Handyman Success Podcast

What happens when a retired corporate sales executive who “didn’t know the difference between a Phillips and a flathead” starts a handyman business? In just three months, Mark Schwartz of Harpers Handyman in Nashville, TN went from launch day to booked solid two to three weeks out, doing $22K–$27K a month with one truck.

Mark spent 15 years training and driving harness racing horses, then built a long career leading sales teams in banking software. After retirement left him restless, and after going through four unreliable handymen on his own rental properties, he teamed up with his son-in-law Clark to build a handyman company that runs like a real business from day one.

In this episode, Allen and Jason dig into:

• Mark’s selling system: BNI, property manager associations, and a printed sales presentation
• How he won a job even though he was the most expensive bid
• Why he sends itemized estimates on jobs over $5,000
• Using AI and pricing guides to estimate when you’re not a tradesman
• His goal of a $1M run rate with four crews by mid-2027
• Delegating, hiring, and leading like a business owner instead of a technician
• Handling more demand than one crew can cover
• Why franchises in your area are actually a good sign

If you’re on the fence about starting, raising your prices, or getting out of your own way, this one is for you.

Hosted by Jason Call, Founder of Handyman Marketing Pros, and Allen Lee, Founder of The Handyman Journey

Get a professional website, SEO, and advertising at https://HandymanMarketingPros.com

Get handyman-specific business coaching from Allen Lee at https://HandymanJourney.com

Sign up for our monthly Webinars and Training (FREE!) at https://HandymanSuccess.net

What does it take to build a handyman business that can grow beyond just you?

In Episode #77 of the Handyman Success Podcast, I sit down with Dustin Fritschel of DIFY Handyman Services to talk about his journey in the handyman industry, building his business, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and what he’s doing to create a business that supports the life he wants to live.

We get into the real side of running a handyman business—the wins, challenges, mindset shifts, systems, and decisions that come with moving from simply doing the work to actually building a business.

If you're a handyman who wants to grow, make more money, build better systems, and eventually create more freedom, this conversation is for you.

Hosted by Jason Call, Founder of Handyman Marketing Pros, and Allen Lee, Founder of The Handyman Journey

Get a professional website, SEO, and advertising at https://HandymanMarketingPros.com

Get handyman-specific business coaching from Allen Lee at https://HandymanJourney.com

Sign up for our monthly Webinars and Training (FREE!) at https://HandymanSuccess.net

In Episode #76 of the Handyman Success Podcast, I sit down with Jason Call, founder of Handyman Marketing Pros — and someone who played a huge role behind the scenes in the growth of Honest Lee Handyman Services.

Jason was the driving force behind much of our marketing at Honest Lee Handyman. From generating leads and building our online presence to helping us create a consistent flow of work, I got to experience firsthand what Jason can do for a handyman business.

Today, Jason runs Handyman Marketing Pros, the #1 handyman-focused marketing agency in the world, helping handyman business owners generate more leads, build stronger brands, and grow profitable businesses.

In this episode, we talk about Jason's journey, what actually works when it comes to marketing a handyman business, the mistakes he sees contractors make, and what you should be focusing on if you want to consistently keep your schedule full.

Whether you're just starting out or trying to grow an established handyman company, this episode is packed with marketing knowledge you can put to work in your business.

Hosted by Jason Call, Founder of Handyman Marketing Pros, and Allen Lee, Founder of The Handyman Journey

Get a professional website, SEO, and advertising at https://HandymanMarketingPros.com

Get handyman-specific business coaching from Allen Lee at https://HandymanJourney.com

Sign up for our monthly Webinars and Training (FREE!) at https://HandymanSuccess.net

Coby McManaman built his handyman business to over $1 million in annual revenue... and then watched it all come crashing down.

In this powerful episode of the Handyman Success Podcast, Allen Lee and Jason Call sit down with Coby to unpack the entire journey—the decisions that fueled his incredible growth, the mistakes that led to bankruptcy, and the hard-earned lessons that every business owner needs to hear.

This isn't just another success story. It's an honest conversation about the realities of scaling too fast, managing cash flow, building the right systems, leading a team, and what happens when things don't go according to plan. Most importantly, Coby shares what he would do differently if he had the chance to start over.

Whether you're just getting started or already running a growing handyman business, this episode could save you from making some very expensive mistakes.

Hosted by Jason Call, Founder of Handyman Marketing Pros, and Allen Lee, Founder of The Handyman Journey

Get a professional website, SEO, and advertising at https://HandymanMarketingPros.com

Get handyman-specific business coaching from Allen Lee at https://HandymanJourney.com

Sign up for our monthly Webinars and Training (FREE!) at https://HandymanSuccess.net

After nearly a decade of building Honest Lee Handyman Services, the sale is complete. In this episode of the Handyman Success Podcast, Allen Lee and Jason Call sit down with the new owner, Eric Geier, to discuss the purchase side of the acquisition. Eric shares what attracted him to the business, what the buying process was really like, and his vision for the future of Honest Lee Handyman Services.

Whether you're thinking about buying a business, selling one someday, or simply want to build a company that's valuable beyond yourself, this episode offers practical insights and an honest look behind the scenes.

Hosted by Jason Call, Founder of Handyman Marketing Pros, and Allen Lee, Founder of The Handyman Journey

Get a professional website, SEO, and advertising at https://HandymanMarketingPros.com

Get handyman-specific business coaching from Allen Lee at https://HandymanJourney.com

Sign up for our monthly Webinars and Training (FREE!) at https://HandymanSuccess.net

🛠️ What does it really feel like to sell the handyman business you spent 10 years building?

In this episode of the Handyman Success Podcast, Jason Call sits down with Allen Lee to unpack the sale of Honestly Handyman Services in March 2026. Allen shares the emotional side of selling a business, the identity shift that came with stepping away, and the behind-the-scenes process of finding the right buyer.

They also dig into what made the business sellable: documented systems, strong processes, a trusted brand, clean operations, and a team that could keep running without Allen in the driver’s seat.

Whether you want to sell someday or simply build a stronger, more profitable handyman business, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. 💪

🔑 In this episode:

•  Why Allen decided to sell Honestly Handyman Services 
•  The emotional identity shift after selling a business 
•  How the buyer found the business through BizBuySell 
•  Why systems and documentation made the business more valuable 
•  What happened when SBA financing fell through 
•  Why Allen chose legacy and fit over simply chasing the highest sale price 
•  How to make a handyman business more sellable 
•  What Allen is doing now with Handyman Journey, coaching, AI tools, and the Handyman Roadshow 

👉 Learn more about Allen’s coaching and resources at:
 HandymanJourney.com

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on growing, systemizing, marketing, and scaling a successful handyman business.

Based on the provided transcript from the Handyman Success Podcast episode featuring Jason Call and Allen Lee.

Hosted by Jason Call, Founder of Handyman Marketing Pros, and Allen Lee, Founder of The Handyman Journey

Get a professional website, SEO, and advertising at https://HandymanMarketingPros.com

Get handyman-specific business coaching from Allen Lee at https://HandymanJourney.com

Sign up for our monthly Webinars and Training (FREE!) at https://HandymanSuccess.net

Allen Lee started Honestly Handyman Services part-time in 2016 while working as an auto mechanic. Ten years later, he sold the business. 🚐💼

In this extended episode of the Handyman Success Podcast, Jason Call interviews Allen year by year through the real story behind building, growing, struggling through, systemizing, and eventually selling a handyman business.

They cover the good, the bad, and the ugly: first jobs, pricing lessons, hiring mistakes, 1099 contractors, building systems, hiring a CSR, surviving family medical challenges, growing a team, leadership lessons, revenue milestones, marketing budgets, and what it really takes to build a handyman business that can operate beyond the owner.

This episode is packed with honest lessons for handyman business owners who want more freedom, better systems, stronger teams, and a business that can grow without consuming their entire life. 🔧📈

Hosted by Jason Call, Founder of Handyman Marketing Pros, and Allen Lee, Founder of The Handyman Journey

Get a professional website, SEO, and advertising at https://HandymanMarketingPros.com

Get handyman-specific business coaching from Allen Lee at https://HandymanJourney.com

Sign up for our monthly Webinars and Training (FREE!) at https://HandymanSuccess.net

Still working out of a cramped SUV… and wondering when it’s time to upgrade?

This is Part 2 of our conversation with James from CMC Home Repairs—and we get real about the behind-the-scenes decisions that can make or break your handyman business.

👉 Should you go into debt for a work van?
 👉 How do you invest in tools without going broke?
 👉 What actually matters more—image or quality work?

If you’re in the early stages (or stuck trying to level up), this episode is full of hard-earned lessons you don’t want to learn the expensive way.

We cover:

•  The real cost of upgrading to a work van (and why most rush it) 
•  Smart vs. risky business investments early on 
•  Tool buying mistakes (and how to avoid “tool addiction”) 
•  Creative ways to operate without a full van setup 
•  Why trust, quality, and reliability beat “looking professional” 
•  Biggest wins (and painful mistakes) from year one 
•  The #1 habit that prevents losing money on jobs 
•  Why “just starting” is the biggest win most people avoid 

💡 If you're trying to grow without drowning in debt—this episode is for you.

Hosted by Jason Call, Founder of Handyman Marketing Pros, and Allen Lee, Founder of The Handyman Journey

Get a professional website, SEO, and advertising at https://HandymanMarketingPros.com

Get handyman-specific business coaching from Allen Lee at https://HandymanJourney.com

Sign up for our monthly Webinars and Training (FREE!) at https://HandymanSuccess.net

From actor to handyman business owner… this story hits different.

In this episode of the Handyman Success Podcast, we sit down with James from CMC Home Repairs, who made a bold career shift after 20 years in acting—and built a growing handyman business from scratch.

👉 If you’ve ever felt stuck in your career…
 👉 Wondered when to go full-time in your business…
 👉 Or struggled with pricing your services…

This episode is packed with real, honest insight from someone who’s been there.

We cover:

•  How James knew it was time to leave his career and start over 
•  The exact moment he went full-time in his handyman business 
•  What actually worked (and didn’t) for getting his first clients 
•  Angi leads vs. building your own marketing system 
•  Pricing mistakes (starting at $60/hr 😬) and how to fix them 
•  Why most handymen stay stuck—and how to break out 
•  The power of repeat customers and Google reviews 

Whether you're just starting out or trying to grow, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and move forward with confidence.

🎧 Listen now and take the next step in your handyman journey.

Hosted by Jason Call, Founder of Handyman Marketing Pros, and Allen Lee, Founder of The Handyman Journey

Get a professional website, SEO, and advertising at https://HandymanMarketingPros.com

Get handyman-specific business coaching from Allen Lee at https://HandymanJourney.com

Sign up for our monthly Webinars and Training (FREE!) at https://HandymanSuccess.net

Most new handymen struggle with one thing…

👉 Pricing their work.

Do you charge too much? Too little? Just guess and hope for the best?

In this episode, Tim breaks down how he went from guessing prices to confidently earning $600–$800 per day—even while working part-time.

We cover:

•  How to price jobs when you have no experience 
•  Why most handymen undercharge (and how to fix it) 
•  The “daily rate” method that simplifies everything 
•  How to use photos to quote jobs faster 
•  When to say NO (and why it actually makes you more money) 
•  Lessons from costly mistakes (like a job that took WAY too long) 

If you’re tired of second-guessing your prices or feeling like you’re leaving money on the table—this is your roadmap.

👉 Charge with confidence. Build a real business.

Hosted by Jason Call, Founder of Handyman Marketing Pros, and Allen Lee, Founder of The Handyman Journey

Get a professional website, SEO, and advertising at https://HandymanMarketingPros.com

Get handyman-specific business coaching from Allen Lee at https://HandymanJourney.com

Sign up for our monthly Webinars and Training (FREE!) at https://HandymanSuccess.net