Small Repairs for Neighbors: Starting a Simple Handyman Service
If you’re the person friends call when a cabinet door sags or a faucet drips, you may already have a small business in your hands. Lots of neighbors need little jobs done and can’t find anyone willing to come out for something so small.
A handful of small jobs each month might help toward a bill like car insurance. That’s a hopeful estimate, not a promise; it depends on your skills, your area and how much you want to work.
Jobs that suit a neighborhood handyman
- Hanging pictures, mirrors, shelves and curtain rods
- Tightening loose handles, hinges and railings
- Assembling furniture and putting up grab bars (into studs, with the right hardware)
- Changing smoke-alarm batteries, light bulbs in easy reach and furnace filters
- Caulking a tub, patching small nail holes, fixing a sticky door
Know the limits in your state
Many states set a dollar limit on work you can do without a contractor’s license. California is one example: as of September 14, 2024, its handyman limit rose from $500 to $1,000 per job, counting labor and materials, and only for jobs that don’t need a building permit. Other states have different limits or none. Search for your state’s contractor licensing board before you take on paid work.
Leave electrical wiring, gas lines, roof work and anything needing a permit to licensed pros. Saying “that’s not a job for me” is a sign of good judgment, and customers respect it.
Setting a price
Some handy folks charge by the hour with a one-hour minimum; others quote a flat price per job. Ask a few local handymen what they charge, and write down the price before you start so there are no surprises. Have the customer buy materials, or keep the receipt and add it to the bill.
Stay safe on the job
The CDC says more than one in four adults 65 and older falls each year. That makes ladders the biggest risk in this kind of work. Skip roofs and tall ladders altogether, use a sturdy step stool with a handle, and never work on a ladder alone. Wear safety glasses with power tools, and turn off the water or breaker before touching plumbing or a light fixture.
It’s also wise to ask an insurance agent about liability coverage, in case something gets damaged while you work.
Taxes and benefits
Handyman pay is self-employment income. The IRS says you generally need to file a return once your net self-employment earnings reach $400 in a year. If you’re under full retirement age and getting Social Security, the SSA’s 2026 earnings limit is $24,480, and earnings above it can reduce benefits for a while. Side income can also affect SSI, Medicaid or housing help, so check your own situation first.
More on Replace a Bill
- Garden and Yard Help for Neighbors: A Down-to-Earth Side Income
- House-Sitting for Neighbors: Getting Paid to Watch Over a Home
- Hemming Pants for Neighbors: Starting a Small Alterations Service
