Starting a Business

Do you live in London?
Are you in need of Domestic Household Services?
Are you looking for a company to help you with your End of Tenancy Cleaning?
Or Handyman Services?
Or just plain basic cleaning?

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Not only do we clean your place up but we are also acceptionally good at fixing odds and ends at your place and helping you out with that tedious mess of a Tenancy Cleaning.

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If you’re good with tools, a handyman business may be the right one for you. But you also need to be a good business person if you want to make it a success. The handyman business is increasing in popularity as people no longer have the time they need to do things around the home. With a bit of work, your business will grow over time.

Handyman business startup needs depend on the scope of work you are capable of and willing to provide. Starting a handyman business follows the same procedures and rules as any other business, but will be distinguished by your talents, professionalism and reputation. Generally, you will be able to start with a minimum investment in tools, business and skill training, and may run the business from your home.

Skill Training

Being a handyman carries a “do-it-all” expectation from your customers, but formal or practical training and experience are paramount to success. Only offer skills you are experienced in, and try to learn others by taking courses or reading books. You can always start small, offering your clients very meager services for the time being and then grow your business as you learn new techniques and procedures.

Professional Licensing & Job Permits

Some repair jobs, such as those involving intermediate or advanced construction, electrical, plumbing, heating and other home or commercial systems, are illegal to perform without an additional specialty trade license (i.e. Contractor’s License), so you must investigate which jobs are legal to perform if you lack the necessary documentation.

Local building permits are also required for many repair jobs, so check with local building authorities to see which repair jobs require permits. Failure to obtain licenses and permits may result in fines and criminal penalties.

Tools & Supplies

Tools and supplies will vary according to the job, but may be obtained at local hardware and home improvement stores. Your tools are business assets, and the costs may be amortized over the life of your business or the tool.

Supplies are considered job costs, and are generally bought according to the requirement of the job, asked by a specific client. Such purchases are generally billed to the customer or included in the overall job price.

Vehicle

You will need a reliable vehicle that will safely transport your tools and supplies. A pickup or flat-bed truck, station wagon or SUV is usually sufficient for most handyman businesses, and it should be reasonably clean and attractive to present a professional business image.

You can also use the said vehicle to advertise your services or set up a mobile team that can help people on the go.

Insurance

Business liability insurance may be required for contracting businesses in your area or city, but is a smart idea even if it isn’t. Liability insurance will protect you and your customers in case something goes wrong on the job, and can be used as a confidence-building selling point in your marketing and advertising efforts.

Business Permits & Tax Registration

A general business permit from your town hall and a state tax registration certificate is normally all that is required to make your business legal, aside from any required contracting and trade licenses. Since many small handyman businesses operate as sole-proprietors, additional business structure paperwork will only be required by your secretary of state office if you structure the business as a corporation, limited liability company or partnership.

In these cases, you will also require a Taxpayer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service and an Employer Identification Number if you will hire employees.

Franchising

You can purchase a handyman franchise if you want a business plan handed to you. However, handyman franchises are better suited for those who want to run a business. They assume that the owner of the company will hire workers to act as the handymen. If you enjoy fixing home problems, you should probably start your own business outside of a franchise.

Advertising

You’ll need to advertise to get customers. Purchase an ad in the Yellow Pages and place weekly ads in free local newspapers. A catchy name will help potential customers remember your ad. You can also place fliers in prominent locations such as supermarkets or libraries. Do a big advertising push as the seasons change, when people may need more work done around the home, such as cleaning gutters, shutting off outside water spouts during winter, weather-proofing the home and cleaning air ducts.

Networking

Talk to other business owners in the community to exchange referrals. A carpenter may be able to offer you some of the easier jobs that he gets calls for, while you can refer customers to him when the job is too big for you. Additionally, you should introduce yourself to all area companies, who may call you when they need a handyman. Word-of-mouth is great advertising, so be sure to get your name out there.

Establishing a Website

Many people will search for a repair person through the Internet. Submit your business to Google’s business listings so that your company is likely to show up in the search results. Additionally, you should provide DIY tips on your website. Customers will see that you have the knowledge that it takes to fix the problems. Someone may use the information on your site to fix her current problem, but she’ll look for you first when she has something that she can’t handle.

Setting Boundaries

It’s important to be upfront with your customers about what types of jobs you can and cannot do. For example, you may be able to fix a leaky faucet, but you can’t do a major plumbing overhaul. If you try to do something that’s too complex, you’ll simply waste time and the customer will not be satisfied. Refer customers to another professional when necessary.

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Courtesy : Matt McKay & Maggie McCormick, Demand Media

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