How to Become a Handyman in 2022

If you are the best handyman you know, and find yourself helping friends and neighbors regularly, then maybe it is time you made some money off of your skill. Being a handyman is rewarding work. You can have a sense of accomplishment after every job, and make the lives of your clients easier.

That being said, while the most important traits to have are knowledge and skill, you also need to take certain measures to become one. Sometimes just thinking of the process involved can be intimidating, but you should not let it stop you from taking that step. Here is how to become a handyman in 2022.

Figure Out What Services You Are Going to Offer

The first thing you should do is take stock of your skills and weaknesses to decide what services you will offer. You can offer “general” services, but you will need to be honest with your clients and tell them when you have not done something before or are not confident. Certain services require special licenses, such as plumbing and electrical. There are a lot of things you can do, such as garage door repair, lawn equipment repair, eavestroughs, deck repair, drywall, painting, and much more. Whatever you decide to do, make sure that you study up and get yourself as knowledgeable as possible so you can provide the best service to your clients.

Understand the Licensing Requirements In Your State and City

Even if you are not an electrician or a plumber, there may be laws that apply to handyman businesses in your jurisdiction. For example, if a job reaches a certain value threshold, such as $10,000, your state may require you to get a special license. This will involve submitting documentation to the state and completing an exam that shows that you have the requisite knowledge and skill for the profession. On a smaller level than the state, your city may also have different regulations you must follow if you want to keep your business legal.

Get Your Insurance

Working as a handyman means going into client homes to make repairs. This puts you in close contact with your clients and their property. Because of this, there are several ways that someone might get hurt or that you might damage their property by accident. You need to have insurance in place so that you are not left responsible if something bad happens. Paying for medical bills, lost wages, lawyers, and potential awards will sink your business. Taking a chance will not be worth it compared to paying the handyman insurance cost you will need to pay. Keep you and your business protected by having the right insurance in place for you.

Set Your Prices

Setting your prices can be a tricky part of running a handyman business, and it is one that many entrepreneurs do not enjoy. It is hard to set your prices. You do not want your prices to be too high it makes customers avoid you. However, you also do not want them to be so low that you won't bring in the revenue you need to. Do some research with competing companies, web-based task services, and any company that is offering similar services.

Many factors go into the price, but you need to find the sweet spot between the most expensive prices you can find and the prices that won’t keep a roof over your house. It may be tempting to lower your prices for potential clients that are only looking for the cheapest deal and raise your prices for clients who seem better off. The fact is that you should never sell yourself short. Your price is the price, and if they do not want or cannot afford to pay it, then you can move on. Otherwise, you will spend a lot of time doing work for which you are getting paid a lower rate that you can’t afford to take on.

Start Your Marketing Early

You should be executing your marketing strategy well before you are set to launch. Your business name should be popping in the social media feeds of your target audience, and your website should be publishing information and engaging content well before your launch date. Why is this? The reason is that you want to have the best jumping-off point possible. By getting your SEO content in place on your website, you will already start to bring your brand name and website up the rankings. Plus, if you target your ads, your target audience will already recognize your business and keep you in mind for their next project.

Build Your Knowledge

Never stop learning. You will gain knowledge while on the job since handymen come across things they have never seen all the time. However, you should also get some formal training to fill in the gaps in your knowledge. You can take night courses so that you do not have to miss work, and you can do some courses on your own time. Building your knowledge means that you will be able to handle as many types of jobs as possible. This will leave you very flexible with the clients you can take on, and lead to fewer delays.

Choose the Right Name

The name of your business will help the general public identify who you are and what you do. While you don’t have to have the word “handyman” in the name, you should still pick something unique that shows what your business is. Being a successful handyman requires being trustworthy and professional, and your name and branding should reflect that. In the end, you and your work are ultimately going to be the reason for your success or failure. However, marking and branding will play a big part in getting clients to make that first call to you.

If you love working with your hands, and making things function again, then being a handyman is the perfect business choice for you. You can make your clients and neighbors happy, make some money, and have a bit of fun while you're at it. To make your dream come true, and make it last, you need to take certain steps to make sure it is viable. Follow the ones listed above, and you will find yourself with the most profitable and enjoyable profession you have ever had.