How to start a handyman business
A plain checklist: what you can legally do without a contractor licence, insurance, tools, pricing and finding the first customers — without the income promises.
Who it suits
Handyman work suits someone who can fix a bit of everything and likes a different job every few hours. It is cheap to start with tools you already own, but the law limits how big a job you can take without a contractor licence.
1.Know the limits of handyman work
Most states let you do small jobs without a contractor licence only below a dollar limit, and never licensed trade work — electrical, plumbing, gas or HVAC — however small.
Find your state’s limit on the contractor board’s site, and check whether it counts labour and materials together.
2.Register the business
Choose a structure — sole proprietor or LLC are the usual starting points — and register a business name if it differs from your own.
Most cities and counties require a general business licence even where handyman work needs no trade licence.
3.Insurance
General liability covers damage in a customer’s home — the most common claim in handyman work. Commercial auto covers the vehicle and the tools in it.
If you hire, workers’ compensation is required in most states.
4.Lead-safe rules on older homes
Disturbing paint in homes built before 1978 — sanding, cutting drywall, replacing windows or doors — can require EPA RRP certification above small areas.
Get certified before you take that work, or turn it down.
5.Tools and getting there
Start with what you own and buy for the jobs you are actually asked to do. A tidy, organised vehicle saves more time than a new tool.
6.Price your first jobs
Flat rates suit repeatable jobs like TV mounting or a door. Hourly suits unknown scope. Most handymen use both, with a minimum charge so short jobs still pay for the drive.
Bill materials separately and keep the receipts.
7.Find your first customers
Claim a free Fixerlane listing so homeowners searching for a handyman nearby can find and message you — no pay-per-lead.
Ask every early customer for a review. Handyman customers come back, and they tell their neighbours.
The trade in numbers
1,621,800 people work as general maintenance and repair workers in the US — the closest BLS occupation to handyman work, though most are employed by property managers and institutions rather than handyman businesses.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025
In California, work without a contractor licence is capped at $1,000 including labour and materials, and only when no permit is required and no one is hired.
Source: California Contractors State License Board, AB 2622 bulletin, Effective 1 January 2025
About 528,883 handyman service businesses operate in the US (third-party estimate).
Source: IBISWorld, Handyman Services in the US, 2026
Your first customers, free
List your handyman business on Fixerlane at no cost. Homeowners searching for handyman in your area can find you and send enquiries, and replying is free. When the work picks up, the tools to quote, schedule and invoice are a 7-day free trial away.
Common questions
- Do I need a licence to be a handyman?
- Usually a business licence, and a contractor licence once a job passes your state’s dollar limit. Licensed trades like electrical and plumbing always need their own licence. Check your state contractor board.
- How much does it cost to start a handyman business?
- We do not publish a figure. Tools, insurance and registration vary by state and by what you already own. Price each one locally before you commit.
- Should I charge by the hour or by the job?
- Both work. Flat rates suit jobs you have done many times; hourly suits jobs where you cannot see the problem yet. A minimum charge protects the short visits.
- How do I get my first handyman customers?
- A free listing where homeowners already search, people you know, and reviews from every early customer. Property managers and real estate agents send repeat work.
- How much do handymen earn?
- We do not promise earnings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes real wage figures for general maintenance and repair workers by state and metro area.