There are many, many ways, many new opportunities, to begin your start up activities or build a small business as a Handyperson...
- A Handyperson, Handyman, Handywoman provides basic maintenance and repairs on various businesses or homes. Main duties include repairing plumbing systems, fixing company equipment or tools and testing various company or home appliances to ensure they work properly.
- A Handyperson can be responsible for electrical, mechanical and plumbing related repairs internally. Externally, they may paint, clean windows, even engage/sub-contract with landscape maintenance employees.
- A Handyperson performs routine maintenance on a client’s home or an office building. Clients will often call them to report a maintenance request and the Handyperson will quickly arrive on-site to assess the situation and repair the issue. Some people in this role will complete quick or easy tasks, like simple repairs, managing several maintenance reports at once and cleaning facilities.
- A Handyperson can analyze appliances and equipment to detect any problems and will report these issues if they aren’t functioning properly. Handypersons can analyze internal or external areas to see if there are any breakdowns or mechanical failures that they can repair.
- There are various settings a Handyperson may work in depending on where they are located. If they work primarily for homeowners, they’ll regularly arrive at people’s houses to conduct general maintenance on whatever the client requests. This can include maintenance on kitchen appliances, plumbing repairs and door window or roof repair.
- Some Handypersons work for offices or organizations, performing maintenance on items all around the building. They may work in an office setting, making sure the area is clean and that all appliances are functioning properly. There are also Handypersons who work for government entities, educational institutions, prisons, etc. performing maintenance on items, like air conditioners, office equipment, fridges, microwaves or ovens, etc.
Duties and Services Offered or Performed by a Handyperson:
- Perform electrical repairs, including lights, fridges, A/Cs and laundry;
- Ensure mechanical equipment is in working order and fixed as necessary;
- Complete general building cleaning and maintenance;
- Install and replace floors, stairs and piping as needed;
- Repair and paint doors, windows, walls, ceilings, roofs and other parts of the building;
- Maintain trash and recycling receptacles around the facility, and;
- Maintain and repair air conditioning maybe even heating systems as required.
What Makes a Good Handyperson...
- A good Handyperson must be a hard worker and dedicated to correctly fixing as many items and things as possible each day. Since they’re regularly on their feet or bent over repairing items, climbing ladders, lifting heavy items, etc., Handypersons should be in good physical condition and have physical stamina to ensure they’re able to properly conduct their tasks.
- Handypersons should also have or learn and build a wide variety of basic skills and knowledge when fixing different kinds of appliances and items around a house or business office. Handypersons should also have or build quickly extensive experience and knowledge working with various power tools and hardware equipment.
- Like most jobs, it really helps to succeed if you enjoy your work or what you are planning to do, and where you plan to work.
- And, like most jobs, you need to spot what do prospective clients really need from you? What do they want?
- Remember: Ask questions; Speak to typical customers; Talk to people living nearby or walking to work in your area. Talk about becoming a Handyperson with your family and friends. This can really help. Keep asking. Keep thinking about it.
Offer Handyperson Services You are Good at or Enjoy...
- Are you an artisan, a craftsperson? Are you experienced and already doing some services - house painting, window washing, landscaping. cleaning carpets, more? Were you making some money? Did you price your services correctly so you made a profit?
- You can also team up with someone else who works with the services you are offering. Build a Handyperson team together. If you do, work out a fair agreement in writing and both sign it.
Find Suitable Places to Offer your Services
- Find out what services people need in your area.
- Talk to people, tell them what you are planning to do, and ask if they will be interested your services.
- Watch foot and vehicle traffic in your nearby or chosen area. Are there lots of prospects to talk to? Add up the number of people walking and driving by. What happens in the area at breakfast time? Lunch time? Dinner time? In the evening? When is the best time to sell your Handyperson services.
Your Services. Make Sure They're Legal
In every country, often in every county or province, even sometimes in every city or large town, there are local laws, regulations and rules which can impact formal and informal business. To avoid problems, it is useful to understand and take into account what impacts your business. Think about:
- Access, sidewalks, open areas, legal rights
- Dates and times you can operate
- Rules on location, eg, distance from a door, in front of a store window, a street corner, etc.
- Limit of Handypersons allowed to sell in your location
- Charges or fees to be paid? To whom?
Good Business Practices to Help You Succeed
- There are always formal and informal business practices.
- Work to your strengths and improve your weaknesses.
- Is there a market for your services?
- Know your competitors.
- Opportunities are based on knowing as much as possible about your customers, your costs, regulations, the market in which you offer or sell. That's how you know if you an opportunity is realistic.
- Know your break-even point. Understand the costs of equipment and tools, related costs and working time.
- Every service you offer should be good quality.
- Plan your project. Make choices based on good information.
- Be professional as a Handyperson. You really are the main asset and source of your business. One reason why skills are so important so as to Stand Out.
- Gain knowledge so you can make informed decisions.
- Do what you say and say what you do.
Plan Out Your Overhead Costs
- Be sure to understand the costs of equipment and tools needed to provide your services.
- Work out all operational costs: communications; marketing; etc.
- Keep clear records. Bookkeeping, a filing system of the day-to-day business transactions. You must record and understand transactions in order to price your services. Once you get started there are useful smartphone apps to handle bookkeeping and safely retain records.
Price Your Services So That You Will Profit
- Whatever you are offering, doing, a 50% - 100% profit margin is typical.
- Know your break-even point. Understand the costs of travel and production time.
Begin To Create and Build Your Handyperson Brand
- Use Facebook to set up a business page to keep your customers up-to-date about what you will be offering. Maybe your residential and commercial services.
- Use AfricanPriorities to post your contact details. Create and post a brochure. Add photos, audios, and videos. Take full advantage of the many FREE tools. Then as you grow:
- Set up a basic website. You do need a domain.
Other Ideas and Thoughts
- Hygiene is your first concern, especially during and after Covid-19, when as a Handyperson you are working inside other people's homes or commercial buildings. Surrounded by others in tight quarters.
- Be creative. Innovate and improvise.
- Be honest. Trustworthy
- Enjoy talking to people. Be a good listener. Smile. People will remember you. Help or introduce you to others.