Start & Run a Handyman Business. Sarah White
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a partnership, or a limited company. A handyman business lends itself well to the sole proprietorship form of business. The sole proprietor is responsible for the business in its entirety. Debts that are incurred by the business are debts of the sole proprietor, as are the assets. There are many advantages to sole proprietorship, including low start-up costs, as well as the most freedom from regulation of all business forms. These may be important considerations, especially if you plan to start a part-time business and don’t want to get bogged down by paperwork.
A partnership can work well if you plan to run your business with someone else. Like a sole proprietorship, a partnership has low start-up costs. As well, there may be tax advantages. However, a partnership must be registered, and it is essential to draw up a partnership agreement stipulating the responsibilities of each partner. You should consult with a lawyer if you want to create a partnership agreement.
If your business grows to the extent that you want the formal legal structure of incorporation as a limited company, you should seek tax and legal advice to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages.
4.3 Insurance
As a handyman you need additional insurance to your standard homeowner insurance. It is important to talk to a professional about your needs. If you start a business from your home without the proper insurance, you take the chance that it will void your existing coverage.
As an employer, you must also consider worker’s compensation insurance. All the states in the us and all the provinces in Canada have specific requirements for providing insurance for injured workers. As an independent operator, you can also arrange worker’s compensation for yourself. Check with your local government offices for specific advice on registering for worker’s compensation and how to manage insurance claims.
Here are a few items you should discuss with an insurance professional:
• Insurance for your work vehicle with special consideration of a replacement vehicle should yours be unusable for a time
• Adequate insurance for your tools and other supplies in case of damage, theft, etc.
• Liability insurance to offset the cost of any damages caused by your business
• Disability insurance if you are injured and can no longer work
Take care of your insurance needs and review them periodically. Once you have your insurance plan in place, you can relax and get on with your real job as a handyman.
4.4 Naming your business
Your business will need a name that helps customers remember who you are and what you do. The only rule of thumb to follow when choosing a name is to keep it simple. Take some time to brainstorm names; you might include family and friends in this task to broaden your choices. List every name you can think of that appeals to you. As you assess the competition, you’ll see names of other companies that may inspire you.
Before you register your company name and certainly before you have any flyers, business cards, or other stationery printed, check to make sure you have a unique name that no one else in your area uses. You want to stand out from the crowd with a business name that will be associated with you alone. In the United States, your city or county clerk will tell you if the name you have chosen is available for use. In Canada, a name search can be done through the provincial ministry that handles incorporations.
When you have chosen a name for your business, you should protect it by filing, or registering, the name with the appropriate authorities. Your name will be checked against previously filed names to ensure that it has not been taken by another business. Once your name is on file, it cannot be used by anyone else in that district.
4.5 Hiring employees or contract staff
If your business grows to the point where you need help, you will have to decide whether you want to hire an employee or perhaps hire occasional contract workers.
Becoming an employer requires you to assume a number of additional responsibilities as a business owner. You will have to register with the local labor authority, make arrangements to pay your employees on a regular basis, make the necessary tax payments to the government on behalf of your employees, maintain employee records, provide a safe work environment, provide training and supervision, supply and maintain the tools needed by your employees, and, most importantly, take legal and financial responsibility for your employees’ actions.
Employer-employee rules and regulations are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which you live. If you want to hire an employee, you will need to conform to the law in terms of hours of work, minimum wage, workers compensation board coverage, vacation pay, severance pay, and so on. All this adds another management facet to your business and can take a substantial amount of time and effort. However, if you need to expand your operation and take on larger and more complicated jobs on a regular basis, this will be time and effort well spent.
If you need extra help on an occasional basis only, it is much more convenient to hire someone on a contract basis. This saves you the time and extra paperwork of having a regular employee. For most small handyman businesses, hiring contractors from time to time is probably the most practical solution. Unless your business grows significantly, it is unlikely you will be able to provide enough work to someone on a regular part-time or full-time basis.
In our business, we do not employ anyone full time, but we occasionally hire a student to assist with large summer jobs on a contract basis. We pay more than the minimum wage and supply all the necessary tools and equipment. We have opted to keep our handyman business small and easy to manage. When necessary, Kevin can also call on other tradespeople he knows to complete portions of work on contract to the customer.
5. Accounting Basics
Every business must keep accurate and thorough financial records covering all income received and expenses incurred. Records help you produce income, control expenses, plan growth and cash flow, keep tax payments to a minimum, and comply with the multitude of regulations.
5.1 Bookkeeping
If you keep your accounting system simple, you’ll be much more likely to use it. Your first step is to open a business bank account. Make sure you get a deposit book for recording your deposits and some business checks for making business purchases. Each month when your bank statement arrives you can do a bank reconciliation to give you a clear picture of what you have earned. It is important to keep these deposits and records separate from your personal bank account.
As you start up, you may wish to hire an accountant or bookkeeper to design a system for recording the information for your particular circumstances. If you are confident enough to set up your own system, you may want to purchase one of the many available accounting software programs to help you keep accurate records. Accounting software provides a general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and invoicing functions. It will also print monthly statements for all your accounts. A good accounting package will tell you who owes money, how much they owe, and if the payment is overdue and by how many days. The invoicing portion of such programs usually provides a professional-looking bill for presentation to your customer.
5.2 Your balance sheet
A balance sheet is a useful tool that gives a snapshot of the financial condition of your business at any given point in time. A balance sheet includes assets, liabilities, and owner’s equity. An asset is anything the business owns that has monetary value. Liabilities are debts the business owes to creditors. To keep track of the value of your business, you should routinely complete a balance sheet to help you understand where your money goes and what you have invested in your business’s assets. Again, a good accounting software package will help you print out regular balance sheets. In a small home-based business, some of the categories shown in this example may not apply; you can adapt your balance sheet to suit your own business.