How to start a handyperson business

If you’re a jack-of-all-trades, it’s likely you’ll be a highly skilled tradesperson who’s valued for your versatility. Homeowners usually have an endless list of improvements and repairs to do. They just don’t always have the skills!

Starting a handyman business in the UK could be a very lucrative step. As a self-employed handyman or handywoman, you’ll have total freedom. You’ll be able to choose your working hours, clients, and services.

This guide on how to start a handyperson business covers all the angles and tips:

• Creating a business plan
• Working out your marketing strategy
• Financing your business
• The legalities
• Getting going!
• Gaining more work
• Increasing your revenue
• Expanding your team
• Developing your services
• Setting goals

What to consider when starting a handyperson business

Before you start investing money in starting a small handyman business, there are a few things you’ll want to do.

1. Create a business plan for your handyman business

Your priority ought to be a business plan for a handyman business. It’s how to make a handyman business successful.

You’ll probably have plenty of fantastic ideas in your head. A business plan sets them out on paper. That way, each step is clear and should be achievable.

Important steps in your business plan for a handyman business could include:

• Your target market
• Your goals and how to achieve them

A business plan helps you to:

• Focus on what you’re best at doing
• Outline the scope of services you offer
• Stay organised
• Keep motivated
• Work efficiently and to a high standard
• Be more productive
• Make better-informed business decisions

Need some help with a handyman business plan? Grab this free template to make your life easier!

2. Invest in training and qualifications

It’s so important to have some qualifications to show potential customers you’ve acquired the right skills for the job. Plus, there are solid financial benefits to upskilling yourself.

It may be that you’ve decided to start out as a handyperson after repairing and maintaining your own home. Gaining formal training will help you solidify your practical repair skills. It can help you tackle professional property maintenance projects.

Alternatively, as handyperson work is varied. When starting a handyman business you could look at sector-specific qualifications. These could include:

• Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying
• Level 2 and 3 Diploma in Fencing (the non-jousting kind) and Construction
• Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery
• Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Site Carpentry

You could consider completing a multi-trade City & Guilds course to make it clear you’re qualified for this line of work. Any of these credentials will make you appear more credible and encourage people to hire your services.

Along with formal qualifications, membership of a body such as the Association of Certified Handyman Professionals (ACHP) may also be beneficial. Membership relies on you passing an assessment. But it will demonstrate competence and a willingness to apply best practices.

3. Make sure you have the right skills and attributes

Knowing how to start a handyman business is a question of having the right skills. As a handyman or woman, you’ll face a number of challenges while on the job.

You’ll need strong problem-solving skills and a good dose of common sense. You’ll also need other skills to excel in running your own business. These include:

• Practical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Physical fitness
• Attention to detail
• Leadership
• Customer service
• The ability to work independently
• Time management
• Health and safety knowledge
• Basic maths
• The strength to resist sucking air through your teeth when pricing up jobs

Starting a handyman business – step by step

Now for the juicy bit of this guide – the steps to complete to get your business up and running.

1. Register your business

For legal reasons, you’ll first need to register your business. You’ll need to decide whether you’re a sole trader or a limited company.

• Setting up as a sole trader

As a sole trader, you’ll need to register your business with HMRC when you set it up. The primary formal paperwork is your annual tax return.

You’ll need to keep accurate business accounts. And you’ll be held personally responsible for your business losses and debts.

• Setting up a limited company
  

On the other hand, a limited company structure provides better financial protection. Limited companies need to register with Companies House.

The downside is that limited companies have more paperwork and responsibilities, so you need to decide what’s best for you.

These aren’t the only pros and cons to weigh up when making your decision. Do your research and choose a structure that suits you best.

2. Get insurance

As a tradesperson, there can be moments when an accident happens or a customer is left dissatisfied. This is where insurance comes in. It will protect you from fines and compensation fees in the event of a legal dispute.

Here are the main types to consider when starting a handyperson business in the UK:

• Employers’ liability insurance (if you employ anyone else as part of your business)
• Public liability insurance
• Contract works insurance
• Legal expenses insurance
• Tools in transit cover
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Personal accident insurance

There are tradespeople out there getting covered for less.

Tradespeople who join Checkatrade get discounts with Checkatrade partners. That includes 20% off PLI – a must for all our members!

3. Get your head around the finances

Your business will have many transactions coming in and out. It’s important to keep track of all the income and expenditures to stay profitable.

Using accounting software is a great way to keep on top of your business admin. As a Checkatrade member, you can save up to 75% off QuickBooks business software.

At the start, you may be operating at a loss due to the upfront costs of:

• Equipment
• Insurance
• Supplies

If you’re struggling to cover these expenses, if your budgeting allows, you could take out a business loan. Just be mindful of the interest rates and repayments.

Another major part of bookkeeping is filing taxes. You’ll have to keep these well documented on a regular basis along with your cashflow. If you’re unsure about taxes or paperwork, you could hire an accountant to help.

4. Invest in handyperson tools and equipment

Investing in a full inventory of tools is key to making sure you’re ready to tackle any job. This will make your job much easier. You’ll also impress customers with your speed, efficiency and professional finish.

As the expert, you’ll know exactly what tools you’ll need. But just in case, here’s a list of tools to get started with:

• Vehicle – van or car – and a valid driving licence, of course!
• Hammers
• Wrenches
• Screwdrivers
• Utility knife
• Allen keys
• Pliers
• Sander
• Planer
• Chisels
• Tape measure
• Saws
• Electric drill
• Step ladder
• Spirit level
• Caulking gun
• Stud finder

Make sure your equipment is the best quality you can afford. Remember the saying “buy cheap … buy twice”.

Checkatrade members are saving money on business essentials including tools, insurance and fuel.

5. Promoting your new handyperson business

A major part of starting a handyman or woman business in the UK is knowing how to reach potential customers.

While word-of-mouth recommendations are ideal, there are many marketing strategies to explore.

Just a few avenues you could pursue when just starting out include:

• Distributing leaflets and flyers door-to-door
• Put up posters in busy areas
• Get vehicle graphics with your business name and contact details
• Advertising in a local newspaper or magazine

Checkatrade members have the opportunity to feature in our leading trade directory, which is delivered to homeowners around the country.

6. Marketing your handyman business online

There are many straightforward ways of marketing your handyperson business. As we all know, lots of marketing nowadays is done online.

Many digital marketing methods are available to establish an online presence for your new business. They can really help to engage with clients digitally and target new audiences. Methods include:

• Building a website
• Investing in SEO
• Building a social media presence
• Paid advertising

The best part about organic social media is that it’ll only really cost you your time. It provides a solution to tell people about your handyperson services and stories.

Learn from other business owners and ‘Become the Boss’

Save yourself time and hassle getting your business started with the help of our Become the Boss series.

Owning your business is a way to earn more money. Not considered going it alone? Why not sign up today.

You’ll receive:

• A series of 8 emails
• Actionable tips and advice
• A free business strategy call

And by the end of it all, you could be the founder of your new business. To get trade business insider secrets sent to your pocket, enter your email address:

Key considerations for starting a handyman business

There are some other important considerations to make when planning your business growth.

• Funding – will you need to source additional funding to facilitate your growth plans?
• Business structure – is it still suitable to operate as a sole trader as your business expands? Speak with your accountant about becoming a limited company
• Company finances – an accountant can help you to stay tax efficient and compliant, and even help to source additional funding as you grow
• Business processes – review your processes to make sure they’re scalable. Consider what technology can help to make your business more efficient

For more tips to help grow your trade business, check out this article.

Start your handyperson business with Checkatrade

There’s a lot to think about when running your own business. As a Checkatrade member, you can get your business off to the best start.

You’ll need to pass our 12 checks to become one of our members. As standard, we only list tradespeople who meet the high standards homeowners expect.

With a strict approval process to ensure we only list the best tradespeople. Here are just a few of the reasons to become a Checkatrade member:

1. Get more leads

Last year, there were over 22 million job searches for tradespeople on the Checkatrade website.* That includes over 566,000 searches across the UK just for handyman work.* Seems like a big level of interest to benefit from.

2. Win more work

Homeowners trust our renowned ‘tick’ of approval, helping you to build your reputation and win more business.

3. Save money

With exclusive access to trade discounts, Checkatrade members save money on business essentials, helping to keep their profit margins generous.

FAQs

Is a handyperson business scalable?

Absolutely. You can start small and grow. Or stay small. That’s the beauty of a handyperson trade business – you’re the boss. There’s always demand out there for home maintenance and improvement.

How much does it cost to start a handyman or woman business?

Starting a handyperson business will usually cost between £1,500 – £3,500. The up-front costs vary because it depends on how much you’re spending on equipment, supplies, marketing, insurance, and so on.

One way to keep costs down is by hiring equipment rather than buying it. You can buy it outright once your revenue increases.

Here’s a handy tip! Being a Checkatrade member means you can actually save on your tools, insurance and fuel. Selco, Tradepoint and Wickes are some of the partners you can save with.

How much can I earn running handyperson business?

The average handyperson salary in the UK is around £24,960.00 per year, but you could earn even more than this. Growing your client base and finding a steady stream of work will increase your revenue.

Who can I learn from to grow my business when I launch it?

Homeserve founder Richard Harpin has a free book available called Accelerate!, which is aimed at trade businesses. It’s packed with all his experience and knowledge so that you can get your business going on the right path.

* Internal search data from users of the Checkatrade.com website in 2024