The Handyman Business Is Changing: Where The Money Moved
When household budgets tighten, pursue commercial maintenance and repair; build referrals and be ready for business invoicing and net-30 payment terms.
- Target businesses with recurring repair needs, such as restaurants, offices, and doggy daycares.
- Use one-off jobs to earn referrals; commercial work can expand from a small repair into ongoing projects.
- When moving to a smaller town, adjust pricing, increase job volume, and consider commercial clients.
The examples are useful, but the main advice is covered in the notes. · Best for: Handymen and home-service entrepreneurs seeking new markets or relocating.
The speaker argues that tighter household budgets make large residential remodels harder to sell, and recommends pursuing commercial maintenance and repair. He shares examples from a doggy daycare, restaurants, Domino’s, and an office building, plus advice for handymen relocating to smaller towns.
Why homeowners may spend less0:00
- Inflation and rising fixed costs are reducing some homeowners’ budgets for large projects such as bathroom and kitchen remodels.
- The speaker also notes higher fuel costs as a concern for tradespeople who drive frequently.
Recurring work at a doggy daycare1:03
- A doggy daycare needed ongoing repairs to hose reels, lights, fences, and gates.
- After building trust, the client called with problems without first asking for a price.
Restaurants as a source of work3:01
- A relationship with an Outback Steakhouse proprietor led to repair work, starting with refinishing epoxy tables.
- The work expanded to bathroom fixtures and replacing TVs, often after hours.
Business processes and custom fixes5:03
- Commercial clients may use net-30 payment terms, so the speaker recommends a professional system for estimates, invoices, and tracking.
- For a Domino’s, he arranged custom stainless-steel pieces through a manufacturer, installed them, and received follow-on work.
Relocating and adapting to smaller markets6:55
- Smaller towns may have more competition from homeowners who do their own repairs, so city pricing may not transfer.
- The speaker recommends adapting prices, increasing volume, and exploring commercial work; an office-building room renovation led to additional work.
Referrals and opportunities beyond homes9:05
- The speaker says one referral introduced him to restaurant work and another simple job led to additional commercial opportunities.
- He encourages handymen to look beyond residential repairs for maintenance and light-remodeling work.
Step by step
- Identify local businesses with recurring maintenance needs, such as restaurants, offices, or doggy daycares.
- Offer to assess and handle a specific repair; deliver reliable work that can lead to repeat calls and referrals.
- For commercial clients, submit professional estimates and invoices and track payment terms such as net 30.
- If relocating to a smaller town, reassess pricing and consider more jobs or commercial clients.
Tools & resources mentioned
- Jobber — business platform the speaker recommends for estimates, invoices, and tracking commercial payments.
Notes are AI-generated from the video's transcript and may miss nuance.