There’s a lot of work that goes into starting a handyman business. But once you’ve chosen a name, filed for business permits, set up your financials, and gotten your tools in order, there’s still one more step to take—finding work.
One of the easiest ways to find a handyman job is through word-of-mouth referrals. This is a powerful way to build your small business, as people often highly value recommendations from people they know and trust. When you’re just starting out, you may need to ask your family and friends to spread the word that you have started your own business, and this will hopefully lead to more work.
Beyond this, there are several steps you can take to find more handyman jobs:
Use social media
Social media will likely play a fundamental role in building your client list, as most customers will expect to find your business somewhere online. Start a business branded page on an established social media platform, such as Facebook, and upload photos of your finished projects. This can serve as a portfolio of your work and a place to share information about the services you provide. To get the most out of these platforms, prepare a plan for your social media activities before you start posting. You may want to hire a marketing or social media specialist to do this for you.
Tap into the gig economy
There are many sites and apps that allow clients to post work requests and connect with people who can do their job. Customers often post handyman projects, so keep an eye out on your favourite sites to locate and bid on these assignments. Here are three websites that might assist you in searching for handyman jobs:
- TaskRabbit: Customers request services on this site, and TaskRabbit notifies their “taskers” of the requests. TaskRabbit even provides handyman job price ideas.
- Craigslist: Select your city and click the “Jobs” option. It’s hit-or-miss, but you can occasionally locate handyman projects that are ideal for you. For a little cost, you can also promote your services on Craigslist.
- Indeed: Input your zip code and the sort of work you want to do to find out what’s out there. This is a great site for finding long-term handyman jobs.
These sites and apps can be a fantastic starting point for finding handyman employment. When you start bidding on contracts and get hired, make sure you schedule your time properly. Some apps will allow your customers to rate your service. If you deliver on everything you promised (and maybe more), your clients will probably rate you highly. This can help you get hired by more people on the site and could lead to repeat work from satisfied clients!
Keep in mind that other handymen may also be submitting bids for jobs listed on these and other similar sites. Submitting a fair bid can help improve your chances of being hired, but make sure it will allow you to cover your costs and make a sufficient profit. Handyman project have some obvious costs to consider, such as the supplies, tools, and time required to complete the project. But there are less obvious ones to consider, such as your travel time and business insurance costs.
Take advantage of local advertising
A slick TV commercial may be out of your budget, but there are many local advertising options that may be in your price range. Radio and social media ads can be cost efficient options that are easily targeted to your local area. You can also look into sponsoring a local sports team, such a little league or club team. There are usually sponsorship tiers to suit different budgets, and you could get a banner or other signage placed in a location visible to spectators.
Protecting your business once you’re hired
With luck and perseverance, your handyman business will start building a client base. Before heading to your first job, you may want to consider different types of business insurance. Policies that protect your finances, tools and equipment from potentially crippling events could help you avoid large, unexpected expenses or business closure.
Some common risks that you may face on handyman jobs include a client injury, accidentally damaging a customer’s belongings, damaging or losing your tools, or having your tools or equipment stolen. Different types of insurance, such as General Liability or tools coverage, can help you address these and other hazards of the job.
BizInsure helps busy handymen find the insurance they need, online and in minutes! Learn more and start comparing quotes today.
