How To Start a Handyman Business in South Carolina

At some point or another homeowners and landlords need someone to help them make repairs. This makes handyman, or handywoman, businesses so important. By performing minor repairs and maintenance tasks handyman businesses can be highly successful. If you're thinking of starting a handyman business in South Carolina, there are a few things you need to know. In this article, we'll cover the benefits of starting a handyman business, how to register the business, how to obtain a business license, and how to grow your handyman business.

The Benefits of Starting a Handyman Business in South Carolina

One of the biggest benefits of starting a handyman business in South Carolina is that you can start the business part-time. Then when you're ready to make it a full-time job, you have the foundation to do so. Plus, it's estimated that handyman businesses make between $51,000 and $100,000 a year. A benefit of basing your business in South Carolina is that the cost of living is relatively low there.

Another benefit of starting a handyman business in South Carolina is that the weather is generally favorable for this type of work. For the most part, you won't have to worry about extreme temperatures or weather conditions that would make it difficult to do your job. This means you can work year-round on indoor and outdoor jobs.

How To Register a Business in South Carolina

To register your handyman business in South Carolina, you should first decide what type of business entity you want for your business. If your business is just you, you might opt for a sole proprietorship. If you're looking for some protection from potential business lawsuits, you might want to go with a limited liability company, or LLC. Incorporating your business as an LLC gives you the benefit of your business liabilities being separate from your personal liabilities. Which can be good for a handyman business.

To register your business in South Carolina you'll need to go to the Secretary of State's Office online, fill out the forms there, and pay the $100 registration fee. Luckily South Carolina has a lot of resources online for new business owners. The South Carolina Business One Stop website is a great resource for new business owners looking to get started.

How To Obtain a Business License For a Handyman Business in South Carolina

According to the SCBOS, "Your business will need a local business license in most of the municipalities where your business is physically located and conducted." Depending on where exactly your business is located in the state the process for obtaining a license, if necessary, will differ. There is no such thing as a state-wide business license, so you'll have to do your own research a bit. Remember, it's always best to consult a professional when dealing with legal registration and taxes for your business.

Once you know whether you need a license, and if so, what kind, you can consult the Labor Licensing Regulation of South Carolina. There you will find information on how to apply for a license, how to check your application status, and more. Depending on how much work you plan to do as a handyman and whether that include contracting you might need to consult the Contractor's Licensing Board.

How To Grow Your Handyman Business in South Carolina

Once your business is up and running, you'll probably be looking to grow that business. Luckily a handyman business is one that thrives off of testimonials and word-of-mouth recommendations. Once you get your first clients, they'll start recommending you to their friends and family who might need a handyman. Once you get more clients, you might want to consider upping your offerings. This could mean buying new equipment or expanding the type of work you do.

Expand the services you offer by adding new services that your customers may be interested in. This could include adding new types of tasks and home repairs. This will likely open up a new audience for you to do handyman work for. As this demand grows too you might consider hiring someone else to help you too. This could help you take on more customers each week or day. Or you could hire someone with a different skill set than what you have.

The Challenges of Starting a Handyman Business in South Carolina

There are some challenges you might face when starting your handyman business in South Carolina. If you do choose to hire someone else, finding the right person for the job could be one challenge for you. But once you find them they could make all the difference for your business and its productivity. Plus it would give you the ability to take days off without feeling like you're missing out on business opportunities. You might also find that as your business grows, there is some demand for you to have new skills. So continuing your education can also be a challenge that is highly rewarding if you can take it on.

In Summary

If you're handy already, then starting a handyman business in South Carolina could be a lucrative way to turn that skill into a real business. Plus, if you continue your learning you can become one of the most sought-after handymen, or women, in your area! Just be sure to consult a professional when setting up your business and its taxes so there are no surprise bumps along the road later on.