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Benefits of handyman business

Why You Should (or Shouldn’t) Start a Handyman Business

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 only have one option to move forward, move back instead. Then choose a different door. When you are self-employed, there are always multiple doors.
  • Control – I like to call the shots and can’t stand when I’m working for someone I know is making poor decisions.
  • To be necessary. It’s important to me to matter, even if it is just to an old lady that needs her curtains hung.
  • Last but not least, good money. Money is necessary because it enables me to do the things I enjoy and provide for my kids. If I could go back and live with the Native Americans 300 years ago, I would and wouldn’t give a shit about money. But let’s face it, I can’t do that.

When I considered everything else, I finally decided that a handyman business was one of the few careers that fit the bill. And it turns out I was right.

Starting a handyman business has allowed me to choose when I work, what I work on, and how hard I work. I get to work with my hands every day instead of sitting behind a desk. I get to be challenged both mentally and physically to keep my mind a body strong. And I have a sense of purpose because I’m providing a necessary service that customers thank me for as they pay me (the pay is nice, too).

There are several other careers or service businesses that could potentially provide the same fulfillment, but other factors pushed me toward a handyman service. The fact that it’s low-cost to get started was a big factor. It’s also very low-risk. Plus, I already had many of the skills required and didn’t need to go back to school to get started.

Of course, there are some downsides to running a handyman business. One is that it can be hard work, and If I’m not working, I’m not making any money.

Another con is that the handyman business is difficult to scale. Employees need to be well-rounded, very knowledgeable, reliable, and willing to work hard. So if you want to hire employees and build a big business, I think there are better business opportunities (like picking a specialty).

Another disadvantage is that you have to do everything and make all the tough decisions yourself. This often means tedious paperwork and slightly higher stress levels while making bigger business decisions.

So yes, there are cons, but there are disadvantages to everything. If you choose your career based on avoiding the bad, you’ll never find interesting work that you enjoy. Everything sucks part of the time.

I hope you’ve found this helpful, and it has illuminated some of the benefits that being a pro handyman can bring. If you want to learn more, I recommend listening to the podcast episode further up the page or on iTunes or your favorite podcast player.

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  • Drew June 30, 2013

    Hey Big D! Really enjoyed this podcast, and been reading your blog for about six months now. I’m looking at starting a handyman business when we move back to our hometown later this year, for most of the same reasons you mentioned in your podcast. The only things that I’m nervous about is (1) lack of professional experience in construction, and (2) wondering how long it will take to build up a customer base.

    • Big D July 6, 2013

      Hey Drew,

      Thanks for leaving the review and replying to the question in the podcast!

      D

  • Steve July 1, 2013

    Hey man,
    nice blog you have here, looks clean and professional.

    I love handy work, been doing all sorts of jobs and fixes since I was a kid, and I still love it.

    Keep sharing your tips!
    Cheers
    Steve

  • Joe July 2, 2013

    Hey BigD Thanks for this podcast, I was right at the point, should I shouldn’t I … But you inspired me a lot , and I have the confidence to go for it and start my own business! Many Thanks and looking forward to the next episode! Keep up the good work!

    • Big D July 6, 2013

      Thanks!

  • PATRICK FEARICK July 4, 2013

    Would love to leave a review on I tunes but have no clue how. May be why not that many people are leaving them. Its not readily accessible. Please let me know how so I can get free yearly report. Thanks. Pat- owner

    • Big D July 6, 2013

      In order to give a review on itunes you need to have itunes downloaded on your computer or phone.

  • Hey Big D, your thinking is really great and I am very happy to read your blog that you start your own handyman business. Best of luck and may god give you all the things you want. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    • Big D July 14, 2013

      Thank you!

  • Ant July 13, 2013

    Big D.

    Just downloaded you Podcast yesterday and listened to the 1st 3 episodes. I am looking to start up a Handyman business here on Long Island, NY. I will be getting a contractors license through the local county and will get licensed and insured to make my business “legit.” Too many handyman services I notice, at least where I’m from, are unlicensed and unreliable. I want to brand myself as an honest and reliable guy.

    I have been doing handyman work over the years, albeit remodeling bathrooms, kitchens, molding, sheetrock, electrical work. I am going to attend one of the technical schools in the area that offer Home Improvement courses, electrical and plumbing. I would like to at least show some competency to my prospective clients if they ask what my credentials are. I think if I responded that I know how to do Handyman work “because I know how” may not be enough and turn off clients.

    So my question is: Do you think taking various courses through a Tech School is a good idea?

    **PS.

    As a side note, I recently retired from my former full time job and I collect a pension, so I would look to have the Handyman income supplement my pension. The pressure to work full-time to “make ends meet” is not there for me at least.

    • Big D July 14, 2013

      Thanks for listening and reading!

      Do I think taking various courses through a Tech School is a good idea?

      I think it is a good idea if you are looking to improve your skills and knowledge and you have the time and energy to do it. However, from my experience, those types of credentials aren’t something any of my customers have ever asked about. If they ask me where I learned my skills I tell them from experience working on my own home and with my step dad when I was younger. The credentials that really matter are the online reviews and other types of social proof such as recommendations. So If you want to take those classes just to learn some new skills or improve your existing skills, then I’d say go for it. But if you are looking to sell your services, you need to build a reputation.

  • Joseph July 15, 2013

    These are really great tips for starting your own handyman business. I’m a handyman looking for a full-time job in Petersburg, Virginia. I wonder if it might be better just to start my own business. Again, thanks for the advice on starting your own handyman business.

  • Duane August 1, 2013

    I enjoyed you pod cast I am thinking of starting a handy man service I was evolved in the construction business for over 27 years. Been out of it for 5 or so years and started looking for info on starting a handy man business and came across your site. I like the info and its making it a lot easier to make a decision thank you for the help.

    • Big D August 2, 2013

      Your welcome!

  • Phil December 10, 2013

    Hey Big D, It was an awesome podcast. You can tell that you love what you do. I have been in construction for 30 years, for other companies. I have also been doing side jobs for the past couple of years. Now its time to take it to the next level and make it a professional Handyman business. As for my concerns starting it, is that there is so much to do, as for as setting it up. It can be overwhelming at times, but I can see that your website can help a great deal with the things I am struggle with.
    Thanks and stay blessed

    • Dan Perry December 10, 2013

      Thanks and good luck getting started, Phil!

  • LittleD December 11, 2013

    Hey Everyone,

    I’m not a handyman myself, just a business owner. I’m really impressed with the podcast. Very well put together. Before I started my business, the thing that held me back the most was not having the right people around me. I’ve learned a lot by searching for people much smarter than me and asking them questions.

    Best of luck to everyone. By being on this site I’m sure you have two steps on your competition.

    • Dan Perry December 11, 2013

      That’s a great tip, David. Such a simple concept but yet so under-utilized. Thanks for listening!

  • Brian December 29, 2013

    Dan,
    I have been thinking about starting up a handyman business for a couple years. This is a really great website, and it has inspired me to start up something small until I get a customer base.

    Brian

  • Kenneth Varni October 5, 2018

    Thanks D.

    Kenny in Kailua-Kona

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