The Handyman Startup Podcast

Choosing a legal structure for your business is an important step that can affect how much you pay in taxes, your personal liability, and the amount of boring paperwork you have to deal with each year. In this episode, I cut through the B.S. and get straight to the point on which structure is best for handymen, contractors, HVAC companies, and any other small home-based service business.

Starting a handyman business can be profitable and fun with the right approach. I know this because I’ve been doing it for over ten years. However, it’s important to understand that a truck full of tools and some home repair skills will only get you so far. You’ll also need to learn a few business skills to build a profitable business that generates six figures per year or more....

In this episode, I dive deep into the start-up costs for a typical handyman business. I share a list of common expenses as well as provide insights into where to invest your money for the highest ROI. Not only will you learn how much you can expect to spend in order to get started, but you'll also gain an insider perspective on the startup process in general.

Being a self-employed handyman can be surprisingly lucrative, especially when you set your business up the right way and invest time into marketing and pricing. In this episode, I discuss average handyman income based on real handyman income data. You'll learn what the average handyman makes as well as what the more successful handymen make. I also cover the cost of insurance so you will have a re...

There is a lot of advice on how to start a business and escape your day job, but little of it is practical or even effective. In this episode, I discuss a practical method for replacing your income in as little as six months, along with the most important traps to avoid. You'll learn which types of businesses to avoid and what category of business to focus on.

Overcoming fear is an essential step to starting any new business. Fear is also something that everyone deals with. In this episode, I discuss six different fears related to starting a handyman business - everything from the fear of not being good enough to the fear of your business failing. I also discuss imposter syndrome, as well as how different fears can stop your progress or make you underva...

Need help with your bookkeeping or accounting? Good news! In this episode, I interview Randal DeHart, the leading expert in outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services for small construction companies across the USA. And,Randal isn’t just an accountant, he’s also a former plumbing contractor with twenty years of experience. Not only does he understand handyman businesse...

Are you still on the fence with whether or not a handyman business can actually work?  Or, are you hesitant to get started?  If so, you’re going to get inspired by this episode where I share a great interview with brand new Australian handyman business owner, Justin Terrill. This is the first time I’ve had a handyman on the show who is just getting started, and it turned out amazing. J...

When I started my handyman business 3 years ago, I didn’t look like the typical handyman.  I didn’t have much experience, I didn’t have a reputation to help spread the word, and I looked like I was 18. Let’s just say customers weren’t sprinting to their phones in a mad dash to call me. That’s why I knew I’d have to go through extra steps to make myself loo...

Have you ever thought about becoming a franchisee? If so, you’re going to love this Interview. In this episode of the Handyman Startup podcast, I talk with Linda Stanfield, owner of Benjamin Franking Plumbing in Chandler, Arizona. Linda has worked with her husband to grow their own Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and has had a lot of success doing it.  She’s also a great person who is inter...

Time for another episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast!  In this session, I sit down with social media expert, Rick Mulready. We’ve all been hearing the buzz about social media over the last couple years, and there is no doubt it can be a powerful marketing strategy for businesses of all sizes.  Just take a look at Dollar Shave Club , who built a business based on social media marketing al...

In this episode of The Handyman Startup Podcast, I discuss a fundamental part of any good marketing strategy – Your story. You may be thinking, “who cares about my story, I’m just a regular dude starting a handyman business.” That’s what I thought when I first started my handyman business, too.  I thought customers just wanted to have an experienced handyman fix what...

In this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast, I sit down with Ed Padilla, founder of ACHP (Association of Certified Handyman Professionals). Ed has a really interesting story.  After being trapped in the corporate rat race for several years, he realized that he wanted something else.  So, he quit his job and capitalized on the demand he could see present for home repairs. In 2006 he started Pad...

In this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast I’ve got a special guest – Chuck Solomon .  Chuck is a former handyman business owner, an author of multiple books, and a business consultant. He’s literally written the book on how to start and grow a handyman business.  (See resources below for a link.)  He’s also just an all around nice guy who’s looking to help trade...

In this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast I share 7 of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in the last 3 years in business .  These are lessons that have changed my mindset and the way I view business, people, and the world in general. Today marks exactly three years since I quit my engineering job and decided to venture out on my own in an attempt to control my own destiny and desi...

In this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast, I’ve got something special for all you landscaping contractors out there. I bring on Christy Webber of Christy Webber Landscapes in Chicago, IL and uncover her story and how she went from a small town lady mowing lawns, to running one of the largest Landscaping companies in Chicago . I know this isn’t the typical type of guest I bring on...

Looking for an easy way to increase your profitability?  Consider limiting your service area.  That’s what Michael Rodriguez (a.k.a MROD) of BelleCreak Handyman & Remodeling did. In fact, he built his business while focusing primarily on a single subdivision.   Listen in to this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast to learn all about it. I’m fascinated with what Michael and his...

Hire artists for contracting? That’s what Nick May, founder of Walls By Design , did. He’s a successful interior painting contractor with over 14 years of experience and get this, he only hires artists!  Surprised?  Be sure to listen to this episode to find out why. Here are some other topics we cover in this interview: Why targeting high end customers actually brings in a wide variety...

In this episode of the Handyman Startup Podcast, I bring on Chris Maxwell-Gaines, co-founder of Innovative Water Solutions in Austin, TX. Chris started his home service business back in 2004 and has since grown it to the point of having 14 employees and over a million dollars in revenue.  He’s got a lot to share from his 10 years of experience.  So, I brought him onto the show so you can ben...

It’s been a while since my last podcast, so I wanted to bring The Handyman Startup Podcast back with a bang! In this episode, I interview Jim Copenhaver, a successful handyman business owner from Chicago, IL. Jim has successfully built Punch List , a thriving handyman business that currently employs at least 4 full-time handymen.  But get this, he’s only been in business for a about a...

In this session of the Handyman Startup Podcast, I share five of my most valuable time saving tips that I use every day in my business. As a handyman or other home service provider, you get paid for your time.  Time is a form of currency, with one major difference from other currencies – you can never get more time . That being said, it’s obvious why saving a few seconds, minutes, or e...

As a home service professional, developing new skills to keep up with the competition is necessary.  For handymen, learning new skills is basically our job description. Not only is learning new skills important, but learning how to learn new skills efficiently is getting ever more important .  We are now in what is commonly known as the information age.  That means it is easier than ever to get st...

I’m taking the entire week off from my handyman services to celebrate Independence Day, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity. This excitement about the ability to control my schedule and take time off at will has my brain turning with all of the benefits of owning a small business, specifically, a handyman business . You see, two years ago, I was still working at an offi...

Welcome to my May 2013 monthly income report!  I’ve been writing these reports each month since I started my business and this marks my 18th month in business as a handyman.  1.5 years baby! For those of you that enjoy my podcast, good news!  This month, you can listen to my monthly report as I’ve featured it on the Handyman Startup Podcast .  You can find it in the itunes store or lis...

It’s no secret that internet marketing is where it’s at these days whether you are selling a product online or trying to generate new leads for your handyman business .  Other marketing methods such as direct mail and flyers are also effective, but they cost more and are (in my opinion) more difficult to execute properly. In this episode of the Handyman Startup podcast, I share my most...