your overall pricing needs to cover all these regular expenses while leaving room for profit.
• Offer tiered pricing for specialized skills: Some tasks in handymen services can be more complex than your regular work. These handyman services also include your investment in acquiring advanced skills (e.g., HVAC or electrical work).

What is the Best Way to Get Handyman Experience?

Experience is critical if you're learning how to become a handyman. Since the work is an innate skill set, it can only be honed with experience. It also prepares you to handle real-world challenges. Some of the ways you can gather experience are: