Replies

1. 
   HandySteve | Jan 02, 2006 10:33pm | #1

   jump in.. get yer feet wet... then start figuring it out.  It'll all come as you go.  You'll learn from your mistakes...  some will be very expensive mistakes... but you gotta jump in with both feet

   as far as your lic.  contracts. permits... etc...   its differnt from state to state.. city to city... county to county.  Do some research...  make some calls.

   Call an established handyman in your neighbor hood and offer to buy him lunch if you can pick his brain.  People are very very helpful and love to talk

    

   GoodLuck

2. 
   HandySteve | Jan 02, 2006 10:34pm | #2

   ps....  keep your nose here.  You'll learn alot.  And dont be afraid to ask questions.  You'll get alot of tough and not so gentle answers...  but then...  what do you want... someone to hold you... or help you pay the mortgage

    

3. 
   HandySteve | Jan 02, 2006 10:36pm | #3

   and hurry up and fill in your profile.. before the vultures start circling

1. 
   Laumonster | Jan 02, 2006 10:49pm | #4

   what do you mean fill in my profile?

1. 
   Lansdown | Jan 02, 2006 11:04pm | #6

   Click on your name and you will see an option to "change profile". Fill in pertinent information,such as location, age, occupation. This may help when others answer questions you post especially if they are geographically/climatically specific. If you want some idea of what other people enter, click on their names and you'll get the idea.BTW, I too dislike the term handyman for a professional term. It's like a hobby you picked up, like stamp collecting. I correct those who use that term indiscriminantly. I think of someone who has a non-construction related occupation but can do repairs and basic carpentry as a handyman, but that term seems to be supplanted by DIYer these days.

2. 
   HandySteve | Jan 03, 2006 12:59am | #9

   find your market..... find the ninche  such as....

   fullfilling desperate housewives needs.  Round here  Theres a company...  "the honey-do  Crew"

   GoodLuck

1. 
   joewood | Jan 03, 2006 01:18am | #10

   In Cali, you'll need a Contractors license for any jobs over $500, and of course a Business Lic for each city you work in.

1. 
   davidmeiland | Jan 03, 2006 03:08am | #11

   That business license thing... well, it doesn't matter as much if you're not pulling permits.

   I'd say the biggest obstacle for a lot of folks in CA is getting the 8000 hours verified on their application. Helps to be on really good terms with a former employer or two, like, maybe you married his daughter.

2. 
   plumbbill | Jan 03, 2006 03:14am | #12

   LOL

   That reminds me of my wifes uncles' Handyman business

   It's called

   RENT A HUSBAND

1. 
   Sancho | Jan 03, 2006 06:24pm | #14

   I read an article a few years back about some guys with that name here in SoCal, they would jobs that husbandds usually like like move fridges to mowing lawns to painting repairing homes , anything...

   They were doing a pretty good business to. Charge good money( flat hourly rate) for it. thhey worked in pairs ad I think it was about 30 bucks a hour per person. That was about 5-6 years or longer back I read about it. 

2. 
   plumbbill | Jan 04, 2006 05:56am | #18

   I'm not sure where he got the name from but ohboy does his dw hate it

   & his business cards are pink

4. 
   davidmeiland | Jan 02, 2006 10:55pm | #5

   You probably need a license, and it takes time to get one. Go to http://www.cslb.ca.gov to read up on it.

5. 
   BillHartmann | Jan 03, 2006 12:09am | #7

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=61243.1&search=y

6. 
   girlbuilder | Jan 03, 2006 12:58am | #8

   Licensing depends on the state you're in as they are all different. A call to your a state offices that regulate business will give you the information you need in that area. I would venture to guess that if you've been in the trade for awhile, you probably will have no problem getting licensed anyway.

   Another good forum for professionals is the JLC Online forum. jlconline.com

   They are pretty intense there, here the folks are more relaxed.

   Figure out what you want to do, put in an ad and get your name around and treat people fairly, price reasonably and you'll get a good rep. Figure your numbers based on what you think you need to live for now, what you need for running the biz and go from there.

   Oh and you will make mistakes so accept that as part and parcel of being in biz on your own and learn from them.

   That's my two sense, and I'll tell you, I am learning -- oh boy am I learning -- everyday. That's one reason why I love this business.

7. 
   Mooney | Jan 03, 2006 03:20am | #13

   They have several different names floating around .

   House doctor is one but do you qualify?

   You are a remodeling and finish carp by your post description. Theres a lot more to being a house doctor than that . A bunch.

   Youre too experienced to be called a handy man . I can understand that  . You are more experienced than a guy who hauls off leaves right ? Maybe not. Can you take apart an ice maker , recharge a fridge, fix a dryer and washer, same deal with a dish washer? Repair a garage door opener? Trouble shoot a hot tub malfunction? Take a well pump apart and repair it ? Change out a faucet while eating cake and ice cream from the owners kid? You sweat and solder copper while its wet? Rebuild commodes and tub supplies? Repair drywall holes 2 ft square on a show wall? Can ya match ceiling texture on a 1 ft sqaure in the middle of the mater bedroom ceiling?

   Dont judge a book by its cover ? Just because you see a guy hauling off leaves or cutting grass , he could be very educated.

   The good ones are supposed to make over a 100 per hour.

    

   Tim

    

    

    

8. 
   HandySteve | Jan 03, 2006 07:31pm | #15

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=64302.1

   Heres a good thread.  Browse thru it.  A good read

1. 
   mrfixitusa | Jan 03, 2006 07:39pm | #16

   Red Green said it best "If you can't be a handyman at least be handy manly"Sorry, couldn't resist..++++++++++++++++
   -Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain-

1. 
   HandySteve | Jan 03, 2006 10:33pm | #17

   didnt he also say...

   "if the they dont find you handsome,  at least let 'em find you Handy"

    

   GoodLuck

9. 
   Dave45 | Jan 04, 2006 08:22am | #19

   CA law says that you have to have a contractors license if you're doing work worth more than $600 - and you're not allowed to break things down into separate, smaller, jobs to keep under the dollar limit.

   CA doesn't have a license for "Handyman" so I got a GC license.  Since I wanted to keep everything on the up and up, I also got a business license, liability insurance, etc.

   Believe it, or not, Handymen (or women) are in demand.  There's a lot of work out there that the bigger guys don't want to be bothered with and people are (usually) willing to pay a fair price.  I have enough work so I can walk away from the twits that think my work should be free.  I emphasize that I'm licensed, bonded, and insured and it seems to give the customers a good feeling.

   If you go for it, run some ads on Craigslist and try to hook up with a couple of good realtors.  I do a lot of work cleaning up problems from home inspections.

   You can also develop new skills working as a handyman.  I may not be an "expert" framer, tile setter, electrician, plumber, or whatever but I can get 'er done and I've never had anyone throw rocks at me - lol.

1. 
   JasonPharez | Jan 04, 2006 11:18pm | #20

   Monster, when I started out in business 2 years ago, I was a "handyman" basically because I did whatever came my way (to eat that week) and because I was working alone (which isn't necessarily bad).

   Now two years later, I'm running a full time framing and roofing company who only occasionally does small jobs or things other than frame/roof, and only when I have to pay my guys.

   As I have progressed through the business world, my desire to do small jobs has diminished, mainly because you can't send three guys to replace one door or tile a small bathroom--it's just not profitable or efficient.

   My point being, get to know some of the larger contractors in your area, especially those who know of you. Let them know what you're doing now, because they probably have jobs come up every day (like I do) that they either don't want or are too busy for. I have several well respected individuals who I call on when I can't do the job for whatever reason. Also, that way I have someone to refer a prospect to, which makes me (and the other guy) look good even if I can't help the caller. Another way is to call builders in your area and ask them if they need the services of someone to do pick-up/punchlist work on their homes.

   Good luck! Oh and one more thing: Don't EVER undervalue your work or your time.Jason Pharez Construction

      Framing & Exterior Remodeling

1. 
   roger g | Jan 07, 2006 05:25am | #24

   Clap, clap, clap. Excellent Jason. Especially your last sentence. I do it now and I only wish I had the balls to have done it years ago.

    

    

   roger

10. 
    Frankie | Jan 05, 2006 02:34am | #21

    I was speaking with an old GF the other day. (Surprise Surprise!) She lives in Los Angeles and told me that she hires a handyman a few times a year. She pays a basic rate of $100 for the first hour and $50 - $75 for each add'l hour. She thinks it is a great deal!

    There is a need for guys like this and the good ones never advertise. It is all word of mouth. So, be good to everyone and they will refer you because it makes them look good and in the know.

    Eventually, clients will offer you larger and larger jobs. The trick is to stay within your ability and time constraints. That's the tough part.

    Test the waters and then get your business lic, insurance and GC lic.

    Great idea. Good luck.

    Frankie

    There he goes—one of God's own prototypes—a high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.

    —Hunter S. Thompson
    from Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

1. 
   Lansdown | Jan 05, 2006 02:48am | #22

   I thought about doing it out in the Hamptons, but charging an appropriate $1000/hr.

11. 
    Irwin | Jan 06, 2006 10:47pm | #23

    I would definitely get and umbrella insurance policy to protect yourself and an business license. If you start getting bigger jobs then I would invest in a GC license. Once you have a GC license you will also have to be bonded which will cost you about $90 a year depending on what company you go with.