Why Being a Handyman Is a Rewarding Semi-Retirement Gig

So much for midday naps nestles in a gently swaying hammock.

I somehow managed to fire up a handyman business that’s consuming more and more of my time. Did I lose the plot? I imagined Early Retirement as a relaxing and carefree escape while chiseling away the years in a cubicle.

This whole handyman nonsense started earlier this year when I spent six weeks rehabbing a buddy’s rental home (the previous tenants trashed the place). As the project unfolded and each new challenge got knocked down, the rewarding feeling of tangible achievement sparked something in me.

Getting shit done with a drill and a hammer felt better than endless meetings and emails. Imagine that?

So why the heck does a so-called “early retiree” decide to become a handyman?

1. I like solving problems for people – being useful.
2. It gets me out of the house when my wife is working and the kids are at school. Boredom avoidance.
3. I get to meet all sorts of people and get a healthy dose of positive social interaction.
4. I am often learning new skills and am frequently challenged by new jobs.
5. You can only play so much pickleball before your achilles tendons really start to cry uncle.

What a Handyman Does

There is a world of possibilities with this gig. I personally prefer the “punch list” tasks that can be completed within a few hours of concentrated effort. These include installing ceiling fans, hanging bi-fold doors, replacing garbage disposals, installing locks, and fixing railings, etc.

Big jobs like rehabs and installing kitchen cabinets come along from time to time, but are more time intensive and crimp an early retiree’s style (I’ve got pickleball needs, man!) Still, all of these jobs are great for earning a little extra scratch when your net worth is tied up in not-so-easy-to-tap 401K and real estate assets.

Not every job is a picnic. Just this week I helped a friend of a friend with a toilet repair that took longer than it should have, thanks to rust-fused tank bolts. I’ve never hugged a toilet so much just to loosen some nuts. Toilets – No longer on the menu!

These dirty a$$ jobs you take because, well, you want to be a good friend. I also don’t like to take on painting jobs, but for the right client I’ll make an exception, and I’ll probably charge a bit more too.

Given the right tools, there are few repairs a DIY’er or a handyman on FIRE can’t complete. I have three toolboxes at this stage of my journey: One for all the basic tools, one for plumbing tools and parts, and one for bigger power tools and miscellaneous safety gear (eye and ear protection, knee pads, etc.).

How Much Money Does a Handyman Make?

Most handymen make anywhere from $25 to $100 per hour. I charge at the high-end when I’m tackling those one-off jobs of an hour or less. That helps offset the cost of driving around town in an SUV sucking down gas with a less than ideal MPG.

If it’s going to be a 3-plus hour job, I’ll put together an estimate and try my best to stick close to it. Surprising your customers is never a good idea, so when I come across a SNAFU I let them know about any changes to the original plan before I continue.

By now, I figured I’d have completed a few real estate deals with that fancy Realtor’s license I acquired back in October of 2023. It’s sadly been crickets on that front, but in the meantime I’ve made over 20 grand in revenues from a very part-time endeavor (6 – 12 hours per week).

Plus, every client gets one of my Realtor business cards to put on their fridge. I think/hope the handyman gig will pay off down the road when some of my customers look to sell.

How to Become a Handyman and Build Your Skills

Becoming a handyman doesn’t require one to know everything there is to know about every single trade. I have an extensive list of services to offer, but sometimes there are jobs beyond my skill level. Other times I just plain don’t want to do it! (Toilet swaps, drain repairs, you know – the real yucky stuff…)

I built up my collection of skills by taking on small tasks around my house and repairs at our rental properties. My advice is to start with a few small projects and use YouTube as your guide:

1. Replacing door lock hand sets and deadbolts. Generally, this task requires nothing more than a screw driver. You may need a power drill to replace strike plates.
2. Replacing light fixtures or ceiling fans. Get a good ladder, an alternative light source, and turn off the light switch. You need a voltage “pen” tester and some wire cutters (in case the ends of the wires need to be stripped). If you still get an indication of electricity flowing after turning off the switch, flip the breaker at the service panel. I also recommend using a small cable or hook to hang the new fixture from the mount while connecting wires. You don’t want to just the fixture hang by wire nuts or it could easily come crashing down.
3. Replacing faucets. If you can find the water supply valves and turn them off, there’s nothing to fear. Assuming you don’t have rusted nuts keeping that faucet in place. For this job, get a can of WD-40 with the extension nozzle. This allows you to reach in to tight spots and remove rusted-on nuts from their bolts. I also keep a simple kneeling pad handy for working from my back, and an LED head band for lighting up the work area under a sink. You’ll want to pick up a couple of adjustable crescent wrenches (one small, one big), a set of vice grips, and a plumber’s socket set. If you’re replacing the drain as well, pick up some plumber’s putty.

These were the “big 3” that got me started when I purchased my first home years ago. There are countless projects that have similar mechanisms and tools. Master these three, and you’re well on your way.

Once you feel you have what it takes to swap a faucet or two, or a big, heavy ceiling fan, see if you can help out a friend or family member to get some experience under your belt. Just remember, if you come across a situation that looks complicated, don’t try to be the hero. I’ve opened up a few fixtures with spaghetti junction wiring that left me wondering how the hell that house didn’t burn down yet.

In cases like these, call in the pros. Similarly, if the water valves start leaking when undertaking a faucet replacement, you probably need new valves installed. This is a “level-up” task that’s not difficult in and of itself, but you need to know what you’re doing before taking on supply-side plumbing issues.

Remember that your tools, mileage, and supplies are tax write offs, which will help you significantly come tax time. That said, don’t go nuts and buy a shitload of shiny new Milwaukee tools that you’ll never use. Often times you can rent certain tools or borrow them from a friend.

For your fledgling handyman business, start with one small impact driver with extra batteries, a multi-tool, and maybe a battery powered hand saw. Eventually you’ll want to pick up a nail gun, and in that case, I’d also go with a battery powered unit that uses 16 gauge nails. Just try to get all of these tools under the same brand and battery type, so you can easily swap batteries between tools. 

How to Market Your Handyman Business

If you’re like me and just looking for a part-time handyman gig, nothing beats word-of-mouth marketing. Those first few jobs (if done right and at a reasonable price) are sure to generate referrals. Still, if you’ve just started to venture into this gig, you’ve gotta let people know about it.

NextDoor.com has been my bread and butter when it comes to marketing. I have a page for my handyman business setup on Next Door with my contact info and a brief description of my services. The great part about Next Door is it’s free, and when customers find you there, the can also post recommendations. A positive recommendation generates at least a half dozen new leads.

I’ve also found customers via my Google.com business page. As a local business I can provide lots of helpful details for anyone looking up “Minneapolis Handyman”. And the reviews (100% 5 star) help generate new business. Plus, it’s free!

I’ve also tried Thumbtack, but I don’t recommend it. I quit after paying way too much for leads that went nowhere. Just avoid Thumbtack and stick with Google and Next Door. Trust me, you don’t want the frustrations and lost revenue that come with using this platform. 

What’s to Love (and not to love) About This Hustle

Being a handyman is more rewarding than you’d probably imagine. No, it isn’t glamorous. It’s not a job that you take up for prestige. And yet, I come home after one or two projects feeling like I actually accomplished something. Contrast that with my 17 years in healthcare insurance; Sure, I got paid a nice salary, but tangible results were elusive.

Almost every single customer is good to work with and appreciates the job I do. I get to interact face-to-face with new people at every gig. These are also novel things after slogging the political corporate seas.

Of course there are a few pain points, like for instance, toilets. I still take on a toilet repair for friends and family but I’m pretty much done with handling these issues. I’ll replace a flapper or flush control system, but that’s about it. And as I mentioned before, sometimes you get the faucets that are impossible to remove without a torch and a sawzall. GD rusted nuts!!!

I burn more calories nowadays thanks to the physical nature of the work. Even hauling a couple of heavy toolboxes counts for my daily farmer’s carries. I need to be careful though because there are some heights involved with fixtures, and tight squeezes with plumbing.

Sometimes I’ll come home feeling like I’ve been put through the wringer. If you’re in decent shape, the handyman gig may be a good fit for you.

Build enough goodwill and a steady flow of leads, and you can command a decent price list for your services. In my first full year I’m generating roughly $300 per project, at a rate of about $80/hour. Working for myself as a sole-proprietor, I don’t get taxed like a W2 employee, so my hourly rate is nominally higher.

One last point: Even though the jobs come in bunches and things slow down during winter time, I can find other useful things to take up my time: like the projects in our own home, or, maybe this blog?

(Featured Photo by Susan Holt Simpson on Unsplash)

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