The Handyman Startup Podcast: Small Business | Marketing | Lifestyle | Home Improvement

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 […] 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 […] The post The power of low expectations part 2: Simple tips for less stress and more fun appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post The power of low expectations appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post My top five least profitable handyman jobs appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post Growing a business the easy way appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post 5 Indispensable Business Lessons From Mounting 100 TVs appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] 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 […] 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 […] The post Preparing For The Busy Season: Four Simple Ways to Make More Money This Summer appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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, […] The post How to sell your services, book more jobs, and grow a $200 million home service business with Tommy Mello appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] 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 […] 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 […] The post Stay Solo or Hire Employees? Here's How to Decide appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] 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 […] The post How to Grow a $10 Million Landscaping Business with Bryan Clayton appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post Handyman Estimates: The Ultimate Guide (+ Free Template) appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post Colette Bell of Ace Handyman Services: The Costs and Benefits of Investing in a Handyman Franchise appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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. […] 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. […] 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 […] The post Specialist vs. Generalist: Six Reasons it Pays to Specialize appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post 7 Profitable Handyman Business Models That Can Replace Your Income appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post Handyman Business Names: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post Make $1,000 Per Month in 5 Hours Per Week with a Part-Time Handyman Business appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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. […] The post How to Start a Business While Working Full-Time appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post Should You Get a Contractors License? appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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, […] The post Sole Proprietorship vs LLC – The Best Entity for Service-Based Businesses appeared first on Handyman Startup.

Ready to start your handyman business and want to know the best way to get started? Like most people in your shoes, you probably have one or more of the following questions: “What's the first step?” “How much experience do I need?” “What kind of licensing do I need?” “How much money can I actually […] The post The First 5 Steps to Starting a Profitable Handyman Business in 2022 appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post How Much Does it Cost to Start a Handyman Business? appeared first on Handyman Startup.

Last updated: July 11, 2022 Having a career as a pro handyman can be surprisingly lucrative. In fact, I've made up to $200 per hour doing basic home repairs, and typically average just under $100 per hour. How did I do it? I explain exactly how in this step-by-step guide here, but for now, let's […] The post How much can you make as a pro handyman? appeared first on Handyman Startup.

I used to wake up every day with one single question on my mind, “how many days are there before the weekend?” I was counting down the days because I, like millions of people, hated my 9-5 job. And this wasn't just a mild dislike of my job either. I really, truly, deep down, despised […] The post Quit Your Job In 6 Months Or Less – The Ultimate 9-5 Escape Plan appeared first on Handyman Startup.

“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 […] The post How to Overcome The Fears of Starting a Business appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] 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 […] 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 […] 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 […] 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 […] 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 […] 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 […] 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 […] 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 […] 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 […] 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 […] 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: […] 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 […] 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 […] 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 […] 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 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 […] The post Why You Should (or Shouldn't) Start a Handyman Business appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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 […] The post My Monthly Report – May 2013 appeared first on Handyman Startup.

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. […] The post HS 005 – Blogging For Business (How to Turn Your Knowledge Into Leads) appeared first on Handyman Startup.

I'd love to tell you that starting a handyman business is easy as setting up a website, putting up ads on Craigslist, and slapping “Bob's Handyman Services” on your truck. This is certainly a good start, but if you want to have a profitable and enjoyable handyman business, then you'll need to learn the strategies […] The post How to target the best customers for your handyman business appeared first on Handyman Startup.