The Handyman Starter Kit
A working first week for handyman operators — pricing framework, your first-job SOP, three social templates, and the 7-day launch tracker. Built from 13years operating Spiker Carpet & Tile Care in Galt, California. Print it, use it, start.
Skip the websites and apps. The fastest free way to land your first handyman job this week is a 30-minute drive through the neighborhood you want to work in. Look for the house with the peeling fence, the sagging gutter, or the warped deck board. Knock on the door. Say this: “I’m a handyman working this street today. I noticed your [specific problem]. I can fix it right now for $40, cash, no tax. If you like the work, I’ll leave a card.” That low price gets you through the door. Once inside, do three things: clean up every speck of sawdust as you go, fix one tiny thing you noticed for free (a loose door handle, a squeaky hinge), and leave the work area cleaner than you found it. That trifecta earns the five-star review. They’ll tell their neighbor before you pack your truck.
1 · Price with an anchor, not a guess
Don’t pick one price — present three. Most customers pick the middle tier, so build it as your most profitable package. Research 3–5 local competitors’ public rates first (their websites, their Google Business profiles), then set:
- Bronze. The stripped-down version — beats the cheapest competitor on simplicity, not price. This tier exists to make Silver look right.
- Silver. Your real offer. Price it at the local mid-market rate + 10%, justified by ONE guarantee competitors don't make (same-day response, photo documentation, fixed quote).
- Gold. Silver + the premium add-ons stacked in. Some buyers always take the top — never leave it off the menu.
2 · Your first-job SOP
- 01Confirm + remind. Confirm the job the day before by text — date, time, address, scope, price. Same-day reminder 2 hours out. No-shows die here.
- 02Walk the job first. Before any work: walk it with the customer, restate the scope out loud, flag anything outside it. Surprises after the fact cost reviews.
- 03Do the work + document. Before and after photos, every job, no exceptions. They're your portfolio, your dispute protection, and your social content.
- 04The 60-second close-out. Walk the finished work with the customer. Ask: 'Is there anything you expected that you don't see?' Fix it now, not in a 1-star review later.
- 05Ask for the review. On-site, while they're happy: 'Reviews are how a small shop like mine competes — takes 30 seconds, I'll text you the link.' Send the link before you leave the driveway.
- 06Log + follow up. Log the job in your Handyman CRM the same day. Follow-up text at 48 hours: everything still good? That text generates referrals.
3 · Three posts to announce you exist
I just opened a handyman business serving [your area]. Here's the one thing I'm doing differently: [your guarantee — same-day response / fixed pricing / photo documentation on every job]. First [3] customers get [founding-customer offer]. DM me or call [number].
[Before/after photo or work sample]. This is what [job type] looks like when it's done right. If you've been putting this off, this week's schedule has [2] openings — [booking link].
"[Paste a real customer review — never invent one.]" — [first name], [area]. Reviews like this are why I do this. If you need handyman work done, the link to book is in my bio.
4 · The 7-day launch tracker
- Day 1 — Duplicate your Handyman Notion CRM and load your first 10 prospects
- Day 2 — Customize the 3 highest-impact Canva templates with your name + colors
- Day 3 — Set up your Google Business Profile using the provided checklist
- Day 4 — Send your first outreach using the AI Sales Assistant scripts
- Day 5 — Publish your first 3 social posts from the marketing pack
- Day 6 — Set your pricing with the Bronze/Silver/Gold anchor system
- Day 7 — Book your first job and trigger the review-ask sequence