I own and operate Castle Handyman Services in San Diego and this is by far the most accurate explanation I've heard! He literally mirrored my strategy for my business as I've grown it. Great video!
I just picked one of your videos to comment on (full disclosure) I've been listening to a bunch of your podcasts on stitcher. Great stuff. My way of getting into the biz (with a wife and baby) and feeling like I need to make sure I hit a low threshold of money coming in is finding a property management company to work with. It's akin also a great way to practice the more common things that you will encounter as a handyman. Thanks again big D!
This is great. I have found it really profitable to piece mill. like 65.00 for a fan, 35 a light, 15 a towel bar, In new construction a lot of builders don't install these items or sell the house with lights roughed in. I have taken hanging blinds, fans, towel bars, putting together work benches, and turned it into a 2 day job charging by the item and made $750.00. Thanks for your content!!
Wow, your video answered some of my most bothersome questions and fears, and was right on point! P.S. I am on the verge of starting my licensed, Handyman business. Well done!
I have a mix of how I charge. For repetitive labor (yard work, painting, power washing) I charge a flat hourly rate ($35). I use a general price list for quick jobs/punch lists (wall hangings, light bulbs, flat pack furniture assembly). For big projects-extensive materials, planning, permits, etc-I will do a formal quote and price it by the job. Suggestion for video topic…..How to do work for friends/family. Is it weird to accept money from friends and family? Should you then expect to have to pay them at some point for helping you with their skills? Whenever I deal it’s friends and family I will take money for a very big project, but small stuff has the same price as John Wayne’s cameo on the Beverly Hillbillies………one bottle of good Kentucky bourbon.
It's the secret many of us learn along the way, hit and run. Remodeling seems like big money but after everyone is paid you realize you'd make more (much more) banging out smaller jobs. And the jobs I can't do? I have buddies that can do - and I make 20%. Of course if you're thinking your going to make the kind of money this guys talking about and not (eventually) becoming a contractor you better bone up on your states Licensing Board. Here in California you can only make $600 a day or per job (including material). Nothing wrong with "knowing who's body you're in" and doing what you are comfortable with. Doing it right the first time is really how you survive in this business.
Have you explored concierge service? Like a membership plan where a person pays a monthly fee for your services. They may not even call you during the month but they still pay you.
I only charge by the hour. $89 per hour with a $39 Service destination fee. For the last 4 years I have been consistent in being booked 2-3 weeks in advance. And I only take simple jobs that require 3 hours or less.
This is good info. I have recently bought a house flip and I'm doing almost all the work myself. And to keep income flowing I thought about doing handyman work but my biggest hurdle has been how much do I charge. How can I find costs of each service or an average cost per hour?
I have so many questions! Could you maybe consider a couple of these questions for your next video? I need so much help, lol! My main concern/current issue/pain in my rear end is how to create estimates. I’m seriously struggling with it. I understand all supplies are definitely included, but how to you figure out how to bid out the estimated amount of time the job will take? I’m assuming different jobs are bid using different formulas? Like would you charge more for a room full of Sheetrock repair/replacement than you would to simply paint a room? How would you estimate painting the exterior of a house,you know, because ya gotta bring out ladders and stuff). Do you add a small amount in the estimate for incidentals in case you forget to add all the materials needed for the job. How do you handle telling customers that an unexpected issue has arisen and more materials will be needed? AHHHHHH SOOOOO MANY QUESTIONS!!! Also it’s 04:30 and I’ve been up all night researching this. You’re BY FAR the most helpful video creator!
Considering starting handyman business. Would you recommend starting with someone right away? I have more passion for customer support and sales. The other guy I'm considering working with is more hands on. Do you see this as an advantage or disadvantage for starting fresh?
Dear Lord! My brain is flooding with questions. I can’t keep up with writing them all down. Which computer programs will we need to operate the business? When trying to beef up advertising, what would you suggest? Like an ad in the paper, business cards pinned on every cork board in the county, calling property management companies and requesting to be placed on their vendor list? I’m literally going insane here. I don’t know if I need sleep, coffee, or for someone to slap me like the hysterical lady I’m currently possessed by!
I would breathe and meditate, realize you have much more time than you believe and that everything always takes more time than we imagine. Look for answers from other people, too. Like an internet marketer for how to market. Or perhaps a general marketing video... To understand marketing. You should learn more about business in general IMO. I can hear the lack of understanding in your voice.
Easy… charge by the hour and let them chat on and on. Just kidding! A pro manages the customer, letting some chat, but keeping it short and sweet. Simply mention you need to time to complete their job before moving to another waiting customer. But, I’ve learned to chat while I work
I live in central Michigan and I have several repeat customers that I don't even have to quote them they just tell me what to do and I tell them what need to get payed. just don't charge them a million bucks and don't be the lowest bidder.
Sam Finoh offer a time and materials (NTE) Not to exceed price. They feel protected that they know the max they will pay, and you are protected by your hourly rate. Also. Work fast, have a plan, and don’t offer to do work that you are not capable of.
But in another video you said the minimum one should charge is $100 an hour but what if you're doing a bathroom remodeling job and you're going to be in there for 8 hours a day? Are you really going to charge someone $800 a day?
@@StayHandy don't lie to yourself bro even the handymantv with his million subscribers says he changes his hourly rate if a customer has him for 8 hours a day for a week long project. me and you know he's more successful you or anyone on RU-vid
@@lobsterstrange ive made $1000 a day once in this last year, $800 a couple times and 600 several times, 450 average... It is possible just dont charge by the hour
@@user27278 1000 a day once is different from 1000 a day for the entirety of a bathroom renovation. A ones man team on average takes three weeks for the average 5x8 bathroom . The average person ain't paying 20k for a 5x8
a handyman is not legally allowed to do everything. They cannot do electrical, plumbing, irrigation, structural etc. I guess it varies from state to state.
I’m with u! But when your not as skilled for certain jobs, why rip off the customer! If it takes u longer to do a job...that’s your fault, so something that takes 30 min...and u take 2 hours, the customer loses money ....that’s wrong, don’t u see that People do not hire this guy, if u have a stripped screw...
This one customer wrote me a bad review because she thought 200.00 was way too much for installation of a bathroom exhaust fan and at the same time only paid 100.00 for the fan installation.
That's nice heck I'm lucky to get $50 to install a fan in the bathroom..people are so dam cheap if I say no. How will I have any money at all. I charged $125.😐😣🤔
You have no idea how ridiculous this video appears to someone who has been in the trades for 60 years. If you can't handle all customer's complaints you're not very handy are you? Not faulting your ambition. If you and the likes of "The Handyman" can find enough people my age to cajole into paying for your yacht, more power to you. It takes a mindset old farts like myself aren't familiar with. Good luck!
Ha! you think anyone doing handyman work has a yacht? You just wanted to brag and be a jerk. Guess what? most handymen go around fixing all the screwed up mistakes from contractors that ripped off a customer
I'm sure there things you cannot do or completely suck at. No doubt in my mind something about your work sucks. Your comment doesn't even make sense just makes you sound salty that you didn't go as hard as this dude did. You are using old fart as an excuse to be jealous. In reality the only reason you don't have a yacht is because you complain and are jealous of people with them. "If you are broke and clown millionare the joke is on you. Envy keeps you pockets empty so just focus on you." (J Cole)
@@jackriley5974 trying to sound smarter doesn't help you. It just reinforces my point. You can't do everything I know you suck at something. At the least you have denied work because you didn't know how to do it. Stop acting like age makes you better in reality it makes you worse because you think experience is not learned. Did you know Henry Ford could barley read let alone build a car? Did you know that all the best inventions have come from not knowing what to do. Learning is the only part of life you need to continue to do and never stop.
