🛠️ 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

Most people think you need years of experience to start a handyman business…

Tim didn’t.

With 6 kids, a full-time role in ministry, and zero formal training, he built a successful part-time handyman business from scratch.

In this episode, he breaks down exactly how he did it—and how you can too.

We cover:

•  How to start a handyman business with little experience 
•  Why working part-time can actually be an advantage 
•  The simple door-to-door strategy that landed his first jobs 
•  How to choose profitable services (and avoid time traps) 
•  The mindset shift that turns “side hustle” into real income 
•  How to build trust and get 5-star reviews fast 

If you’ve been thinking about starting a handyman business—but feel stuck, overwhelmed, or underqualified—this episode will change how you see it.

👉 You don’t need to know everything. You just need to start.

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

Want to build a handyman business that people want to work for… and customers trust before they ever call?

In this segment of the Handyman Success Podcast, J.R. Crowell (Steady Home Maintenance – Jackson/Flowood, MS) breaks down the real systems that keep his team aligned, trained, and performing — plus what he’s learned about marketing and cracking the “subscription maintenance” code.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ The hiring catch-22: skilled techs vs. “green” employees (and why both have trade-offs)
✅ How they protect culture with open-book management (everyone sees the P&L) + performance pay
✅ Why they train every Friday (and why communication training is the real “cheat code”)
✅ Their Notion SOP system: a searchable internal database that tells techs:

• what to ask on the first call
• what tools to bring
• step-by-step job checklists (ex: door installs)
   ✅ Smart “make-it-easy” systems: standardized caulks, visual cheat sheets, QR code ordering, and job crates prepped in advance
   ✅ EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System): when it works best + how J.R. adapts it for smaller teams
   ✅ Marketing reality: what they tried, what they stopped, and what works now
• Realtors + punch lists
• EDDM direct mail
• Google reviews (why 25–30 reviews changes everything)
• Google LSA + PPC tweaks
• Why they’re going all-in on content marketing + YouTube as a long-term lever
  ✅ Subscription/membership programs: what failed, what worked, and how they’re restructuring it
  ✅ AI in the trades: why J.R. says to “lever AI quickly,” including a wearable tool that can help create SOPs fast

If you’re trying to scale past owner-operator mode, improve training, or build a subscription plan that actually makes money — this is one to steal notes from.

👉 Question for you: Are you building an owner-operator job… or a scalable business? Comment below.

#handyman #handymanbusiness #contractor #smallbusiness #homeservices

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

If you’ve ever wondered how to scale a handyman business like a real company (not just a one-man hustle), this episode is for you.

In this Handyman Success Podcast interview, Jason Call and Allen Lee sit down with J.R. Crowell of Steady Home Maintenance (Jackson / Flowood, Mississippi) to break down exactly how J.R. built a systems-first handyman company that grew fast — including:

✅ 8 W2 employees (handyman + remodel division)
✅ ~$800,000 in annual revenue (85–90% handyman)
✅ A “business-first” approach with processes, training, and culture
✅ Why adding remodel work is harder than most owners expect
✅ How they stay booked (25–30 leads/week) and avoid schedule chaos
✅ Remote estimating (selling jobs via photos/video) and dispatch systems
✅ Tools + branding + software investments that made them look “bigger than they were”
✅ Culture and hiring: core values, DISC profiles, and building a team people want to join
✅ How they use systems like Jobber + Notion to run training and operations
✅ A membership/subscription model (what worked + what didn’t)

This is a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to build a professional handyman operation with strong marketing, strong people, and clear rules for how the team wins.

🎧 Listen in if you want to grow past “just you,” hire A-players, and build a handyman business that can scale.

Connect with Steady Home Maintenance:
Search “Steady Home Maintenance” (Jackson / Flowood, MS) on Facebook + YouTube to see their authentic marketing and culture in action.

👉 Want more episodes like this?
Subscribe, and drop a comment: What’s your #1 bottleneck right now — hiring, scheduling, pricing, or marketing?

#handyman #handymanbusiness #homeimprovement #smallbusiness #contractor

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

💰 How do you confidently price handyman jobs? What happens when you move your business to a new city — and Google sabotages your online presence? In this powerful continuation of Joe’s story, we dive deeper into the real challenges (and wins!) of running a service business.

🎯 In this episode, Joe shares:

• His journey from undercharging to confidently charging $120/hr+
• The $280K milestone he hit after writing it down two years prior
• Lessons learned from moving his business from Hattiesburg to Mobile
• Why separating handyman and window tinting brands might be necessary
• How to protect your business from “demon clients”
• Why documenting your "why" changes everything

Joe’s honest, no-fluff perspective is full of gold for anyone growing (or restarting) a handyman business.

👇 Want to grow your own business? Start here:
 🔗 Free Webinars & Coaching

🔗 Marketing Help for Handymen

🔗 Join the Facebook Mastermind

✅ If this helped you, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE this episode with someone who needs a push to level up!

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 this episode of the Handyman Success Podcast, we sit down with Joe from Vision Handyman & Window Tinting in Mobile, Alabama — and wow, what a journey! From Best Buy to New Zealand, to stand-up comedy, to becoming a full-time handyman, Joe’s story is raw, real, and incredibly inspiring.

🎯 Joe shares:

• How he transitioned from corporate retail to skilled trades
• Why he only takes “small jobs” and how that became a niche
• The marketing tactics that worked (and flopped) — including his billboard
• How he bounced back after losing 90+ Google reviews
• Why BNI saved his business during a tough season
• How stand-up comedy shaped his customer experience philosophy

This is a must-listen for any handyman looking to build a better business, stand out with personality, and create raving fans.

👇 Dive deeper and grow with us:
 🔗 Free Webinars, Training & Community

🔗 Marketing Help for Handymen

🔗 Business Coaching

📌 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE this with another hardworking handyman who needs to hear it!

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