Thread: Setting up a Handyman Business

You could look at one of the franchises such as Jims or Hire a Hubby, you might be able to fish for some information, even if you don't want a franchise.

I have not started a handyman business nor do I play a handyman on TV but we used to be painters and decorators.
However, I do know that first of all you need an ABN (Australian Business Number), then you need insurance, both personal injury and third party plus, of course, property insurance. I believe that if you intend to go onto other peoples' properties and homes you need a police check and AFAIK a green card.
Whatever you charge would depend on what you are able to do.
Then you calculate what it is costing you to do the job in real money,such as advertising, tools and vehicles (depreciation calculations), fuel to get there, work clothes and the cleaning thereof, how long it will take you to do the job and how much you think your labour is worth per hour, then whether your customers believe you are worth what you think you are and don't forget the wonderful GST.
I doubt anyone would be able to tell you in cool hard money what to charge without knowing you and your capabilities.
Cheers and good luck
Wolffie

If you intend to do any structural work, simple as installing a built in you will also need a builders licence

I did a little a few years back and at the time a handyman was restricted to $200 per job.
This isn't a real problem as you just do several small jobs and charge each separately.
I put two ads in the local paper and ended up with more work than I could handle.
There are a lot of helpful sites. Just search for "handyman business"

Also check out the startup packs here: http://blis.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/

Originally Posted by Wolffie

I believe that if you intend to go onto other peoples' properties and homes you need a police check and AFAIK a green card.

Are you sure on this, Wolfie - sounds like a good idea, but who polices the police checks? Also, what is a "green card"?

An accountants rule of thumb is that for a small business like this you need to charge your time at three times the employed persons hourly, to cover overheads - advertising, vehicle, tools, insurance, quote time, down time, unworkable weather, professional fees, tax, etc, etc. For example, if you would pay an employee $25 per hour then you need to charge the client $75 per hour.

You might like to check with the franchise handymen services in your region to check out what the going rates are.

Cheers and good wishes

Graeme

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Are you sure on this, Wolfie - sounds like a good idea, but who polices the police checks? Also, what is a "green card"?
Graeme

No I am not sure that's why I said AFAIK
The police checks are whether the intended operator has a record.
Anyway, seeing the OP is in Brisbane, all his questions will be answered here
http://www.sd.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/htdo...lic_buscat.cfm
Just go down to handyman/maintenance and the council the operation is intended to be operated in.
All will be revealed
Cheers
Wolffie

You need to be licensed if you are going to carry out electrical or drainage work on a property. Up until the end of last year a license was required for most building trades such as painting etc.and without a license, work was restricted to a total value of $1100 including materials., However these laws were changed in Queensland as of 1st of December 2009.

Here is an extract from the BSA on the subject.

What are the changes?
Amendments have been made to section 5(1)(b) of the QBSA Regulation commencing 1 December 2009. Subject to some exceptions, the effect of these amendments is to provide that work valued at $3,300 or less is not building work. Work that it is not building work does not require a licence under the QBSA Act to carry out and is not otherwise regulated by the BSA.
Why are the changes occurring?
Changing the threshold value of building work in Queensland to $3,300 aligns the value of building work with the threshold for residential construction work, which is insurable under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme.

The exceptions to the laws above are for Electrical and Drainage work. You need to be licensed to do this work

You can download the whole thing from the BSA.

In essence. all restricted builders licenses have been scrapped in Queensland and the total amount of work you are allowed to undertake, under the new laws is $3300 including materials.

Work that is undertaken over this price has to be undertaken by a licensed tradesman for the particular trade.

The BSA now assume that all work carried out other than electrrical or drainage work is no longer classed as building work if the value of the work is $3300 or less.

Under the current federal law, you do not have to collect GST unless your turnover is greater than $75,000.(use to be $50,000) However your customer is still liable for GST on the work you have carried out for them and has to pay the GST on the figure you have charged.

You can find out more about this by visiting the BSA and look under "what License do I need." You can also ring them and they will give you more details.

Note, these new BSA laws apply only to Queensland. Anyone living in another state should check with the appropriate authorities of that state.

Thanks for the additional info regarding Queensland rules Munruben,

Sorry Leon I didn't spot that you were in QLD and I was offering my experiences based in NSW.
It's over seven years since I was involved here in NSW. I assume the laws and regulations here have changed similarly.
When I was doing it the common complaint I heard was that none of the licensed builder would get back to them with a quote to do the work... Probably too small for them!
There seemed to be a large market in small jobs from re-hanging doors to building retaining fences etc...
I wish you all the best in this endeavour.

Thank you guys for you help and advice