What are costs involved w/starting handyman bus.?
Question:
I am thinking of starting a handyman business from home. I'm not a handyman myself, but I feel it's a great income potential business and I just plan on running the business. I'm thinking of working from a home office. Is this smart/possible and would there be much cost to this?
Answer:
A book could be written in response to your inquiry, but allow me to provide a few brief points you may want to consider: - Not being a handyman yourself would suggest you want to be cautious when considering the venture. If a potential client calls asking your advice about a repair job, and you are not personally aware of the particulars related to the job, the client may be able to read into this and be reluctant to seek your services.
- I have a personal friend who operates a handyman business and operates a home-based business. However, he does keep a cell phone at his side at all times. Likewise, referring back to #1 above, he does his own work and can address each question with a significant degree of authority. He has experience and does excellent work.
- Home-based business will dramatically reduce your needs for start-up costs and operating overhead, but you will want to heed local laws associated with such businesses. For example, many communities shy away from home-based businesses that will result in increased traffic on the residential street and inordinate numbers of cars parked in the area. For example, the community in which I live does not allow service and repair trucks of six wheels or more to park in residential neighborhoods.
- Most home-based business zoning ordinances will also disallow any signage at your home.
- You will undoubtedly need to secure insurance and bonding associated with liability for work performed and any health hazards associated with the handymen (and women) and work performed.
- Don't forget your occupational licensing from the city and county/parish in which the business resides. If you associate a name to the business there will be the need to secure a fictitious name with your state.
- Incorporation, which is another cost, will increase your protection of personal assets against lawsuits, given appropriate conditions exist.
Perhaps, 15 to 20 years ago this would have been an innocent, low-cost venture. However, in today's world most any business start-up demands costs associated with government agencies, liability protection and some costs associated with advertising and promoting your business. Steve Windhaus
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