The Handyman Startup Podcast

Having a career as a pro handyman can be surprisingly lucrative.

For example, I currently average over $149 per hour doing basic home repairs and often make over $200 per hour.

And I’m not special. Many of my students make more than this and easily generate a six-figure income each year.

How do we do it?

I explain how in this step-by-step guide here, but for now, let’s focus on how much an average handyman makes each year to get a good idea of how much you can make as a handyman.

I hunted for relevant stats regarding handyman salaries. Here are the important ones I dug up:

According to Zip Recruiter:

Here are a few handyman-type careers and their annual median pay in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics:

Figure 1: National Average Salary For Handyman-Type Jobs

Again, these numbers are the median. Some handyman workers make more, and others make less. A highly skilled handyman with a decade of experience will make more than someone less experienced or knowledgeable.

Location plays a significant role in how much you can make as well. To get a better estimate of potential income in your specific area, check out a website like Zip Recruiter.

As you can see from the numbers above, employed handymen tend to make more than construction helpers, but neither is rolling in cash.

Plumbers and electricians make quite a bit more, but if you want to make six figures in this industry as an employee, your best bet is to land a job as a construction manager.

Now, let’s look at how much you can make with a handyman business because this is much more fun and interesting.

The average self-employed handyman can earn between $53,000 and $120,000 annually (after expenses). This is for a handyman working solo with no employees.

So, if you’re wondering if the handyman business is profitable, the answer is YES.

Operating a handyman business can be pretty lucrative if you set up your business correctly and provide excellent service.

Take a look at this table, which I’ve created to estimate your potential income as a self-employed handyman based on how much you charge and how many billable hours you work each week.

Table 1: Estimated Self-Employed Handyman Income

This table represents actual income. Typical handyman business expenses (insurance, licensing, tools, marketing, etc.) and self-employment taxes are already factored into the equation. This means it provides a near apples-to-apples comparison with an employee’s salary.

As you can see from the table, two main variables will affect your yearly income as a pro handyman:

Of course, other things will also affect your income, such as expense variations, but these tend to be similar for most self-employed handyman businesses. Since I’ve been nerding out about the handyman business for nearly a decade, I can estimate typical expenses with enough precision to be valid.

To answer this question, you’ll need to estimate your rates and how many hours you will bill for, on average, each week.

Here’s one way to figure that out.

As I demonstrated in my article about setting handyman hourly rates, pro handymen in the U.S. average between $40 and $139 per hour, with the majority charging $60 to $90 per hour.

That’s a decent range, and what you can charge will depend on where you live, the services you provide, and how good you are at what you do (just like for employees).

However, as a business owner, your income will also be affected by your business skills. If you learn how to market your business effectively, sell your services, and manage yourself and your expenses well, it will dramatically impact your profits and income.

But, assuming you become average at those business skills, it’s safe to assume you can get between $60 and $85 per billable hour for your time (and much more if you master the business skills).

Adjust a bit higher if you live in a major metropolitan area and a bit lower in a rural area.

As a self-employed handyman, you won’t be paid for every hour that you work.

Unlike an employee, you’ll have to answer the phone, follow up with customers, manage your bookkeeping, shop for tools and supplies, market your services, and do other admin tasks that you will not be paid for (at least not directly).

So, unless you want to work 60+ hours per week, you won’t bill for 40 hours per week. A reasonable estimate for a typical handyman is to work somewhere between 25 and 35 billable hours per week. That allows time for driving to and from jobs, following up, and other day-to-day tasks.

Of course, this also assumes you can keep your schedule full in the first place.

So, if you look at the table above and then match your estimated hourly rate with the number of billable hours you will be working, you can get a pretty good idea of your income.

Assuming 25 billable hours per week at $60 per hour, you will make about $53,000 in a year.

Figure 2: Estimated self-employed handyman’s annual income

If you can average ~30 billable hours per week at a rate of $85 per hour or more, you can make $100,000. Not too bad!

If you only look at income potential, this is a no-brainer. Starting a handyman business is by far the better option. As an employee with lots of experience, you are only looking at an income ceiling of $80,000, and that’s if you live in the right place with the right employer. The same skills and experience could earn you well over $100K as a self-employed handyman.

Being self-employed has other benefits as well. You have more control over your schedule. You have more control over which customers you work for and what kind of jobs you take on. If you build your business well, you are creating a valuable asset. And owning your own business is more secure than being an employee.

But there are downsides to being self-employed. You have to manage your marketing, pricing, and yourself. This can be stressful, and if you don’t manage your business well, you can make a lot less than you would as an employee.

It also takes time to get your business up and running (time that you aren’t paid for).

As an employee, you have the benefit of making money right away. Every hour that you work, you are guaranteed to receive compensation. You don’t have to decide how much to charge or where to invest your marketing dollars. You just get to show up and fix stuff. Being an employee is often less stressful.

However, you don’t have control over your schedule as an employee. You must work when, where, and for whom you are told. You may have to take on jobs that you hate doing. And, of course, your income potential is significantly lower.

Starting a business is a clear choice for me, and the benefits far outweigh the downsides.

But if you are looking for on-the-job training, a faster route to payday, or a more consistent income, and you don’t mind following orders, then getting a job may be a better choice.

Many self-employed pros are covered under their spouse’s health benefits.

But what if you aren’t?

Are you better off getting a job with benefits than starting a business?

Probably not. Let’s take a look at some numbers.

According to ehealthinsurance.com:

Paying health insurance is a huge bummer, but it’s probably not expensive enough to force you to get a job. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Above, I demonstrated that the average self-employed handyman could expect to make between $53,000 and $120,000. If we factor in health insurance, here’s how things change.

Estimated self-employed handyman income after paying for health insurance:

Now, remember from above that 71% of handyman employees earn between $42,000 and $63,000. Comparing those to the self-employed rates, you can still make significantly more as a self-employed handyman, even while paying for your own health insurance.

But not all handyman employers offer insurance benefits, and those that do probably pay their employees slightly lower salaries. So again, the winner from a financial perspective is clear – you can make much more money as a self-employed handyman.

The handyman business can be quite profitable, especially if you are willing to work hard and focus some time and effort on learning essential business skills.

An effective self-employed handyman can earn significantly more than they could as an employee. If you are a self-driven person with the confidence that you can solve problems, starting your own handyman business is your best bet.

And lastly, as a self-employed handyman, it’s worth it to invest time and money to learn how to raise your rates or schedule jobs more efficiently. Doing so will have a significant impact on your income.

Now, listen to the podcast version of this article, which includes extra content with deeper insights. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app!

HS026 – How much money can you make as a pro handyman?

The post How much can you make as a pro handyman? 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 businesses from a accounting perspective, he understands it from the contractor’s perspective.

Randal’s been involved in the construction industry pretty much since he was born as his dad was a contractor. After going to school to become an accountant, he decided, like many of us, that he didn’t want to work in an office. So he changed his direction and set out to become a plumber.

After very successfully starting, growing, and selling his plumbing company, he got back into accounting and now does it full time, focusing solely on helping contractors, handyman, and other tradesman grow their businesses through an intelligent and strategic approach.

I’m honored to have Randal on the show and I’ve personally gained a lot of highly valuable business knowledge from him.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

To learn more about Randal DeHart:

Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed this podcast!  If you did, and you’d like to hear more, please take a couple of minutes and leave a review on iTunes!

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 a handyman on the show who is just getting started, and it turned out amazing.

Justin started his handyman business only a couple of months ago and is already booked out two weeks in advance while charging a premium for his services.  He was previously a teacher, when he realized that he enjoyed working with his hands much more.  So, he put his skills that he learned from working on a farm to good use and got started with his handyman business in Sydney, Australia.

I got in touch with Justin when he contacted me to thank me for helping him get started.  As a member of the Handyman Web Academy (Now called Handyman Marketing Machine) and a reader of this blog, he took action on the knowledge that he learned and has had amazing results.

It was inspiring to talk with Justin, and even though he’s just getting started, I learned a lot from him.  Whether you are just getting started or have been in business for a while, Justin’s got some great insights to share.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

Resources mentioned in the Podcast

Thanks for listening.  I hope you enjoyed this podcast.  If so, please do me a favor and leave a short written review on iTunes.  Also, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

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 knew I’d have to go through extra steps to make myself look professional.  I had to find a way to look like I was actually an established business.  Otherwise, what reason would a customer have to even trust me?

So, I spent some time branding my business.  I did all the things necessary to make it appear as if I’d been doing this for a while.  I went out of my way to differentiate myself from other handymen.

As it turns out, overcompensating for my weakness ended up helping my business tremendously.

Not only did the extra time branding my business convince customers I was worth hiring, but it increased my perceived value in their minds.

The fact that I looked like I was a kid didn’t matter anymore.  I presented myself as if I had my shit together, and that was enough to convince them to at least give me a shot.

Of course, haveing a pretty logo designed and putting on a uniform didn’t get me customers by itself.  I still had to put effort into generating leads.  But it certainly helped close the deal on many occassions and it continues to do so.

That’s why in this podcast, I discuss the power of branding and tips for creating your brand.  Whether you are just getting started or have been in business for a while, a great brand can take your business to the next level.

As always, thanks for listening!  Be sure to subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and leave me a review in iTunes!

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 it.  She’s also a great person who is interested in improving the home service industry and is willing to share what she’s learned to help others.

With over 15 years as a business owner, Linda has a lot of valuable lessons to teach and it was a pleasure having her on the show.

Regardless of whether you are buying a plumbing franchise, or starting a handyman business, the insights that Linda shares are extremely valuable.

Here are some of the topics we cover in this episode:

Recommended Resources Mentioned:

Thanks for listening!  And, if you haven’t yet done so, please leave a review on iTunes and let me know how I’m doing!  You may even get featured on the next episode.

Have any thoughts on a topic for the next show?  Know somebody I should interview?  Or, just want to share your thoughts on this episode.  Let me know in the comments below!

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 look at Dollar Shave Club, who built a business based on social media marketing almost exclusively.

Social sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and the like are reshaping how we think about promoting our businesses and as far as I can tell, they aren’t going away any time soon.

That’s why I asked Rick Mulready of the Inside Social Media Podcast to join me to discuss how us handymen and other home service providers can take advantage of social media to get more customers.

Rick  has over 12 years of corporate internet marketing experience gained from working for companies like AOL, Yahoo!, and Funny or Die.

Now, he shares big brand social media strategies with small business owners on his podcast.  Social media is what he does.  Beyond that, he’s just a good dude.  So, I figured who better to share some valuable marketing advice with you!

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

Additional Resources:

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed the podcast, I’d be really thankful if you’d share it or reviewed it on iTunes.  

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What’s your preferred social media platform?  Where do you hang out on the internet?  Let me know in the comments below!

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 to have an experienced handyman fix what they needed fixed and to leave when they were done.

Man was I wrong.

Customers do care about your story.  In fact, it can significantly impact their hiring decisions.  If you can craft a decent story that includes at least one of five key elements, you will not only attract more customers, but you’ll attract more loyal customers.  I’m talking about customers that recommend you to their friends, give you online reviews, and hire you over and over, without you even asking them too.

My story has certainly helped me with my business, as it has with Christy Webber, Nick May, and Chris Maxwell-Gaines.  So, I spent some time researching and breaking down what makes a good story and why a good sales story is so effective.  I’ve recorded this podcast to share what I’ve learned with hopes that it will help your business.

Enjoy!

Here’s what I discuss in this episode:

Additional Recommended Resources:

Thanks for listening!  If you get a chance, I’d really appreciate a written review on iTunes to let me know what you think.

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 demand he could see present for home repairs.

In 2006 he started Padilla Home Inspection and Handyman Services.  Soon after getting started, he noticed that handymen had a terrible reputation in the eyes of homeowners.  Tired of getting the stink-eye every time he entered a home, he had the urge to change this perspective.

Three years later, he took action and created ACHP, a non-profit, member based organization  to help handymen all over the country appear more reputable to homeowners.  Now, ACHP is growing and offering benefits to it’s members such as great insurance rates.

I’m honored to have Ed on the podcast.  He’s doing great things for the handyman industry and by listening to him you get the sense that he really cares about our industry.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

The post HS018 – Interview With Ed Padilla: Home Inspector, Handyman, and Founder of ACHP appeared first on Handyman Startup.