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How To Advertise a Handyman Business

Its easy to spend a lot of money on advertising and not get any business. Because an independent handyman startup business is already short on cash and time, we're going to focus the discussion here on proven ways to get business that don't require a lot of money or time and aren't excessively complex.

Word of Mouth
There's no way around it -- you'll get most and your best business from referrals. Really good, established handymen don't even bother with advertising. They don't have to think about it. They are well enough known and have so much repeat business that they are turning away work, even in a down economy. You'll get there in time, but for now the primary job of advertising is to get you known. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be ready the second referral business shows up, or even the potential for it shows up. So we'll start with things that support that first.

Get Business Cards

Start with just 500. Get them at vistaprint.com and pay a bit extra to get them to you in a week. They'll cost about $30 with 7 day shipping. Include as much information as you can on them -- your name, phone numbers, an email address, what you specialize in, your license and permit information. If you're firm on your hourly rate, or have carved in stone payment rules, put those on the card, too. If you can swear to always be on time for appointments, put that on the card.

Once you get the cards, don't be stingy with it. Put them everywhere -- on bulletin boards, flyer board, etc. Give 3-5 to each of your friends. Put them in your neighbors' mailboxes. Aim to use up those 500 cards in 3 months. Make a game of it.

Don't get concerned about a logo -- that's fancy stuff you may never need. And don't worry about a website... you don't really need one, and most of the major ways to advertise online will give you a web presence without your ever needing a website. For example, Google AdWords will let you setup a web page if you do advertising with them. But again, you don't really need this.

Get An Email Address

You do need an email address to send quotes and invoices for your internet-savvy customers. Some people prefer email to leaving voice messages. That may not be your style, but if you want the business of that super-busy real estate broker, you'll need to communicate with her through the channels she prefers.

You can get a gmail.com or yahoo.com or hotmail.com email address for free. Gmail seems to have a slightly more professional feel, and they have less hassles than the other two free services.

Get Car Door Magnets

Two of them. One for each side of your vehicle. They'll cost $20 for the pair. Get them at Vistaprint.com, which has 54 different designs pre-made just for construction-related companies. It'll cost $16 to get them delivered to you in a week. They're a great deal.

People look at cars and trucks. Instead of paying mega-bucks to have someone breeze by your expensive, tiny little ad in a newpaper, with the magnets people will see your ad everywhere you go. They'll stare at it in traffic if you put one on the rear end. And it costs you nothing... except $10 to get the magnet made and $10 to ship it.

Phonebook and Newspaper Advertising

I've skipped over these because they just end up as money pits for small handymen starting out. If you want, try posting on Craig's List for work -- it is free. Just get a few jobs under your belt and do a really, really good job for your first customers. Keep handing out those business cards, show up on time and don't be shy about asking for referrals. Those habits will get you WAY better results than most advertising will ever buy you.

More articles about starting a handyman business:

How to Start a Handyman Business

Are You Cut Out to Be a Handyman?

Tools for a Handyman Business

Payment Options for Handymen

How To Advertise a Handyman Business

Customer Service Tips for Handymen

Choosing a Name for a Handyman Business

Record Keeping Basics for Handymen

Being a Handyman Versus Having a Handyman Business or a Franchise

Getting a Website for Your Handyman Business

Getting Paid Upfront: Deposit Policies for Handymen

How Much To Charge Per Hour

Should You Charge by the Hour, or by the Job?

Insurance for Handymen

The Handyman Guide: How to Fix and Build 1000s of Things Around the House