Handyman Startup

I used to think that the best way to grow a handyman business was to become the most skilled and knowledgeable handyman.

After all, it seemed to make sense that the more skills I had, the more demand there would be for my services, and as a result, the more profitable my business would become.

There is some truth to that.

But, as I realized later, your success in this business is not a direct result of your skills or expertise. It’s more closely tied to your ability to communicate those skills and expertise to your customers.

Even if you are the best handyman in your city, it won’t matter if you can’t demonstrate that to others. Conversely, if you are the worst handyman in your city, but you can convince customers otherwise, you can still run a profitable business.

That’s fortunate for me, too, because I’m NOT the best handyman in my city. Not by a long shot. The only real experience I had before starting my business was doing a few small repairs on my own home.

Customers weren’t flocking to me when I told them I was opening my business, either. In fact, some of my good friends continued to hire another handyman after I started my business.

Even my friends didn’t want to hire me!

I’m actually thankful for that, too. The struggle to get customers pushed me to really master my marketing. And as a result, my business became far more profitable and enjoyable than it would have otherwise been.

Good marketing makes running a business a breeze. And it’s worth investing your time and money to learn. In fact, It will likely be the most profitable thing you do.

Here are a few reasons why… [continue reading…]

Most people look at an organized person and think, “That person must really enjoy paperwork.”

But I think this is wrong. I’m pretty organized, yet I despise paperwork.

Here’s the more likely scenario. The most organized people just hate paperwork more than everybody else. In fact, they hate it so much that they’re willing to do anything to reduce the amount they have to do.

Just think about it for a second.

I’ll spend 5 hours creating a system for something that might otherwise only take 5 minutes. Who in their right mind would do such a thing? Somebody who wants to do less work later, that’s who.

I know I’ll save dozens of hours later, maybe even hundreds by creating systems that make the work easier or unnecessary instead of just putting out fires in the short term.

So if you struggle to stay organized, maybe it isn’t because you hate paperwork, but because you don’t hate paperwork enough. You just haven’t reached the tipping point yet.

Now maybe you aren’t hypersensitive to this kind of thing like I am, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from the time and effort I’ve spent trying to figure it out.

Here are a few things you can use today to save time on administration tasks in your handyman business. [continue reading…]

When you have metal studs, mounting a TV or hanging a heavy picture on the wall becomes slightly more challenging.

Unlike wood studs where you can simply drive lag bolts or screws straight into the 2×4 studs, metal studs are hallow and have thin walls. There simply isn’t enough material for the threads to grab securely.

So the key to mounting anything heavy to metal studs is to get the right fasteners.

Which leads us to the first step… [continue reading…]

Software and apps can make running your handyman business much easier.

In fact, since I started my handyman business, I’ve operated almost entirely from my phone, only using my desktop for monthly accounting and marketing purposes.

When it comes to managing customers, quoting jobs, taking notes, tracking payments, taking credit cards, or scheduling, it’s all done on this amazing little device they call an iPhone.

No paper what. so. ever. I like it that way. And the best part is that all of this software is so affordable that anybody can use it.

Not only does this technology save me some serious paperwork headaches, it adds value to the customer and makes my business more efficient. I’ve had several customers tell me they like working with me just because I’m tech savvy.

So, if you’re still walking around with a notepad, a schedule book, and a rolex of your customers, it’s time to upgrade. Here’s how to do it so you can save time and look more professional. [continue reading…]

Painting your kitchen cabinets is an easy way to transform your kitchen, and if you do it yourself, it will cost you less than $200 bucks.
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My legs were on FIRE, but I had to keep pushing through the pain.

Just one more run, I thought. Then, I’ll call it a day.

I didn’t even necessarily want to keep snowboarding either. I’d been riding all day in knee deep powder while weaving through the trees, and any skier or snowboarder knows how fast that will wear you out.

But, there was one thing fueling my motivation. I had to beat my high score.

No, I wasn’t in a competition. Nobody was sitting there timing me or adding up points.

The truth is much less exciting. I had just downloaded an app for my phone designed to track how many vertical feet I snowboarded each day, and I wanted to beat my existing daily record.

I wasn’t going to win a prize, become famous, or even get a pat on the back.

I was pushing myself simply so I could look at a high score on my iPhone app when I was finished.

This may sound pointless, but that’s why it’s the perfect story to illustrate the power of [continue reading…]

In this article and in the video above, I’m going to share how to Replace an aluminum window with a nailing fin when you have wood siding.

I’ve personally replaced about 15 windows using this method and have had no issues with water infiltration – which is the main concern any time you are installing a new window. [continue reading…]

Does a lack of referrals have you doubting yourself and your business?

Or, are you struggling to stay busy despite how happy your customers seem to be? Why aren’t those satisfied customers telling their friends and family about you?

Isn’t a good service supposed to sell itself?

Well, not exactly. The truth is that people are busy, and if you want them recommend you, it’s going to require some strategic effort.

In this article, I’ll share some simple and effective strategies for boosting referral rates so you can start enjoying more qualified leads for your business. [continue reading…]

In this DIY tutorial, I demonstrate how to build a retaining wall using interlocking landscaping blocks, step by step.

I’ll cover everything you need to know so you can get started with confidence.

First, here’s a quick image that sums up what it takes to build a retaining wall. (To make it taller, add more layers of blocks.)

Contents

• A list of tools and materials
• The best retaining wall blocks for DIYers
• How to build a retaining wall step by step
• How to plan and design your retaining wall
• How to cut retaining wall blocks
• How to build a retaining wall on a hill or slope

[continue reading…]