If you’re considering becoming a handyman, then this article is just for you. In it, we outline what a handyman does, the pros and cons of entering this line of work, and we explain how you can become one.
We’ll specifically focus on how becoming a handyman can be a great part-time job for retired Baby Boomers looking for a way to earn a little extra cash while staying active.
What Does a Handyman Do, Exactly?
Handymen are essentially labor-for-hire and can perform dozens of tasks, including home renovations like tiling and flooring installation, plumbing, light electrical and general maintenance and repairs.
The vast majority of handyman projects can also be done on a DIY basis, but many people choose to get some help as they want to make sure the job is done properly and because they don’t have the time to work on household projects.
Want to Become a Handyman?
The Pros
There are several benefits of working as a handyman for retired Baby Boomers, such as being able to work to continue to give yourself a sense of purpose in retirement and to stop yourself from getting bored.
And the best part is you can choose your own hours and can easily decide to stop working whenever you decide it’s time to fully retire.
Also, assuming you have the skills, it’s very easy to become a handyman, as you don’t need special equipment for most jobs and it’s usually quite easy to get referrals from friends and family to kickstart your new business.
The Cons
As with all things in life, working as a handyman isn’t without its potential drawbacks. First, although the idea of working a few hours a week instead of retiring completely may sound appealing, it can be difficult to turn down new jobs – especially if they are for urgent repairs – so you may quickly find yourself working more hours than you would like.
Secondly, there may be other, better paying part-time work opportunities for you to explore – and you may enjoy them more than working as a handyman.
And finally, although there will always be demand for handymen, it is quite a competitive market in some places and many jobs may be inaccessible to you because you don’t have the required qualifications, experience or expertise.
How Can I Become a Handyman?
If you still like the idea of becoming a handyman, here’s how you can get started:
Think About What Projects You Can Accept
The first step to becoming a handyman is to evaluate your handyman skills and think about what projects you can competently complete. Ideally, you should only accept jobs that you have done before or jobs that are very simple, like painting or cleaning.
It’s important to be realistic and honest with yourself, as you’ll end up with a bunch of angry customers if you accept jobs that you can’t complete competently.
Look At Handyman Laws & Requirements in Your State
You should be sure to look at the handyman laws and requirements in your state so you can apply for any required licenses and make sure everything’s above board before you get started.
Purchase Required Tools & Equipment
Next, you’ll need to purchase any required tools and equipment that you’ll need to complete the jobs you’ll be offering. For some jobs, these will be quite basic, but for others, you’ll need to invest in costly specialist equipment.
Think About Pricing
At this stage, you can start to develop a pricing strategy for your services. It’s important to look at your competition to get a sense of the market and an idea of what you can realistically charge in your area.
You can either bill your customers per hour or per project. Either way, you should be sure that you are making enough to cover your costs and for it to be worth your while.
Start Looking For Customers
Finally, you can start looking for your first customers by reaching out to your neighbors and friends and family members. You may also want to create and distribute flyers in your local area, build out your business cards or put up an advert online.
Be sure to ask your first few customers for online reviews so it’ll be easier for you to land customers in the future.