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A Complete List of Tools to Start Your Own Handyman Business

If you have a general knowledge of carpentry, electrical, and plumbing, starting your own small-scale handyman business can be a great idea (look on TenantCloud).  You may start it as part-time activity initially, and once you get a good clientele, you may focus on it as a full-time business.

Having the basic carpentry skills is, however, not the only requirement for starting your own handyman business. You need to have at least a basic set of tools required to offer handyman services. You must note that when it comes to starting a handyman business, equipment will probably account for the largest portion of your startup costs and so, you must choose the handyman tools and equipment wisely.

To save money on equipment and tools, you may choose to buy some used tools. And, since investing in tools and equipment is a serious matter, you must read reviews and buy the best tools only, for instance, this article is a great resource for best pocket hole jig reviews.

Moreover, you can save thousands of dollars in handyman startup costs by purchasing a used vehicle, used ladders, and a lot of other miscellaneous tools. Another way to save on startup costs is to buy tools as you require them, i.e. as you expand your business.

handyman business tool list

A Complete List of Tools to Start Your Own Handyman Business

This article will list the basic set of handyman tools and equipment required to start a small scale handyman business. Here goes the list:

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1. Hand Tools.

You’ll require these more often than you might think. You can find a hand tools kit in the supermarket that includes basic hand tools for a household. Make sure you buy a kit including a hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, chisels, files, squares, wrenches, vise grips, tin snips, Allen wrenches and paint scrapers, nails, screws, drywall inserts, wire nuts, and other miscellaneous small parts.

2. A toolbox with painting supplies.

This may not be required too often, but you should have one to be used in an emergency. Buy a box including a range of brushes, oils, acrylics technique tools, jigsaws, squares and rules, chisels, mallets, precision tools, glue and staple guns, etc.

3. A plumbing toolbox.

A good, hardy toolbox is another must for a handyman business. There are various household tool boxes available containing pipe cutters, crimping tools, wrenches, flaring tool kit, pipe tapping tools, ratcheting pipe threading set, gasket cutters, fire extinguisher, faucet handle puller, sink plungers, etc. It’s better to buy one with most items.

4. Drills.

These are simply mandatory for a handyman, so you should have all the basic drills. Better is to have a set of cordless drills.

5. Saws

You may not need them in the beginning but as you grow your handyman services business, having saws is essential. The most commonly used saws by handymen include cordless circular and reciprocating saws, corded circular saw, corded jigsaw, hacksaw, and miter saw and block.

6. Ladders.

Ladders are much-needed items as you need to climb up to fix things. 4’ and 8’ step ladders and 20’ extension ladders are the most common ladders for handymen.

7. Lawn & Garden related equipment.

Sufficient lawn equipment is much needed when you are offering relevant services. These items may include a lawnmower, trimmer, shovel, rake and posthole digger, etc.

8. Safety tools and equipment.

The required safety equipment includes a tool belt, eye/ear protection, dust masks, knee pads, latex gloves, etc. are must-have items.

9. Tools storage.

Proper storage is mandatory and so you must have a hand tool cabinet with multiple drawers to organize the hand tools, screwdrivers, wrenches, and nails, etc. separately. A large covered plastic storage bin is also required to carry all of the extra parts that tend to accumulate and you may buy multiple buckets/storage cabinets to organize all the tools in proper order.

10. Cleaning equipment.

Your cleaning equipment includes a cordless vacuum, mops, cleaning soaps/gels, etc. are also must-have items in your toolkit because you cannot leave the customers’ place dirty.

Bonus: Important Skills for Handymen

So, we’ve detailed the most important tools to have when you’re trying to start your own handyman business. But, as a bonus, you should probably know about a couple soft skills that can help you garner business and foster long-term professional relationships. Soft skills are some of the most in-demand abilities on the market, but they might not be obvious.

Important Soft Skills

As a handyman, you’re going to be doing a lot of self-marketing. If you’re someone that already knows the ins and outs of how people work, you should have less of a hard time when it comes to offering them your services. But, the general rules of thumb are that you should communicate in a clear, concise, and professional way with clients. 

Before approaching a potential client or implementing a marketing push, have your services well and clearly defined. This will help you once you’re on the spot having to sell your skillset. Work on your presentation skills and general demeanor—if someone is going to hire you, they’ll want to know that they can be comfortable having you around their house. Be respectful, listen to your clients’ needs, and you can then prove yourself by doing a great, quality job. 

Conclusion

Besides having the necessary skills, tools, and equipment to be a handyman, you will need to follow a number of steps in order to legally start and own a handyman business in the United States. You should also be equipped with a state of the art handyman software to manage your business efficiently and profitably.

So, make sure you fulfill all the licensing and permits related requirements according to your local chamber of commerce.

I hope you have a better understanding of what you’ll need initially to start a successful business as a handyman. There is consistently high demand for your skillset, so the last piece of the puzzle is finding the right tools to get started. We hope you find success, thanks for reading!

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