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Table 2
Advertising Your Handyman Business

Inexpensive Advertising

• Community newspaper classifieds are relatively inexpensive. Choose newspapers that operate in the areas that you would prefer to work.
• You can create inexpensive handyman businesscolored post cards and do a mailing to the specific area that you want to work in. The post office can narrow mailings down to zip codes. People will save these types of cards for future reference.
• Many communities have local business directories.
• Consider joining your local chamber of commerce.
• When you are working in a home, place a lawn sign on the front yard, close to the curb. e.g. "Joe's Handyman Business Services - 555 555-5555.
• Use signage on your vehicle. These can be simple cardboard signs, that simply say; "Handyman Services", followed by your telephone number. These signs can be placed on the side and/or back windows of your vehicle.

Tips:

• On the back of your business card, list the services that you will perform.
• Go to paint, wallpaper and hardware stores in upscale neighborhoods.
• It is not necessary to incorporate, but you should keep track of all your handyman business revenue and expenses.
• You do not have to accept credit cards, however, it does make it easier for some people. You can, as an alternative to directly accepting credit cards, open up a PayPal account.
• It is best if you set fees for the handyman services that you are prepared to perform, rather than charging by the hour. This provides some confidence to your customer that they will not be ripped off. e.g. replacing a toilet $65, replacing a faucet $40, installing a ceiling fan $40, replacing a light switch $35. There may be a few handyman jobs that take longer than expected, but there will also be projects that take less time.

Additional information on pricing your handyman business services.

• You want referrals and although the quality of the work you do is very important, so is the way you performed the job. Spreading down plastic when you remove a toilet, wiping down the sink after you replace a faucet, vacuuming up after completing the job, show that you care about the homeowners property.
• A small and inexpensive item that really goes a long way in customer satisfaction are disposable shoe covers, as shown in Figure 2. This provides you with the advantages that you do not have to work in stocking feet (steel toed shoes are a must) and saves time in removing and putting foot wear on and off. It protects the homeowner's floors and again shows that you care about a client's property. You will be remembered!
• Clean shaven or neatly trimmed beard, clean clothes, deodorant, etc., go far in the homeowner's impression of how you work. Look like a slob and they will assume you work like one!
• After completing even the smallest job, ask the customer to recommend you to friends and relatives.
• Always demonstrate or show the customer that the job is finished. Show the customer the new faucet, turn the water on and off, flush the new toilet.
• It is best to have your handyman business call a cell phone, with a message feature, rather than your home phone, so that you can respond to calls while you are out and about. However, no one likes to have a workman in their home continually on their cell phone. So when working, either set the phone to vibrate, leave it in your vehicle, or turn it off.

A good message is: "You have reached Joe the handyman, I am currently working for a customer and wish to maintain my concentration on their project. Please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you."

• If you are at home and answering the telephone. Do not have the kids yelling in the background or theTV set to loud.
• Always carry a small notepad and pen so that you can write down anything that may come to mind or that a customer says.
• It is generally best, at least at the beginning, to have the customer purchase fixtures such as sinks, toilets and faucets and have you install them.
• Always ask what the project is before you arrive. e.g. If you are being asked to replace a switch, make sure you know what style and color it is. If you are repairing and/or replacing bathroom fixtures always carry extra toilet gaskets, valves, toilet bowl nuts and bolts and flex pipes.
• Debris and garbage removal. In my opinion the handyman should remove all debris and garbage, it should not be left for the homeowner to lug out to the curb on the next garbage pick-up. A good job can be ruined a few days later when the customer has to place the old toilet at the curb for garbage pick-up. This is especially important if working for seniors or those who might have a disability, but I believe that all debris and garbage removal is part of the total job.