How To Start A Handyman Business While Working Full-Time

Starting a handyman business may appeal to you because you enjoy fixing things, but it involves more than being skilled in maintenance and repair. To be successful, you must assess the market demand, tackle legal and administrative considerations, and build a client base. 

However, many aspiring entrepreneurs can’t dive into the business full-time. Launching a handyman business while holding a full-time job is challenging but possible by managing your time effectively to avoid wearing yourself out until you transition fully to your new business venture.

Related: Guide to starting a handyman business

The Overall Objective

The goal of establishing a handyman business while juggling a full-time job is to launch a profitable business while maintaining stability through your current employment. 

However, successfully managing this dual pursuit requires a strategic approach to prioritize effective time management. Some strategies to efficiently balance workload and responsibilities include: 

• Setting clear goals and milestones for your handyman business. Create a roadmap that outlines the level of income you want to earn, the number of clients you want to serve, and the services you want to specialize in to help you stay focused and motivated while continuing to meet the demands of your full-time job.
• Developing a schedule to allocate time to your handyman business. You must complete numerous steps to get your new business off the ground, such as marketing, administrative tasks and working on your first projects to begin your work portfolio. Utilize calendars, task lists and productivity apps to help you stay organized and ensure you don’t forget any vital meetings or projects.
• Prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance. Because you still have your full-time job, you potentially have more income available to outsource some tasks to streamline the process. Consider delegating responsibilities you may not have the experience to tackle, such as building a website or marketing, to help you make the most of your limited time.

When my spouse and I started our handyman business, we benefited from having both of us available to take on various responsibilities. My office management and marketing experience allowed me to handle tasks that my spouse had no desire to do, leaving him more time to begin connecting with potential clients and taking on small jobs as time allowed. 

However, if you’re starting your business alone, implementing these and other strategies to manage your time is essential to pursue your entrepreneurial ambitions while maintaining full-time employment. 

Related: How to find handyman jobs

Assessing Skills and Market Demand

If you’re new to the handyman arena, you must evaluate your personal skills and expertise in various services to ensure you’re equipped to handle the business. Assess your strengths and weaknesses across a range of tasks, from minor repairs and appliance installations to more specialized areas like carpentry or basic plumbing or electrical work. This self-evaluation helps you identify which services you can already provide and which areas may require additional development or training. 

Simultaneously, research the local market demand for handyman services to understand the professional environment you’re entering. Identify your target market, evaluate housing trends, and analyze the competition to gauge the level of demand for the services you want to offer. Look for service gaps or underserved areas where you can carve out a niche that sets you apart from existing competitors. 

Specialized services enhance your handyman business’s competitiveness. Again, research popular services in your area that few people provide. Eco-friendly renovations and smart home installations continue to gain popularity as more homeowners strive to lessen their carbon footprint or embrace new technologies that make their lives easier. 

Tailoring your handyman services to meet the unique needs of your target market can help you position yourself as the go-to expert in your area and attract a steady stream of clients before transitioning full-time to your own business. 

Related: How to set pricing for your handyman business

Legal and Administrative Considerations

Navigating the legal and administrative aspects of starting a handyman business helps ensure compliance and mitigate risks. The following section highlights various tasks to check off your list to establish your handyman business. 

First, establish a business entity, also called a business structure, to determine how your handyman business will be legally organized for tax and liability purposes. Although there are four primary business entities, the two most common ones for handyman businesses are sole proprietorships and limited liability companies (LLCs). 

Sole proprietorships are the simplest, lowest-cost entities but don’t offer liability protection. You may also form a partnership if you’re teaming up with another handyman. We began as a partnership but later formed an LLC to protect our assets.

Next, if you want to operate under a business name instead of your own, you must register for a “Doing Business As” (DBA) name, sometimes referred to as a trade name. Registration is required in most states, but requirements vary. You must register if you’re forming a sole proprietorship or partnership using a fictitious business name. Alternatively, if you’re forming an LLC or corporation, you select the business name when you create the legal entity and won’t need to file for a DBA name. 

Licensing requirements for a handyman also vary by state, county, and city. You may need to register with the state before conducting business, and many counties and cities require a basic business license, regardless of the business. You may also need a specialized trade license depending on the type of work you plan to perform and the dollar amount charged per job. 

Another task when setting up business insurance is to protect you, your business, your assets, and your employees if you have them. Business insurance covers property damage, vehicular accidents and incidents causing injuries to customers or employees. Coverages you need include: 

• General liability insurance for property damage or bodily injury to a customer.
• Worker’s compensation insurance for employee medical expenses related to injuries or illnesses occurring on the job.
• Commercial vehicle insurance for motorized vehicles used for business purposes.

Lastly, ensure you’re not under a non-compete agreement with your current employer. These clauses might appear in employment contracts and restrict you from working for companies considered competitors during and sometimes for a set time after your employment. 

Because my spouse worked as a maintenance manager in his full-time job, he checked with his immediate supervisor to ensure he wouldn’t be jeopardizing his position by starting his own handyman business. He knew he hadn’t signed a non-compete agreement when he was hired, but he still wanted to confirm it. 

Amazingly, his company asked him to bid on some projects at another property that currently didn’t have a maintenance person once they learned of his side business.

Building a Client Base

Building a solid client base is essential to establishing a successful handyman business. Networking is pivotal in promoting your services, whether attending local business events, joining industry associations, or simply connecting with friends, family, and neighbors who might need your services. These interactions can lead to valuable referrals through word-of-mouth recommendations. 

To reach an even wider audience, leverage social media and online platforms to expand your marketing efforts. We primarily use Facebook as our go-to social media platform, as it’s the most popular year after year. However, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and other outlets can also help promote your handyman business while you’re still working full-time. 

Also, take advantage of online business directories that offer free listings, such as a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). This directory is the most effective way to get your handyman business in front of potential customers. 

Your Google Business Profile reaches customers via Google Search, and 66% of online referrals come from Google. Other free listings include Yelp, Yahoo Local, Bing Places for Business, Angi (formerly Angie’s List), Houzz, and numerous others. However, most sites that provide a free listing charge extra for premium services, including leads. 

Offering promotional deals or discounts can be effective in attracting initial clients. Consider running limited-time offers or referral programs to incentivize new customers to try your services. Save money by running these specials online instead of paying for print advertising that may not reach as many people. 

No matter how you secure your handyman business’s first clients, provide excellent customer service to encourage repeat business and referrals. Word-of-mouth can be the most effective contribution to your new company’s long-term success. It can also help you transition from full-time employment to being your own boss more quickly. 

Related: How to find jobs for a handyman business

Managing Time Effectively

Allocating time to balance your full-time job and building your handyman business requires a structured schedule. Prioritize business tasks based on urgency and importance to ensure duties that require your immediate attention are completed on time. By focusing on these tasks, you stay on top of deadlines and optimize your productivity. 

Utilize evenings and weekends for activities that help you make steady progress toward your handyman business goals without infringing on your full-time job commitments. 

However, set realistic expectations to prevent overextending yourself and avoid burnout. While you’re likely excited about starting your own business, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is necessary to sustain long-term success in both your professional endeavors.

Related: Common mistakes made by handyman businesses

Pursue Your Goals Confidentially

Pursuing your entrepreneurial goals while keeping your current employment offers you the advantage of still earning a steady paycheck. Maintaining this income while growing your business means you have more money to invest in your business and less stress over making a profit immediately. However, starting a handyman business while working full-time requires careful planning and effective time management.

You can pursue your entrepreneurial goals while maintaining stable employment by evaluating your skills, understanding market demand, addressing legal considerations, and building a strong client base. Embrace the challenge with perseverance and determination, and you’ll soon turn your desire to pursue handyman work into a successful business venture.