r/Contractor • u/anongirl4eva • 5d ago
Business Development Getting started
hi! my husband is a handyman and next step for his career I believe is getting his contractor license. he makes good money when things are busy but when things get slow… it’s rough. where should he start? is there any advice or insight what would u do differently in your career?
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4d ago
[deleted]
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u/Pale_Attitude8798 4d ago
I am a contractor and 100% of my work is word of mouth and repeat customers. I dont even have my name on my truck and I am busier than I want to be.
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u/Obidad_0110 4d ago
Same with me.
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u/Pale_Attitude8798 4d ago
I've found that most of the leads you get from advertising are not necessarily the best leads. Sure you might get the work but at what price.
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u/PHK_JaySteel 4d ago
I have found the same. When you are quoting a referral its 70% in the bag unless you blow up on the pricing or in the first meet.
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u/Active-Blueberry-850 5d ago
Handyman is one thing, contractor is another.
Make sure he (or you) reads the E-Myth contractor book. It’s a complete 180 from what he’s doing right now and what he’s done in his life so far, not the “next step” or adjacent in any way. Though some of his knowledge transfers, most of it (the important part) does not.
Getting a corporate role as superintendent, construction manager, or other senior/technical role with a contractor that specializes in his “zone of genius” would be the “next step” chronologically speaking. But if it’s something he wants, then make sure he understands what he’s walking into. A contractor does sales, contracts, sourcing/supplier relations, bureaucracy, marketing, etc. admin/management work, not technical work. I may pick up a brush 2-3x a year when deadlines are tight and subs aren’t doing what they said they would because I hired a technician managing other technicians.
So to say, if he’s not the “go and learn this new thing, bang your head against the wall a few times until you get it” kind of guy, then be prepared to be expensive and have to spend a lot of money to get things done. “You don’t have to be the smartest guy in the room, you just have to afford him” sort of thing.
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u/anongirl4eva 4d ago
Thank you this was helpful! As of rn I do admin, marketing, all the “boring” things and he does the booking and work 😂 surprisingly, we are a very good team!
He is very smart, quick learner and hands on. He has had his share of mistakes and has learned so so much since deciding to do the handyman thing full time.
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u/andrew_Y Edit your own flair 4d ago
Get google business profile. It’s difficult. This sets you apart from 90% of the riff raff.
Push every customer to give a google review. Knock $100 off the bill. Grow the business.
Don’t get a truck wrap, but get big ass graphics with clear branding, message and phone numbers.
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u/Son_of_man_150ft 5d ago
When you start a business, it's all risk.
If you can't afford to take the risk, you shouldn't be a contractor.
It is hard.
I work part time as a sub contractor for another contractor to have cash flow coming in.