Pricing Archives - How to Start a Handyman Business

Handyman Pricing Considerations

Posted by srbobc

· April 3, 2012

When I first considered becoming a handyman I asked myself, “How much can I earn as a handyman and can I charge enough to make a decent living?” I proceeded to scour the internet to see what other handymen were charging for their services. The rates being charged were all over the board. Some handymen quoted hourly rates on their…

How Much Should I Mark Up the Materials That I Sell?

Posted by srbobc

· April 3, 2012

I’ve always based this decision on whether or not I was being paid to pick up the materials. If I’m on the clock when I’m doing the shopping, I will not mark up the materials but will simply show them the receipt for reimbursement. Otherwise, I will mark up the materials from 10-50% over my cost. Some of the lower…

Can I Get a Contractors Discount When Buying Materials?

Posted by srbobc

· April 3, 2012

Any discounts you receive have the potential of being either extra profit for you or additional savings for your customer. It’s a winning situation either way so don’t hesitate to ask for a discount. I have found that the major chains have differing policies. One chain flat out said no, that they do not offer contractor discounts while another said…

Should I Hire Handyman Helpers?

Posted by srbobc

· April 3, 2012

The hiring of employees can be a great way to increase your income as a handyman. In my area, handyman helpers would earn from $15 to $25 per hour. After figuring in payroll taxes and workman’s compensation insurance the cost per hour would be closer to $25 to $35 per hour. Marking up the employee cost to $40 to $50…

Should I Charge for Mileage or Travel Time?

Posted by srbobc

· April 3, 2012

I don’t charge for travel time or mileage within my normal area but many contractors do. The plumbers and electricians are particularly known for this. Check to see what other handymen in your area are doing. When traveling outside of my normal work area I always charge for mileage and/or travel time. If you charge for mileage, use the federal…

How Large a Deposit Should I Request?

Posted by srbobc

· April 3, 2012

There are limits on what you can request as a deposit. Check the laws in your state for the exact limits. In California, contractors are prohibited from asking for a deposit of more than 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. You’ve heard the horror stories about “tradesmen” asking for a 50% deposit and then skipping town…

What If I Run Over? When Should I Charge the Customer?

Posted by srbobc

· April 3, 2012

Be careful how and when you enter into this conversation. Your reputation is at stake. Good communication with the homeowners throughout the course of the work will completely eliminate surprises and conflicts when you go to collect your pay. Make sure he or she understands the work being done and the challenges you are faced with. If the over run…

What If I’m Not Sure How Long a Job Will Take?

Posted by srbobc

· April 3, 2012

Experience will teach you how many hours it takes to do various jobs. In the mean time there are pricing guides available and some techniques you can use. This book contains a guide that shows a wide range of jobs and how they were priced. You can use these for comparison purposes to price your work. If you visit the…

Should I Charge By The Hour or By The Job?

Posted by srbobc

· April 3, 2012

There is no best answer for this question. How you quote prices depends on two main factors: how confident you are about the estimate and what the customer’s particular needs are. By the job, you are taking the risk of the costs running over. In order to make this type of estimate you must be confident that you will make…

What About Weekend, Holiday or Overtime Rates?

Posted by srbobc

· April 3, 2012

If you want to charge extra for weekend or holidays I suggest you charge time and a half for weekends and double time for holidays. Most customers will be comfortable with this structure since it closely matches the familiar work day environment. Will they want to pay it? Probably not, but at least they will understand the basis for the…

Handyman Pricing Considerations

How Much Should I Mark Up the Materials That I Sell?

Can I Get a Contractors Discount When Buying Materials?

Should I Hire Handyman Helpers?

Should I Charge for Mileage or Travel Time?

How Large a Deposit Should I Request?

What If I Run Over? When Should I Charge the Customer?

What If I’m Not Sure How Long a Job Will Take?

Should I Charge By The Hour or By The Job?

What About Weekend, Holiday or Overtime Rates?

How to Start a Handyman Business

Does a Handyman need to be licensed?

Should I charge by the hour or by the job?

Do I need Handyman Insurance?