Chapter 3 - Handyman Truck and Tools Archives - How to Start a Handyman Business

What Tools Do Handymen Need?

You don’t need a long list of tools! To get my business off the ground I bought one of the 4-piece, 18 volt cordless tool sets. When combined with the small box of tools I already owned, I was in business! It was that easy.

The tools you need will be dependent on the types of work you take on. Here is my tool collection:

I carry these tools in the truck with me at all times:

6 ½” Cordless Circular Saw
3/8” Cordless Drill
Cordless Reciprocating Saw
Cordless Flashlight
Detail Sander
Corded Planer
Cordless Shop Vacuum
Corded Circular Saw
Corded Jig Saw
6’ Step Ladder
8” and 36” Levels
Stud Finder
Continuity Tester and Volt/Amp Meter
Hacksaw
Miter Saw and Block
Tool Belt
Eye and ear protection, dust masks, knee pads and latex gloves.
A small 5 drawer tool cabinet with all the common hand tools including a hammer, screw drivers, pliers, chisels, files, squares, wrenches, vise grips, tin snips, Allen wrenches and paint scrapers. The top drawer has compartments and a lid so it can carry all of the nails, screws, drywall inserts, wire nuts and most of the other miscellaneous small parts that I need. The second drawer holds all of my screwdrivers while the third drawer carries wrenches, pliers and drill bits. The next drawer has sandpaper, files, scrapers and spare blades. The deeper bottom drawer holds my hammer, squares, super bar, cat’s paw and a pouch with my continuity tester and stud finder. This small chest has proven to be the perfect tool box to keep me organized and it is not too heavy to lift in and out of the truck.
A tool box with painting supplies.
An additional tool box with tools for plumbing.
Large covered plastic storage bin to carry all of the extra parts that tend to accumulate.
Three 5 gallon buckets. One holds tubes of caulk and adhesives, another holds anything too long to fit in the tool box and the last bucket is for trash! I also carry a can of Latex Primer and a roll of paper towels at all times.
50’ Extension Cord

These tools I carry as needed:

4’ and 8’ Step Ladders
20’ Extension Ladder
48” Level
Collapsible Saw Horses
10” Chop Saw
Cordless Finish Nail Gun
Plunge Router
2650 PSI Pressure Washer
Lawn Mower
Trimmer
Shovel
Rake
Post Hole Digger

Don’t let a lack of tools keep you from getting started as a handyman. Using the money you earn along the way, build your tool collection as the needs arise.

When Should I Rent Tools Instead of Buying Them?

Leave a Comment

A Rent vs. Purchase Case Study: A pressure washer is readily available from an equipment rental yard. The first time I needed one, in order to save on the rental fee, I borrowed a pressure washer from another handyman. He instructed me in all the intricacies of getting it started. After pulling the cord about 20 times and fiddling with the controls, it finally started and I got the job done. Whew!

The next time, I rented a machine at a cost of $60. It also proved difficult to start, but even worse, after about 10 minutes it quit and refused to start again! I hauled it back to the rental store for a replacement and finally finished the job. It took me twice as long as I had planned. Time lost equals money lost.

I decided to buy my own machine. Purchased online it arrived at my doorstep for about $400. It was shiny and new and had a Honda engine. That engine started on the first pull and has never let me down.

Rent vs. buy? If you need the machine frequently, buy it. Think of it as an investment instead of an expense! If you’re only going to use a machine once or twice a year, rent it and cross your fingers.

I have recovered the cost of my pressure washer by charging a $45 machine fee on every pressure washing job I do. The fee covers gas, maintenance and wear and tear. You could easily do the same with any specialized equipment that you use.

What Jobs Are Handymen Being Asked To Do?

Leave a Comment

Here is a partial list of the jobs I completed over a recent 4 month period. I’m sure that you will be asked to do the same types of work:

Installed phone extension line
Hauled old wood and irrigation pipe to the dump
Repaired and replaced broken sprinkler heads
Sealed cracks in brick walkway
Bleached and stained deck
Installed closet pulls
Painted gutters and downspouts
Moved furniture from room to room
Repaired a fence post and gate
Cleaned gutters
Installed linoleum floor tiles
Repaired a water-damaged bathroom floor
Patched, textured and painted sheetrock
Installed bathroom window coverings
Replaced damaged window trim
Replaced weather-stripping on front door
Installed tubular skylights
Touched-up paint on popcorn ceiling
Power washed house in preparation for painting
Repaired damaged commercial fascia boards
Installed new kitchen drawer slides
Replaced damaged baseboard
Hauled a couch and old cupboards to dump
Power-washed and applied stain to decking
Installed earthquake strapping for water heater
Painted a garage door
Repaired drip irrigation system
Built a short flagstone walk
Spread bark and pea gravel
Stripped, sanded and painted damaged fascia boards
Mowed and weeded for bi-weekly client
Installed a ceiling fan
Replaced a bathroom faucet
Replaced an attic ventilator fan
Completed Section 1 dry rot repairs at the base of a shower
Sanded, primed and painted an outdoor railing
Painted walls and trim, repaired closet doors
Fabricated and installed missing clip for fireplace doors
Installed a wall air conditioning unit
Stabilized loose thresholds
Replaced leaking outdoor faucet
Replaced rotted wooden ramp
Built new stairway for a deck
Replaced screening for door and window
Painted a bedroom
Laid a moisture barrier in crawl space
Installed grab bars in a shower
Installed smoke detectors
Cut and installed dowels for sliding windows
Replaced worn out door hardware
Replaced washing machine supply valves
Removed and disposed of a large metal awning
Disassembled and disposed of a huge garage shelving unit
Cleaned gutters and installed gutter guard
Reattached drooping heat duct in a crawl space
Hung 2 large paintings on a high wall over a staircase
Hooked up washer and dryer units
Replaced wax ring and secured toilet
Installed air hose system for a furniture repair shop
Dry rot repairs on a front porch pillar
Installed a new lock on a gate
Corrected an installation of irrigation valves done by another handyman
Replaced roof on a 14’ diameter redwood water storage tank
Replaced a room thermostat
Built and installed a new door for hot tub
Sanded and stained a shelving unit
Repaired paneling on a water damaged patio
Painted front trim and front door
Replaced worn out toilet valve
Replaced buckling siding and referred client to a foundation specialist
Installed a new threshold
Installed kitchen base molding
Removed and replaced blower motor for a church pipe organ
Replaced an inefficient light fixture
Caulked around a tub, shower, sink and toilet
Added a new porch light
Re-hung a loose chandelier
Adjusted sticking closet doors
Installed a new front screen door
Installed a new mailbox and post
Painted garage walls
Caulked dissimilar joints around exterior of house
Built and installed a bathroom shelf
Rat-proofed the perimeter of a home
Built a chicken coop

Should I Specialize in One Type of Work?

Leave a Comment

After viewing the long list of projects above, you might be motivated to specialize in one particular type of work. I have been tempted to specialize because it is challenging to do so many different types of work. On some jobs I find myself learning as I go and having to excessively focus on avoiding mistakes or wasting materials.

When you specialize in a particular area you gain economies of scale on your materials purchases. This improves your profit margins. At the same time you minimize the cost of tools and equipment needed. The work that you do becomes second nature and the learning curve for your helpers shortens.

Choose a specialty that has high demand and that you enjoy. Your biggest challenges and your best earnings come when tackling the most demanding jobs in your area of expertise. These are the jobs that only you, the expert, can do. Pest repairs, pressure washing, painting, landscaping, disaster preparedness, alternative energy, light carpentry, fence repairs, telephone and network wiring or home theater wiring are just a few examples.

Does the Truck I Drive Really Matter?

Leave a Comment

Ford Ranger with Magnetic Signs and Roof Rack

Yes! A handyman’s truck should tell the world that they are dealing with a reasonably priced professional. It should indicate to your customers that the owner is clean, organized, efficient, and serious about their work.

Buy a good used truck or a basic new truck like I did. Don’t get anything too flashy because it will make you look too successful. Better to be simply clean and reliable. A little extra fuel economy doesn’t hurt either (I drive about 1,200 miles per month).

The picture shows my truck. I carry nearly all of my tools with me. This has proven to be a good practice because it enables me to do the unexpected job and reduces the “I don’t have the right tool” frustration factor. In order to do this, I needed a truck with a shell or a tool van. As you can see, I chose a small pickup with a standard shell and a small rack on the roof.

The disadvantages of my set up are probably clear to you. First, the rack on top is too light to carry large lumber loads. A standard rack would have been a better choice. I continue to manage with this small rack but I am often pushing tools aside in the bed to make room for lumber.

Next, the camper shell should have been a workman’s shell with side access to the bed. That would save a lot of crawling into the bed to retrieve items stored toward the front of the vehicle. A workman’s shell would also be more secure with stronger locks and no windows.

Chapter 3 – Handyman Truck and Tools