Handyman Rates

Find out what handyman rates to charge. It is essential to the success and profitability of your handyman service to set the right rates.

• Charge by the hour
  When you start out it may be advisable to charge by the hour. You probably don't yet have the experience to know exactly how long a job takes. In this case, a flat hourly rate can be more realistic than a fee per job.
• Charge by the job
  Many customers prefer to be charged by the job. This is a reasonable option for you if you have a clear idea of how long the job will take. Where there are unknown factors that may impact on the time taken to complete the work or if you have never done a similar job go, rather go with an hourly rate. If you are familiar with the work and know there are not going to be any surprises you can earn more by charging by the job. Determine how long the job will take and multiply that by your hourly rate. Add in materials and overhead costs such as gasoline into your job price.
• Give yourself a buffer zone This is a safety margin. Often the job takes longer than expected. If a job looks like it will take 4 hours, then price it for 5 hours. This way you will ensure you are covered for any surprises and your business remains profitable. One way to accurately estimate the time a handyman job will take is to break it into smaller tasks and estimate a time for each task.
• What should my hourly rate be? This will depend on your skills, experience and location. You can set different rates for different services you offer depending on the skill level required. Average handyman rates differ vastly according to area and skills. In general handyman rates run from $40 - $90 per hour.
  Many handymen set a rate for the first hour and then a slightly lower rate for per hour thereafter. Partial hours are rounded up to the nearest half or full hour. If the job takes 1 hr 15 minutes, this is rounded up to 1.5 hours or even 2 hours. Often a minimum charge is stated to make it worthwhile.
  Set handyman rates for normal working hours and a higher rate for hours worked outside of normal working hours. Include travel time and time taken to pick up supplies for the job in your labor costs.
• Materials List the cost for materials separately to the labor costs. Most handymen put a mark up on materials purchased and used for the job.
• Be competitive Make sure your handyman rates are similar to what others in your area and with your expertise are charging. Try to get the hourly rates for at least three different handymen and average these to arrive at a fair hourly rate for your handyman service. Resources for finding hourly rates in your area include calling local property management companies or realtors, visiting online contractor/handyman forums, researching handyman business websites.
• Do not underprice your work
  It is tempting when starting out to offer lower prices to get customers. This is never a good idea for the long term profitability of your business. Rather offer a limited time discount to get your first customers.

The basic guide to Starting a Handyman Business

Find out how to get your Handyman License

Find out about Handyman Insurance

Read what experienced handymen have to say about Starting a Handyman Service

Find out about how to find Handyman Work

How to advertise and market your Handyman Business

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A handyman business can be a very profitable small business opportunity. Make sure you set the right handyman rates.

Make money with a handyman business

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