With the current state of the world, many people are finding themselves without a job and are now seeking new ventures for their careers. Nine to five jobs are important, but can become lackluster quickly. A possible career path to look into is becoming a handyman, especially if you are well versed in home repairs. A major benefit to this line of work is the ability to set your own schedule as well as not being stuck in a cubicle. However, starting your own handyman business can be a slow starting process as building up a business can take some time. This is especially true if you do not know where to find the work.
Jobs for handymen are found in many ways, from listings online to project postings by third party companies. Knowing where to look for work is half the battle when you start your own handyman business. Many handymen begin their career by staring part time, working at their “day job” until they have made enough money to leave. Whether you are ready to jump in with both feet, or are wanting to test the waters first, the following information can help you learn more about becoming a handyman as well as how to get working faster.
Professional handyman installing window at home.
Becoming a Handyman
If you or a loved one are thinking of becoming a handyman here are a couple questions to ask them or yourself:
- What draws you to becoming a handyman rather than a 9-5 job?
- What are handyman fields that make the most money?
- Do I have skills developed enough to do the jobs required?
- What are common Handyman jobs for my area?
Handyman skills come in quite handy in most household routine tasks. From remodeling the bathroom, wiring light fixtures, and assembling furniture, there are countless needs for a quality handyman. And there are many different areas to become trained in and or offer to customers. Some of the more profitable tasks include the following:
Light Fixture Replacement
If you are interested in wiring and running electrical wires through houses, then this may be the field to look into. Since wiring can potentially be a life threatening job, many people do not want to do it themselves, and for good reason. Likewise, most homeowners do not want a novice perform the task, either. Most people want and are willing to pay for experienced handymen with electrical experience, and are willing to pay for the assurance of a job well done.
Plumber
Plumbers are handymen who install and repair gas and water pipes in your house as well as commercial businesses. The job entails fixing and installing plumbing fixtures such as showerlines, showers, kitchen sink pipes/ disposal, and toilets. Most jobs for plumbing can be done by an average handyman but for the more intensive plumbing fixes and emergencies it is best to go with an actual licensed plumber. Since most people refuse to work on their own plumbing, and a wrong move can result in serious problems, plumbers charge extra for their services. Plumbers generally make more than other handyman fields, starting at roughly $32k-93k a year depending on area serviced.
Television Wall Mount
A job that was not so common until recent times is mounting a tv on the wall. Anyone who has tried to mount a television to a wall can attest to the surprising degree of skill and time required to do it. As more and more people are adding multiple televisions to their households, the need for experienced handymen who can install and wire televisions increases. Additionally, any wiring that takes place after mounting can be added on as additional charges to the overall bill.
Dryer Vent Cleaner
Dryer lint build-up is a serious fire hazard and the second most common cause for housefires. The dryer vent and duct need to be cleaned occasionally to prevent fires. Unfortunately, not many people are aware of this potentially life threatening risk until it is too late. It is recommended that homeowners get their vents cleaned by a handyman a couple times a year. This job does not require many tools but can definitely help increase your budding businesses bottom line.
Faucet Repair
Replacing a faucet is an easy task for some, but for others it may be necessary to call in a handyman. This job entails fixing and replacing leaky or broken sinks/ faucets. Best of all this requires just a couple different tools found in every tool shop. However, the amount you can charge for the service call makes it worth adding to your list of offered services.
How to Find Local Handyman Work
The handyman field is filled with a vast array of jobs that require different skills. You can specialize in one field or learn them all. Both options can net good money for your business. Handyman jobs will always be needed, especially as more and more people buy houses and commercial businesses. But how do you find the jobs and let people know you are open for business?
Offer a Lower Cost Initially
People are always looking for a good deal, so one way to drum up local business quickly is to keep moderate pricing for your services. Customers will want you back time and again if you have affordable prices and do good work. This can also help lead the way to other higher paying handyman jobs they may have down the road. Word of mouth is golden, so consider letting everyone on your social media platforms know you are offering extremely good rates to help get your business started.
Bid on Government Jobs
Government jobs are some of the most highly sought-after contracts within the handyman trade. The government posts handyman jobs on their websites but landing the actual job can be very competitive and tough to do. However, government jobs pay quite well and usually keep their handymen on retainer. To review the list of jobs you may want to bid on, locate your state’s Department of State website. Locally, look at the Clerk of Courts website. Do not limit yourself to just your local area or state. Handymen can often bid on jobs outside their home state.
Online work profiles
Making the internet work for you is crucial for the growth of your handyman business. There are many job sites to find jobs and post your resume for customers to call you. Some of these sites are: Angieslist, Homeadvisors, taskrabbit, and Thumbtack. Additionally, Amazon Services is a new listing service offered by powerhouse, Amazon. Take the time to fill out their free listing and get your name on the list. Billions of people frequent Amazon and the traffic generated is worth taking the time to establish yourself there. Like most job posting sites the company takes a small percentage of the fee paid to you by the client. Still, this small fee may be worth it to get the business and establish your handyman services.