How to start a handyman business

How to start a handyman business, step by step

1. 01

   Learn your state's dollar limit

   Licensing rules vary by state, and some set a dollar limit below which a handyman can work without a contractor license. In California, the Contractors State License Board's limit is $1,000 per project, counting labor and materials. The catch: if the work needs a permit of any kind, or you hire anyone to help, you need a license even below $1,000.

   California also requires your ads to say you're not licensed. Above the limit, a contractor license costs a $450 application fee and a $200 initial license fee for a sole owner, plus a $25,000 bond. Look up your own state's contractor board before you quote anything.

2. 02

   Pick jobs that stay under it

   Build your service list from small, common repairs: patching drywall, rehanging doors, fixing sticky locks, caulking tubs, mounting TVs and shelves, assembling furniture, replacing a fence board, swapping cabinet hardware. These rarely need a permit and fit easily under a dollar limit.

   Skip anything that needs a permit where you live, which often includes electrical circuits, plumbing lines and structural changes. Refer those jobs to licensed trades and ask them to send small repairs back to you.

3. 03

   Price by the task, with a minimum

   Customers want to know the price before you arrive. Publish flat prices for your most common tasks, like mounting a TV or patching a hole up to a set size, and charge a minimum per visit so short jobs still cover your drive. Use an hourly rate only for jobs you can't scope from photos.

   If you hire later, remember what help costs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median wage for general maintenance and repair workers at $23.84 an hour, before taxes, insurance and tools.

4. 04

   Buy tools you'll use every visit

   Start with a cordless drill and driver, a good mixed tool set, a 6-foot fiberglass ladder, a stud finder, a level, and drywall and caulk supplies. Fiberglass ladders don't conduct electricity, which matters around light fixtures and outlets.

   Rent or borrow anything you'll use once a month. Buy it after the third time you've needed it, and count the purchase as a business expense.

5. 05

   Register, insure and track expenses

   Get a free EIN from the IRS, register with your state and city, and buy general liability insurance. A drill through a water line is a real risk, and property managers will ask for a certificate before they give you keys.

   Keep receipts for tools, materials, insurance and mileage from day one. The IRS covers what you can deduct in Publication 334 for small businesses, Publication 463 for car expenses and Publication 587 for a home office.

6. 06

   Publish a task menu online

   Your site should list the jobs you do with starting prices, the area you cover, your insurance, reviews, and a quote form that asks for the task, address and a few photos. In California, add the required note that you're not a licensed contractor if you don't hold one. Describe your business and Replo builds that site, live on your own domain.

   Replo doesn't schedule visits or send invoices. Embed a booking calendar from Housecall Pro, Calendly or Cal.com on the page so customers can request a time that suits them.

7. 07

   Win landlords and agents

   Homeowners call you once a year. Landlords, property managers and real estate agents call you every month, because every tenant turnover and every listing has a punch list. Introduce yourself with a one-page price list and offer to do the first small job fast.

   After every job, send a photo of the finished work and ask for a review. A handful of repeat clients can fill most of your week.

What it costs to start a handyman business

Core tools and setup for small repairs in California. Staying under the $1,000 line means you can skip the license rows at first.

Your first 30 days

1. Week 1

   Rules, tools and paperwork

   • Read your state contractor board's rules on handyman dollar limits.
   • Write a list of fifteen tasks you can do well without permits.
   • Register your business, apply for an EIN and insure your work.
   • Buy the drill set, hand tools and ladder you'll carry daily.

2. Week 2

   Price and launch

   • Set flat prices for your ten most common tasks and a visit minimum.
   • Launch your site with the task menu, service area and quote form.
   • Do two paid jobs for friends and photograph the finished work.

3. Week 3

   Reach repeat clients

   • Email five property managers your one-page price list.
   • Introduce yourself to three real estate agents with listings nearby.
   • Reply to every quote request the same day with a fixed price.

4. Week 4

   Collect reviews and refine

   • Ask every client for a review with a photo of the work.
   • Raise prices on tasks that took longer than you quoted.
   • Add your most-requested tasks to the top of your site.

Build your handyman site

Frequently asked questions

How much do most handymen charge per hour?

There's no official figure for handyman rates. The BLS reports a median wage of $23.84 an hour for general maintenance and repair workers on payroll. As an owner, your rate must also cover driving, tools, insurance, taxes and unpaid hours, so it will be higher.

How do I get customers for my handyman business?

Start with landlords, property managers and real estate agents, who need repairs every month. Hand them a one-page price list, do the first job fast, and send photos of the finished work. Ask every homeowner client for a review on your site.

Do I need a license to be a handyman in California?

Not for jobs under $1,000 in labor and materials, as long as the work needs no permit and you don't hire anyone. Your ads must say you're not licensed. Anything bigger, permitted or with workers needs a CSLB contractor license.

What are common tax write-offs for a handyman business?

Tools, materials, liability insurance, phone, software and the business use of your vehicle are common ones. The IRS covers the rules in Publication 334 for small businesses, Publication 463 for car expenses and Publication 587 for a home office. Keep every receipt.

How much does it cost to start a handyman business?

About $650 for a drill and driver set, a hand tool set, a ladder and a domain, if you stay under California's $1,000 limit. Adding a contractor license application and initial fee brings it to about $1,300, before the bond.