(LifeWire) - Overview of this Business
Living by your wrench and your wits as a self-employed handyperson can be one of the better home business ideas and opportunities for the motivated and mechanically inclined. A handyperson makes a living mostly by doing small jobs such as toilet repair, window replacement and basic carpentry for households and small business. A handyperson embodies the label "jack of all trades," handling diverse tasks for customers who are often in immediate need. Many handypersons charge between $30 and $50 an hour. Some handypersons bill clients a flat fee for a particular job, no matter how much time it takes.
Pros of a Handyperson Home Business
- You can set your own hours and your own rates.
- You have the freedom to build clientele and attend workshops during off hours.
- Dress code is casual and comfortable (but be presentable and professional).
- Enjoying the immediate satisfaction of a job well done.
Cons of a Handyperson Home Business
- You won't get rich.
- Collecting from difficult or dissatisfied customers can be a pain.
- Jobs that take extra long because of your mistakes should be billed at less than the agreed-upon rate.
- Self-promotion requires constant effort.
- Thorny liability issues, such as when you break something or are accused of causing further disrepair, arise from time to time.
What You Need to Get Started in a Handyperson Home Business
- A kit full of the basics such as a hammer, wrench, screwdrivers, garbage bags, caulk, cleaner, light bulbs, buckets, plus a stepladder
- Business cards, signage on your vehicle and a website to advertise
- The proper occupational licensing and certification in some cases
- A computer bookkeeping system such as Excel
- Initiative
- Specific expertise isn't often needed for jobs (and can often be obtained through a manual or video), but a knack for tinkering is a must.
Handyperson: Real Life Example
Handy David, of the "Handyman Business and Estimating Guide" at handyman.com charges $35 an hour. He recommends that you calculate your region's going rate by finding out the average of what a handful of local shops charge for auto and mechanical repair, and use 45% of that as your regular fee.
