Ex-Apple Employee Starts a $13k/Month Handyman Business
Learn all the secrets behind starting a $13k/month handyman business, including tips on pricing, tools and scaling. Are you interested in earning $200k in your first year through running a pressure washing business? Watch this video: • How to Start a Pressur...
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🧽 Check out My Handyman James: www.myhandymanjames.com/
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⏲️ Video Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:28 Pricing
3:49 Truck tour
7:15 Most challenging day
8:11 Choosing tools
10:14 Scaling your business
12:19 How much money you can make
13:52 Advice
15:47 What you need for success
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Are you looking to earn $200k in your first year, through starting a pressure washing business? Find out how in this video: kzhead.info/sun/g6lyZ7GmsZ5moZE/bejne.html
Pro handyman in Paris here. For people who hesitate to star their business, make the jump NOW ! Us, handymen, have golds in our hands, the world will always need us !
Great info, thanks for sharing!
He actually started with more than 450$. He started his business with the skills he learned from previous employment. I think its important to remember that money is not thing you bring when you start a business. He was a maintenance employee. This was vital for his success.
Yeah, but this is only a problem if you actually believe the thumbnail to where they said “former apple employee” do you think they’d be talking about some data analyst or computer engineer or even a coder but maintenance, see what I’m saying?
I know James Droste and he was not a maintenance guy; he’s a leader and Apple utilized him as a people leader. What James is doing here is a result of experiences that any of us could acquire with a willingness to put ourselves out there.
the wealth of knowledge and experience you need for this job is vast and a huge barrier to entry
Tacoma TY 50k $.. yeah just 500$ bucks clickable title
@@Monstufpudexactly. This is a job that you seriously need to know what it is you are doing.
A bunch of things weren’t adding up, then I saw that it was an advertisement for Jobber.
I dont work for Jobber. I’m a customer. It has been an essential tool for my 7 man fence contracting company. I prefer this story type ad over a product demo or boring ad.
@@whatcomhandyman1350 Any chance you would help another tradesman starting a fencing business out? I’m looking to start one when I move but have a lot of questions? Things like licensing and such
I was a licensed contractor, 20 years experience, people still balked at $50/hr and still do. And I’m honest and do quality work.
Location is key. Just watch South Park Enter the Panderverse. HCOL locations with highly paid knowledge workers and less competition with home depot parking lot placement agency, think places like Portland OR, and Seattle. Much harder to charge these rates in LA or Miami for example.
I’d try creating a project menu and getting away from hourly pricing I started as a low voltage electrician billing $45/hr, eventually bumping it to $90… but always made more on bid jobs. Now I build sheds and regularly clear $200/hr… but my customers have no idea of my hourly. They’re looking at the value of the total project.
Where are you located? I’m in Delaware and have no problems at 80 an hr.
Bid for completed project. Base your price by material cost and the hours to complete multiplied by the hourly rate you charge. Never tell your client you have an hourly rate that you're basing your bid off of. It's none of their business. The value is in the high quality work completed and finished within the time frame you have laid out for them.
@@anonymousanonymous-bd1be I hear you. But when it comes to handyman work the jobs can be very scattered for each client. Drywall here, faucet there, light fixture here
Real title: Maintenance man starts handyman business.
Lol bro looking for a Netflix script and just found an honest dude going from wage to freelance. Maintanence guys from Apple are still Apple employees.
@@jehhutyNo they are not Apple employees. They are under a managed facilities contract with a company like CBRE. That would be like calling the sub contractor your employee. I’ve done maintenance for a competitor of Apple but now I’m a direct employee since teaching myself to program.
@@PinkFZeppelindude whatever, the point is he's still a capable human being, even if he was not white collar like the OP wanted for his redemption arch
Exactly; it's not about value or expertise; it's about branding, pricing, and euphemisms! Thanks, Jobber!
Great video. Thank you for the information
Great for James. If I lived anywhere close to him I would try and link up with him to help expand a little more. The extent of my handyman stuff rests in my culdesac. Anything from footers for decks and storage sheds to AC/furnace all the way to gas appliances and hot water heaters. Really great feeling to see how much money can be saved and the bonds that can build.
In this economy 100 an hour minimum. Some cities and places up to 150 an hour. This is after a 125$ fee to show up with a 20k van and 10k worth of tools, which includes the first half hour.
I have done a lot, but have not turned it into a business!! you have giving me motivation. I'm so tire of working as a System Engineer!!! 25 years of Technology work!! sick of it!!!
Loved the commentary! I'm in the DFW area and enjoy being a handyman. I've been at it since 2010 and wished I had started earlier. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed the video, and congrats your business!
I am as well and business is booming
@@thehammer_7840 I absolutely agree. The failure mostly comes from failing to treat the handyman business as an actual business. If I didn't set aside a little from each job, I'd be in real trouble. @Jobber is one such tool that can keep you organized to be efficient.
I'm also in the dfw area by flowermound, do u have employees?
@@doppeekidd I don't, I work solo. However, I do have a friend who does apartment maintenance willing to help as a sub on weekends. (If needed)
I need to decide if I want to expand and refine as a handyman like this, or lean into remodels and small builds. I’ve been steady at $50/hr and I’m very happy with the money but I’m ready to grow.
I still work a corporate job and have a handyman LLC on the side. After 10 months with no advertising i find myself having to turn some jobs away, it's getting busy!
Some here been Hustling and I love it
Me and my coworker do carpentry and light handyman work on weekends for side work. We had so much work this summer we didn't have a single day off for the months of of May and June
How did you find your very first jobs?
@jobber or not, this is a great video. I'm decent at hanyman work, did it for a while, but i might make the jump
If I were to start over again in life, I would have learned maintenance work. Always get paid and the demand is always high
You can tell he doing something he loves. ❤❤❤
love this 😍
He had contractor, construction, maintenance experience before all this. Don't think you can just do this with limited knowledge.
Exactly.
First off i have to say... So happy for you, most dont take the leap (or in your case) forced. Kudos! Love the work ethic and problem solving. My question is, while this is GREAT money what is your plan moving forward as you grow? I only ask as a thought provoking question. I used to be a handman part-time and made very similar numbers, HOWEVER this is hard labor and can take it's toll over time..... A bad injury and your out of work temporarily or for good. How are you handling cost of insurance/bonding?
you can turn this into a company, open a corporation hired one person, then another one and grow, it will get to a point that your job is just to manage. find job and make sure the job is being done the right way.
I am so glad I came upon this video I can do just about everything but have been scared to venture off. I set up trade shows and mostly have two jobs cause the work isn't everyday This year I just feel the urge to do my own thing and watching this video just gave me the push I needed thank you for the encouragement and advice. Now I just need a name hmmm....., 🤔
Glad you found this story motivating! Best of luck in your business. We have lots of helpful resources for Handyman businesses that you might find useful! getjobber.com/academy/handyman/
Here in Cali they have a rule if you don't have some kind of electrical or plumbing license you can only charge max of $500 per project. Do you have any license working as a handy man?
Helpful video!
Glad to hear that!
Any one feel like South Park Panderverse nailed it perfectly? Handymen are the new rich people of society.
I love South Park but No, not at all.
Yep I was thinking the same thing.
Too many people went to college in recent decades so not enough people to build and fix stuff. So temporarily handymanning can pay okay in many areas but there's no guarantee it will last.
This is one of those lines of work where you must love it. Like really love it, because there are other types of work that pay just as well that don't require knowing so much about a lot. Real Estate Photography comes to mind.
Location makes a big difference in what you can charge also
Nice I do the same 😁 and about to have a 3rd person working with me I do whole house remodels as well as handyman work
Career at apple *as a maintenance person* - clickbait title, pretty crucial detail. He started with all the skills he needed.
Great video. Wish I had a handyman James in San Antonio
I think he's in Austin not too far away
@@andrewfreeman88 1.5 drive would be too much for him
I’m actually in Schertz man. I’ve been thinking of becoming a professional handyman, I mean I’ve already done all kinds of stuff at my house from changing door knobs,thermostats,toilets, outdoor spigots, to even remodeled my small restroom did the tile and everything bro. What kind of work you need done if you don’t mine me asking?
@@jorgetreminio5607just a few things. You have any references or a IG/Facebook page?
Interesting as in Texas a Handyman can not perform any electrical work or plumbing unless they are licensed plumbers or master electricians and even then have to do electrical work on behalf of a licensed electrical contractor. So if one abides by the rules it’s challenging to be a handyman in Texas
Pretty cool that he has not only a plumbing license to change plumbing fixtures, but also an electrical license to change out ceiling fans and light fixtures. I wonder how many continuing education hours he does each year.
I need to do this! I was a carpenter years ago, I’ve been climbing cell towers the last 12 years. It’s all corporate BS now and it’s killing my soul.
yes! 🙌 having a fulfilling job will make a world of difference. time to put your soul, your self first 💯
I can't handle the corporate bs anymore either.
Gonna call out his tool kit he showed. Definitely not “all you need”. If he’s doing plumbing fixtures and installing tvs on wall etc. I can think of at least a dozen more. This video shows him using a stud detector and wrench sets in his box. Then again this video isn’t about his kit.
Dude needs to get packout system!!😂
Hey what do you charge for installing a mini-Split Heat Pump system ?
I really enjoyed your inspirational video! I am Handyman, but I hesitant to start my new business, I guess simple fear of failure. I already have seven clients, however I am not officially licensed as yet. Do you have any advice? Well done!
Hey Robert, we have a really helpful article on Jobber Academy all about starting a handyman business - lots of useful advice here: getjobber.com/academy/handyman/how-to-start-a-handyman-business/
Yeah get licensed get insurance for your company and last get a good quality truck now go.
This sounds like mad prices to me! I'm a handyman in the UK. £180 ($227) per day is about average for around here!
To low, dont be afraid to charge more.
@@DavoBlairo Thanks Davo, but around here, that's the average price! UK seems to be very different to the US in terms of how much trades people can charge.
Some plumbers struggle to charge 200 a day so it sounds correct to me for uk
Jobber is fantastic! It's just too bad I can't afford it as a start-up. It would be great if they would have a better low cost option than the "core" option. Maybe they could charge less for a start-up with only one worker? Otherwise I'm having to go with another company.
Thanks for the feedback Jim! We acknowledge that a huge portion of service providers are running their operations with a one-person team, and we'd love to work with you to find a plan that works best for your business! Feel free to reach out to our team at 1-888-475-4473 and we'd love to chat with you about your options!
Nearly impossible to scale. You will always have to work for a living unless you hire employees, and then the whole game changes. When you're just a guy with a truck, when you're not working, you're not bringing anything in. People watching this thinking it's easy, it's not. Majority of people who do this, fail and go out of business. Or they get hurt and can't work anymore.
Yes, that's a major realistic position that can happen, but if you got the balls 😉 and can't stand working for someone, I'd say make the jump. It doesn't cost $150,000-200,000 to start so if it fails you're not out that much money. Plus, you got a bunch of tools that you can use and just do it on weekends or after your work for extra cash.
Huge things missing the the video, he already had most the things, he already had the skill, he lives in a insanely wealthy area where rich people don't do their own things and hire out. 75 or 100 would never work in other areas.
I agree. He was already a maintenance worker. And in my experience dealing with handymen is that it's the type of job being done. And he never really mentions the actual jobs.
Nice work charging $100 an hour. I would love to get there, I wonder if I can doing landscaping. If I make good hours on a bid job I can get there, but not doing regular maintenance.
Here is an article on Jobber Academy about pricing landscaping jobs, that might help you reach your goal of $100/hr. getjobber.com/academy/landscaping/how-to-price-landscaping-jobs/
How do get the phone to ring? Website with SEO service and barely get calls. What Am I missing? Always complete a project as intended and beyond with great positive customer service. I'm in a good market with not that much competition in Marble Restoration.
Thanks for your comment! Have a listen to Jobber's podcast, Masters or Home Service. We have an episode all about getting new customers: kzhead.info/sun/iJeLg9albpN_pIk/bejne.htmlfeature=shared MOHS is also available wherever you listen to podcasts!
You can have a Google business profile, that can help, if people are looking for your expertise in the area, your business will show up in search results
I've hired HVAC and Roofing contractors from talking with them at the gas pump or coffee shop. Make sure you know what you're doing, advertise on your shirt or side of vehicle. And most importantly, know exactly whom to recommend if the job isn't for you - on the spot.
Have you tried posting in the comment section of KZhead? Maybe some customers in there
How do you advertise, because that costs more than $350
*There's a **_great_** "South Park" episode about this (Season 15, Episode 12).*
Lot of freedom and a lot of autonomy, get to claim tax benefits on all the tools and the vehicles, yet they still charge an arm and a leg as call out fees, I mean how many salarymen get to charge their companies for visiting the company for work? Some don't even clean up after themselves and leave a mess behind and some even forget their tools!
You can do anything with good marketing.
How do you find work? What’s the best way to find clients? I’m a handyman looking for more work. I have my truck, tools and experience in different trades.
We have an article on Jobber Academy about advertising methods to get more clients: getjobber.com/academy/handyman/how-to-advertise-handyman-business/
Curious how the business is doing now? Were you affected by the slowing housing market? Thanks and Bol
Hey Charles! You can keep up with James on his website - he posts his latest work there: www.myhandymanjames.com/
Hi so the 100 an hr when does that start in rt or once on job? So thats the show up price also or minimum? Thank you.
Hey Roger - we have a helpful article on Jobber Academy that outlines how to price Handyman Services: getjobber.com/academy/handyman/how-to-price-handyman-jobs/
Good morning ❤❤❤❤❤
Good morning!
I’m always wondering how everyone learns it though . I’v been doing maintenance for 6 years an still scared of electrical works
You learn by doing, I own my own handyman business, started with next to no experience and learned doing the work, talking to other tradesman watching you tube instructional videos, learning like my life depends on it
Great advice, Chris!
@@Chris-jy5sp You can learn just about anything by watching videos here on KZhead... I'm also a handyman and if I don't know how to do something, give me a couple minutes to watch a video or five and then I'm good to go.... hahaha
noone should charge under $100 per hour but $200 would be best take my word everyone charge the same and we all win
If you have so much work you can’t handle it that means prices need to go way up
He's getting paid $100 an hour to do simple stuff like assemble flat pack furniture and mount TVs, he probably already feels like he's charging way too much lol.
Im trying to start a handyman business/remodeling. How did you start with advertising and getting clients? So far all i can afford is a yelp a page and i haven't had a single costumer it's been 2 weeks.
What city and state are you in?
We have an article on Jobber Academy all about how to advertise your Handyman business and get customers: getjobber.com/academy/handyman/how-to-advertise-handyman-business/
Craigslist and subcontract to other handymen to start.
Always heard , location location location
I cringed when he walked on the new bed frame and was wearing shoes on that nice new carpet.
I live in Germany and I’m also a handyman and licensed electrician. I can do almost anything in residential field in terms of Labor and as electrician both, residential and industrial. But here as an employed handyman or in my case electrician you eat shit, I get 18$/h and I consider myself a skilled worker. I love the US for their gratitude towards hardworking People and blue collars. Much love from Germany 🇩🇪
Over payment in a city is just average people who get paid way to much😂. Coffee makers make 17 a hour in a big city and nice Coffee shop
I make this much a month installing garage doors in the south.
I charge $120 an hr. I have no problem at that.
If you arent a contractor in CA you can only make 500$ per day as handyman legally
What mean LLC license, and for what need it?
Limited Liability Corporation. It protects him personally so if something bad happens his business is who a client sues instead of him. It protects his ass.
Hi. What licenses do you need for this?
We have an article about licensing for handyman businesses, you can check it out here: getjobber.com/academy/handyman-license/
HELLO I HAVE BEEN A HANDYMAN FOR 10 YEARS BUT I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO STAY BUSY. I DO GREAT WORK BUT I NEVER SEEM TO HAVE CONSISTENT WORK. I HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA BUT I DONT ALWAYS DO WORK WORTH POSTING, SOME WORK IS JUST QUICK REPAIRS ETC. I WOULD LOVE SOME IDEAS AS IM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO A WEBSITE.
Hello! Jobber offers several resources for handyman businesses. You can check out this article on what makes for a great handyman business website: getjobber.com/academy/handyman/handyman-website-examples/ As well as many other resources here: getjobber.com/academy/handyman/
hehe my bag is with contents is 4000
How is he marketing? I'd like to see a in depth video of that!
Hey there! We have a handy article all about advertising for handyman businesses. You can check it out here: getjobber.com/academy/handyman/how-to-advertise-handyman-business/
Lol you just did
@@lunytoo they don’t explain what type of marketing he does to get his leads
Where and how do you find your gig to get the job?
Hey there, we have helpful handyman business resources here, they might help to answer your questions! getjobber.com/academy/handyman/
How much is the monthly insurance payment average?
For a one man show, not doing roof work, about $250/mo
@@remodz6385mine is .$600 - entire year. Search around. I got several Quotes before going with a local Broker. The insurance meets high standard 2 mil policy
I love doing handyman’s stuff around the house, but i could never make a living out of it. I’m sloppy, i lack the instincts/intuition and I just don’t have it my genes i suppose, all of my closest ancestors sucked at it, i’m actually the first one trying to break this curse.
Everyone saying $100 hr is too much. Its very possible. People will pay and if they don't their not an ideal customer. I've been charging $100 hr + easy and when I price jobs out for many things I can average much more. Plenty of money out there guys go get paid what your worth.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Steve!
I can actually do all this… have the tools… just don’t know how to get the customers.
Hey there! We have lots of helpful resources you can check out: How to Start a Handyman Business: getjobber.com/academy/handyman/how-to-advertise-handyman-business/ Advertising Your Handyman Business (great for getting customers): getjobber.com/academy/handyman/how-to-advertise-handyman-business/
I want to see the quality of the work and the prices being charged.
Quality is gonna be meh but it doesn’t matter because handymen are targeting more affluent clients that have never touched a screwdriver in their lives and have more money than they even know what to do with.
This guy needs to be protected at all costs.
You shouldnt video yourself while performing electrical work. Hanging a ceiling fan is electrical work. You could get in trouble with L&I. Youre allowed to do it for yourself at your own house. But if you do it for someone else, you must be certified. Its the only trade like that. For good reason too
That’s not how any handyman truck looks like.
People telling you how to make money are making their money off you 💯💯💯💯
Cheaper to let an agency handle the web presence
1000 a day , not in a million years in England. Be lucky to get £150 a day
“Maintenance”, since when is that a career.
Who calls a handy man for a tv mount? KZhead that ish 😅
I assume his wife works and provides the family health insurance.
450 my ass. How much that truck and tools cost. Asvertising tools the wole bit. 450 wont cut it
i hate working with ppl 😅
For perspective you wont earn anywhere near that figure in 99% of other countries even if immensly talented.
Why? I can do these by myself!
You’d be surprised that majority of people don’t know a way around a screwdriver.
And others want to expend their time doing something else but maintenance .
That right there is your problem … you are projecting “how you think” onto potential customers … I’m Not knocking you, just pointing it out. Same thing applies to pricing - you may think $50 is a lot, others don’t even blink. Same for $100 and $150 and so on. I prefer to target the higher ends
$100/hr is a ripoff TBH
This is an egregious lie, im a commercial contracotr in nj/ny market. 50year old guy with no contractor experience working by himself making 13k a month, no way. Not that it cant be done. Its just impossible with that background and no experience. He charges by the hour not by the job. Biggest obstacles he's faced is the power going out during the day 😂 wow
Yeah that threw up a red flag for me as well. I've done field service work before and not having AC is the norm. Working in darkness is nothing compared to when things don't go as planned or you make a mistake or you're having issues troubleshooting a problem.
Your issue is you're the contractor, and your jobs are larger, and you're paying a crew. It's nearly apples and oranges here. You can get a job that will make your year. He can get a job that will make the week.
It’s extremely doable. My company charges $150/hr in McKinney tx. We’re so busy we stay booked out 2 weeks. And we have spent $0 on advertising
@@tylerouellette7142 You are totally correct I am solo contractor/handyman in DFW making 1k per day every day .
Hah! It’s hilarious to see the nay sayer comments. It’s 100% possible. I’m in Missouri and I hover around six figures (net) annually in the business and I often times don’t work a 40 hour week and my family takes 2 weeks a year for vacations. Additionally, I typically take off most of December just because. The biggest trick on my end is finding competent, reliable, professional assistants to pick up the work I currently have to turn down. I’m currently having to turn away an average of five jobs per day.
That's a huge pay cut if you're an apple engineer, but he isn't so that makes sense
I was shocked to see that it is a job in US, where i grew up, everything he has done is something your dad teaches you when you are young, how to make wood forniture, plumbing a sink, drill holes, electrical wiring.. what does US dad teaches their kids?
Nothing, it's getting sad.
It's a job anywhere with people who can trade money for services they don't want to spend time on.
There are a lot of fatherless people out there.
$100/hr? lol
Why is that funny? Some handy men make 150/hr because people are becoming less capable of doing anything mechanical or handy themselves. If you advertise at 100/hr you will obtain higher tier clients. I'm a professional licensed fire alarm contractor and I charge 300/hr and work strictly in commerical buildings. This allowed me to cherry pick my clients who actually pay their bills and don't complain about price.
@@StringBanger that's nice
Ace Hardware charging $125+/hr for there handyman service with hundreds of handymen employed across the United States. $165 in Cali and $125 in rural Kansas.
Camper repair and vehicle mechanics are getting 100 easy
This is so fake 😂
How is it fake?