Handymen who run their own handyman small business in Australia have the potential to earn a great income while also enjoying an enviable level of freedom to plan their own day and work to their own schedule. That said, to get handyman jobs and generate more revenue for your handyman business is not without its hard work.
So, let’s take a look at where find handyman work and some efficient ways to get more handyman jobs and make more money for your handyman small business. We’ll also cover off how handyman insurance can play a role in growing and sustaining your handyman small business for the long-term by reducing your risk.
1. Do the jobs that others won’t
A surefire way to get more work and grow your handyman small business is by embracing all those fiddly or painstaking handyman jobs that homeowners (and potentially or other handymen) wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole. Some such jobs include:
- Kitchen sink replacement.
- Repairing white goods.
- Unclogging kitchen and bathroom drains.
- Cleaning or repairing gutters.
- Installing doors and windows.
- Installing home security systems.
- Garage cleaning.
For these types of jobs, you may be able to charge a premium due to the challenges that many of these jobs present – provided you clearly state to your clients why such jobs cost more. In the chase for getting more handyman jobs, you don’t want to risk pricing yourself out of the market.
2. Review your pricing
When running your own business, competing solely on price may not pay off in the long run; a race to the bottom isn’t a long-term solution. While you certainly don’t want to price yourself out of the market, it’s important to make sure that your pricing is sustainable for the long-term. It might be worth your while to set a standard hourly rate for all jobs, which will help with forecasting your earnings more accurately.
3. Be selective with who you provide your services too
When starting out with your handyman business you will be eager to establish your presence in the market and will be inclined to accept any and every handyman job you come across. That’s all well and good in the early days of your business, but always remember that choosing the right clients is not only one of the perks of working as an independent handyman, it’s also a great business strategy.
Clients who focus on finding the very cheapest handyman instead of focusing on the quality of the work and service may not be worth your while. They may actually do more harm than good for your business because they will insist on haggling on your standard pricing and will undermine your efforts to maintain your profit margin for your business.
A flow-on effect could be that word could get out that your handyman rates are open to negotiation, which they certainly shouldn’t be. Be firm on pricing for your handyman services – because being the cheapest handyman on the block may come back to haunt you. Always remember that there are homeowners out there who value great work and don’t mind paying for it.
4. Don’t overpromise and underdeliver
One surefire way to get more handyman jobs is to competently deliver the tasks you say you will for clients. Under promise and overdeliver on every job and your clients will remember you whenever they require the services of a handyman.
While it’s true that handymen are jacks of all trades, it’s important to remember not to overpromise and underdeliver. Telling a client that you can do a job, when the reality may be that you don’t have the competency to deliver the work, will most likely come back to haunt you.
A handy solution here may be to develop relationships with local tradies in your area who you can subcontract specific work to as needed.
5. Risk management for handymen
Given the nature of the job, many handymen choose to reduce their risk through handyman insurance. The importance of handyman insurance is clear when you consider that many handymen operate as sole traders, meaning they are personally responsible, both legally and financially, for their business.
To help reduce the risks to your handyman small business, you may consider the following three types of business insurance that can help reduce the risks to your business.
Public Liability Insurance: Cover for legal fees and compensation costs if a customer, member of the public or a supplier claims against you for injury or damage to their property as a result of your alleged negligent business activities.
Business Insurance: An insurance package designed to provide cover for your business contents, stock, tools and commercial premises when an insured event occurs (such as fire, storm, theft or even accidental damage). A Business Insurance package can also cover portable equipment, glass, and for loss of revenue due to business interruption in specified circumstances.
Personal Accident and Illness insurance: Provides different levels of cover for loss of income, permanent disablement and even death if you are unable to work as a result of an injury or illness (even if it occurs outside your work).
Give BizCover a call today on 1300 920 864 for a quote and get your handyman insurance* sorted in minutes and get on with your day. We don’t believe in filling in reams of paperwork or using confusing insurance jargon, just drama free insurance in the click of a button. Purchase your handyman insurance online now.
