Offering handyman services allows a skilled tradesman to supplement his income when other employment options may be hard to find. One challenge in starting a handyman business is setting labor rates.
Instructions
1. Call around to other handyman service companies and inquire about their rates for different services. This will help you figure out what your competitors are charging. Rates for different services can vary significantly; for example, simple outdoor work like landscaping usually costs $8 to $10 per hour, while more vigorous work like cleaning a heavily junked area could be billed at $20 per hour or more.
2. Develop a rate card, listing each of your services plus the appropriate labor rate. Some services might be "per hour" and others might be "per project." For example, splitting wood or raking might be contracted at $10 per hour, while painting a house might be contracted at a flat project rate of $300.
3. When you negotiate services with a customer, use the rates listed on your rate card. Be wary of giving discounts to your billable rates--your rates should reflect fair market value, and usually the customers who are stingiest on price are the ones who are the most difficult overall.
4. If the project requires an investment on your part of more than $50, or if you plan on delivering services that will be billed at more than $200, provide a written quote, and get your customer's signature. This will protect you in case the work ever gets litigated.
5. When the project is complete, provide an invoice to your customer that clearly lists the charges and rates you are assessing. If you wish to provide some discount to the customer, do it off the final total and not off of your hourly rate charges.
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