A Place to List & Find Affordable Housing in Santa Clara County, CaliforniaIn its first big move beyond home cleaning, Homejoy is adding carpet cleaning and general handyman services to its offerings in the Bay Area. Co-founder and CEO Adora Cheung (pictured above with her brother and co-founder Aaron) has been hinting at this for the past year, including last week at Disrupt Europe. Over the summer, Homejoy invited customers to beta test a number of different home services — not just the ones that it’s officially launching today, but also landscaping, electrical work, and pest control. COO Xiao Wei Chen told me that Homejoy will continue testing and “working out some kinks” with those other services. On the other hand, he said that carpet cleaning and handyman services are “ready for primetime.” (Those handyman services include air conditioner installation and repair, moving and storage, furniture assembly, interior painting, and TV mounting.) So people who use Homejoy’s website or mobile app to schedule home cleanings can now use the same interface to set up other services too.

This initial launch covers San Francisco and San Jose, with carpet cleaning costing $50 an hour, while handyman services cost $60 an hour. And yes, Chen said there are plans to launch in more markets soon. When I asked how Homejoy’s experience in cleaning has influenced its approach to new services, Chen said the big challenge has always been “improving the customer experience.” That, he added, is why the company has been “so diligent in rolling out these services one-by-one.” More specifically, Chen noted that while Homejoy had to recruit a new group of handymen (handypeople?), it was able to tap into its existing pool of home cleaners to do carpets, too. I also pointed out that while Homejoy recently changed its pricing to encourage regular cleanings, the recurring model makes less sense with the new services. Chen replied that the goal is to be seen as “the one-stop shop for all home services.” “If we mount your TV, it’s not that we’ll come mount it again six months later,” he added.

“But if we mount your TV, we want to stay top of mind if you want to mount some shelving or mount some pictures.” Homejoy’s expansion could also create more competition with Handy, which offers both home cleanings and handyman services.Start a handyman business with a small investment in tools and training. Chris Stein/Digital Vision/Getty Images Handyman business startup needs depend on the scope of work you are capable of and willing to provide. Starting a handyman business follows the same procedures and rules as any other business, but will be distinguished by your talents, professionalism and reputation. Generally, you will be able to start with a minimum investment in tools, business and skill training, and may run the business from your home. Skill Training Being a handyman carries a "do-it-all" expectation from your customers, but formal or practical training and experience are paramount to success. Only offer skills you are experienced in, and endeavor to learn others by taking courses or reading books.

You may start small and grow your business as you learn new techniques and procedures. Professional Licensing And Job Permits Some states require any home or commercial repair person to obtain a contractor's license, with qualifications that vary according from state-to-state. Some repair jobs, such as those involving intermediate or advanced construction, electrical, plumbing, heating and other home or commercial systems, are illegal to perform without an additional specialty trade license, so you must investigate which jobs are legal to perform if you lack the necessary documentation. handyman business name generatorLocal building permits are also required for many repair jobs, so check with local building authorities to see which repair jobs require permits. handyman services central coast nsw

Failure to obtain licenses and permits may result in fines and criminal penalties. Tools And Supplies Tools and supplies will vary according to the job, but may be obtained at local hardware and home improvement stores. Your tools are business assets, and the costs may be amortized over the life of your business or the tool. Supplies are considered job costs, and are generally billed to the customer or included in the overall job price. alpha handyman servicesVehicle You will need a reliable vehicle that will safely transport your tools and supplies. business for sale pigeon forgeA pickup or flat-bed truck, station wagon or SUV is usually sufficient for most handyman businesses, and it should be reasonably clean and attractive to present a professional business image. chris handyman landscaping services

Insurance Business liability insurance may be required for contracting businesses in your state, but is a smart idea even if it isn't. Liability insurance will protect you and your customers in case something goes wrong on the job, and can be used as a confidence-building selling point in your marketing and advertising efforts. Marketing and Advertising Your handyman business will need marketing and advertising to gain customers. business for sale mission beach queenslandBusiness cards, stationery, fliers, brochures, portable work-site and magnetic vehicle signs are basic marketing aid necessities, and small ads in local publications and community websites are generally sufficient for advertising purposes. Direct mail or door-to-door distribution are common marketing methods for small handyman businesses, but you will need to follow a regular marketing schedule to achieve satisfactory results.