Stuff breaks.
Always has, always will.
That simple fact makes handyman franchises one of the most recession-proof business models you can buy
While other industries worry about AI disruption or economic downturns, the handyman business continues to grow.
Here’s why I’m bullish on this space:
Literally everyone needs a good handyman
Robots aren’t replacing toilets anytime soon.
It's not just small repairs either:
- Build decks
- Replace kitchen tile
- Remodel bathrooms
There's a wide range of project sizes from $300 fixes to $15k renovations.
Your W2 employees can handle most of it.
If something's beyond their scope, you find subcontractors who can do the specialized work. You'll be the general contractor managing the relationship and taking a cut.
Handyman demand is timeless. Houses built in the 1950s need repairs.
Brand new construction has warranty work.
Everything in between needs maintenance.
The scalability is straightforward:
Each truck can generate $200k-400k annually.
More trucks & technicians = more revenue.
Most owners start with residential work, then layer in commercial work for steadier cash flow.
Some specialize further, like TrueBlue, which targets seniors
Others focus on real estate agents who need quick turnarounds.
If I were a franchisee, I would build out a subscription model with my customers:
$100 per month for quarterly visits that include up to X amount of hours.
Plus discount off bigger projects.
Every homeowner has a bunch of small fixes that’d be nice for someone to take care of without the hassle of calling & scheduling vs. it just gets done.
A few brands are attempting to integrate a subscription into their core offerings but nobody has cracked the code yet.
There are multiple brands in the space:
- Legacy brands like Mr. Handyman with proven systems
- National players like Ace Handyman with strong branding
- Newer entrants like Monty's & Local Handyman with modern approaches
Each has different investment levels, territory size, and culture.
The key is comparing multiple brands once you’re sold on the model.
Do you want my team’s help evaluating handyman franchise options?
We'll let you know which brands are available in your market and provide resources to help with due diligence.
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Cheers!
Brian