Handyman Business

[kreg McMahon]

Re: Handyman Business

I have a separate bag that carries a few large dropcloths, dustpan, handbroom, trash bags, a roll of blue tape, and the coveralls.

how big is that bag?

and don't forget the blue botties (shoe covers) !

[S. Donato]

Re: Handyman Business

i have my drop chothes in a bag too...

i use an IKEA blue carry bag - for $1.99 it is a great bag and has big enough handles to straddle a lot of tarps in one bag. next time you guys go to ikea grab a few of their bags b/c you will be amazed at how strong they are. i use another to carry all my various deck/joist connectors and they haven't ripped a bag yet. also use one to carry all my black pipe connectors.

[frenchie]

Re: Handyman Business

how big is that bag?

and don't forget the blue botties (shoe covers) !

Not that huge, actually. HD's cheap copy of the Bigmouth, 20". There's only two dropcloths in it, the lightweight ones... If I'm painting or plastering, then I've got a whole bunch more dropcloths and runners, and a huge dufflebag to carry them in. But for little handyman gigs, two's usually enough.

I haven't tried the booties, I just take off my shoes. Although after reading about Chuck's misadventure with the puddle of pee, I'm starting to reconsider that policy!

[natedawg]

Re: Handyman Business

I've been looking into buying an existing franchine. Tomorrow I meet with the owner to go over the numbers. Hopefully I will be able to gather some more information as to how they operate their business.

[kreg McMahon]

Re: Handyman Business

I've been looking into buying an existing franchine. Tomorrow I meet with the owner to go over the numbers. Hopefully I will be able to gather some more information as to how they operate their business.

check it out, but you can do it on your own, i think, don't know you so I am guessing. they bucks you spend for the franchise you can invest into advertising etc. the biggest problem, i think with franchise or a handyman business, is finding good workers that stick around. lot of the guys when they bid the job at your price and the people baulk,, they try and set up to do it on the side for less and hopefully you will not know.

plus they take 6-10% a month for fees. are you planning on doing work your self??

[ibkruzin]

Re: Handyman Business

It is interesting to hear about franchises as we get asked a couple of times a week if we are a franchise. Just have a great work ethic, do what you say (+a little more, just a couple of small things) and your business will grow.

Even here in Michigan we are booked through October...I can live with that.

Gary

[Pearce Services]

Re: Handyman Business

Gary,

I checked out your website, looks nice. Any pictures of how you have that truck set up for Handyman work?

[m beezo]

Re: Handyman Business

I do not have any pictures of my set up but I can tell you one thing. If you get it set up and keep it set up it will certianly save you a lot of time. I worked last week with a guy who has nothing organized and what a mess. We would routinely spend 15 minutes looking for his chisels, the 15 minutes looking for a paint brush, then 15 minutes.... What was frustrating was my van was right next to his and I could have gotten my stuff out in one or two minutes but he did not want to have to reimburse me for my supplies so we spent time looking inside his van for stuff, most of which was under a pile of stuff or one item in one place and another in another place.

I consider my van too full and have to move items around but not like this guy. If I had to work that way every day I would go crazy and if I was a homeowner paying by the hour I would be upset that every time he went to his van it was 15 or 20 minutes he was not working on something I was paying for.

[ibkruzin]

Re: Handyman Business

Gary,

I checked out your website, looks nice. Any pictures of how you have that truck set up for Handyman work?

I can take some and post them here if you would like. I have to acknowledge my daughter who is a wiz at orginization. We keep things in the same places all the time. That is a big help

[frenchie]

Re: Handyman Business

I do not have any pictures of my set up but I can tell you one thing. If you get it set up and keep it set up it will certianly save you a lot of time. I worked last week with a guy who has nothing organized and what a mess. We would routinely spend 15 minutes looking for his chisels, the 15 minutes looking for a paint brush, then 15 minutes.... What was frustrating was my van was right next to his and I could have gotten my stuff out in one or two minutes but he did not want to have to reimburse me for my supplies so we spent time looking inside his van for stuff, most of which was under a pile of stuff or one item in one place and another in another place.

I consider my van too full and have to move items around but not like this guy. If I had to work that way every day I would go crazy and if I was a homeowner paying by the hour I would be upset that every time he went to his van it was 15 or 20 minutes he was not working on something I was paying for.

I know one of those. Got so bad I just can't work with him anymore, I'm always "too busy" when he calls. His jobsites are the same way, drives me nuts. I reckon he spends a third of his time, looking for this tool or that part or... Aaack! I can't stand it, too much like watching someone burn 20$ bills all day long.

[Pearce Services]

Re: Handyman Business

I can take some and post them here if you would like. I have to acknowledge my daughter who is a wiz at orginization. We keep things in the same places all the time. That is a big help

Please do. Any picks would help. I've searched most threads with picks, but seem to have a hard time setting up a 6'x12' trailer, I liked the idea posted earlier about having kits for each type of work, and just grab the bag you need.

With winter coming, I'm curious if guys leave paint, caulk, and adhesives on the trucks, or do you cart them in and out every night.

[m beezo]

Re: Handyman Business

Freezing paint and caulk has been addressed by some of us that post. I usually try to cut my inventory down so it fits into a milk crate. I bring that in and out of the house when I hear it is going to get cold enough. And then when I get to a jobsite and it is still cold it is pretty much contained so it does not freeze in my van during the day.

I recall some sayig they had a small cabinet or old cooler that they put stuff in. They then put a single light bulb in there, hooked it to an extension cord and plugged it in. Do not recall if they did a trial and error thing to see if they needed a bigger/smaller bulb but this type of set up kept things from freezing. If you can find a Sonny Lykos post you could send him a message because I believe it was one of his idea. Or maybe look at his posts and see if you can find it.

Or maybe Sonny will read this and chime in.

[ibkruzin]

Re: Handyman Business

A couple of views of the Sunshinemobile...

[ibkruzin]

Re: Handyman Business

Interior view

[ibkruzin]

Re: Handyman Business

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