Handyman paperwork, done properly

Handyman work is priced on time and scoped on trust, which makes the paperwork more important rather than less. The two things that protect a small-jobs business are a stated minimum — because a thirty-minute job still costs you a drive — and a clear line about which work you will refer out. Writing "electrical beyond fixture replacement referred to a licensed electrician" on your estimate is not a limitation; it is the sentence that makes a homeowner trust the rest of the list.

Pick your document

  • Handyman estimate

    An estimate is your best professional judgment of what a job will cost, given before the work starts.

  • Handyman quote

    A quote is a fixed price for a defined scope of work — the number does not move unless the scope does.

  • Handyman invoice

    An invoice is the request for payment once the work is done — the document that actually gets you paid.

What belongs on handyman paperwork

  • A stated minimum charge or minimum hours, so short jobs are not loss-making
  • The punch list itemised, since customers add to it verbally between the walk and the work
  • Which work requires a licensed trade and will be referred out
  • Whether materials are picked up by you and how they are billed — at cost, or with markup stated
  • Trip or travel charge if you have one, priced rather than hidden in the rate
  • What "as-is" means for repairs on old or non-standard fittings

How handymans price work

Most handyman work is hourly with a minimum, or half-day and full-day rates for longer punch lists. Half-day blocks price better than hourly for the customer with eight small jobs, and they protect your schedule. Materials are usually billed at cost plus a stated markup or a pickup fee — either is fine, but printing which one you use prevents the most common small-job dispute there is.

The builder ships with 12 handyman line items to start from, grouped into 2 sections. Edit the rates once and they save to your own price book.

Open the Handyman builder

Questions

Should a handyman charge a minimum?
Yes, and it should be on the estimate. A one-hour job is a drive, a park, a walkthrough and a cleanup. A stated one- or two-hour minimum is standard practice and is far better received in writing beforehand than as a surprise on the invoice.
How do I handle jobs that need a licensed contractor?
Say so before you are asked. Most states limit unlicensed work by dollar value or by trade — electrical, plumbing, gas and structural are the usual lines. Putting "referred to a licensed trade" on the estimate protects your license exposure and reads as professional rather than limiting. Check your own state's threshold, because they vary widely.
Should I mark up materials I pick up?
Either mark them up or charge a pickup fee, and print which. Fetching parts is unpaid time otherwise. Customers accept a stated markup or a flat trip charge without complaint; what they object to is discovering an unexplained difference between the store receipt and your invoice.