Trades Repeat customersFlexible hoursSide hustle

How to start a handyman services business in Tennessee

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Tennessee asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In US dollars 12-minute read

To start$1.5k–6.5kLean to full setup

Per month$4.6k–9.2kOnce established

Profit margin80–87%Before paying yourself; customers pay for materials

First customer1–4 weeksFrom today

DifficultyNeeds broad practical skills

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you're handy and like solving problems

A handyman business turns practical skills into steady local work: patching drywall, hanging doors and shelves, mounting TVs, assembling furniture. You may already own many of the tools, and happy customers call you back for the next list.

You'll like it if

You enjoy fixing things and know your way around tools
You like variety: no two days are the same
You're tidy and respectful in people's homes
You can explain a job and its price clearly

Think twice if

You'd rather do one kind of work all day
You don't want to deal with customers directly
You can't lift, kneel or climb ladders
You don't have a vehicle for tools and materials

02What it costs

From $1,490 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to start$1,490

What	Cost
Power toolsA cordless combo kit, up to pro kits, a multi-tool and a miter saw	$280
Hand tools, level and stud finderA mechanics set, measuring tools and bags	$230
LaddersA 6-foot fiberglass stepladder, then an extension ladder	$130
Registering your businessThe state's fee to form an LLC in Tennessee	$300
Shop vacuumClean up after every job	$90
Vehicle storage and rackA rolling tool box, up to a truck rack	$90
InsuranceFirst three months: liability, plus tools cover and commercial auto	$230
Website and marketingWebsite, cards and local ads	$140
Lead-safe certificationOnly if you'll disturb paint in older homes	$0
Total	$1,490

Once you're running: about $280 a month, plus about 10% of what you earn. Insurance, phone, software and marketing every month, plus fuel, blades, fasteners and card fees on each job. Customers pay for materials.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per visit $230 $70$820

Visits a week 8 115

Monthly costs $280 $0$1,100

Typical in Tennessee: $140–$410 per visit, 3–12 visits a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustle$1.4k–2.8k

Weekends, 2–4 visits a week

Full-time, on your own$4.6k–6.9k

8–10 visits a week

With a helper$6.5k–9.2k

Bigger jobs and two crews of hands

04Step by step

12 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Decide what you'll do
2–3 days Free

List the jobs you do well, and the ones you'll leave to licensed trades. Then see what handymen near you charge.
- Your list of services
- What you won't do
- 5 competitors and their rates
2
Check your license rules
1–2 days Free

Rules vary a lot by place: many allow small jobs without a contractor license, up to a size limit. Know your limit before you advertise.
- Contractor license limit
- Electrical, plumbing and gas rules
- Lead-safe rules for older homes
3
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a name that says what you do and where. Make sure no one in Tennessee has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas, then check yours with TennesseeFind a name
4
Form your LLC in Tennessee
1–2 weeks $300 state fee

An LLC keeps your personal savings separate from the business. You file Articles of Organization with the Tennessee Secretary of State.
- Articles of Organization
- A registered agent
- An operating agreement
PressUp can file your LLC with the state for youForm your LLC
5
Get your EIN
Same day Free

The IRS's tax number for your business. You'll need it for a business bank account.
- Apply online with the IRS
- Open a business bank account
Apply for it along with your LLC filingAdd your EIN
6
Sort out sales tax in Tennessee
1–3 days Free

Tennessee's sales tax is 7%, and cities and counties add their own. Ask the Tennessee Department of Revenue whether what you sell is taxable.
- Check if your services are taxable
- Register for sales tax if needed
- Set money aside for income tax
7
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- General liability
- Tools and equipment
- Commercial auto, if you use a work van
- Workers' comp, once you hire
8
Fill your toolbox
1 week $820–3.2k

Start with a cordless combo kit, good hand tools and a sturdy ladder. Buy special tools when a paid job needs them.
- Cordless combo kit
- Hand tools and stud finder
- Stepladder and shop vacuum
9
Set your prices
1 day Free

Charge by the hour with a minimum, or flat prices for common jobs. Materials are extra. See the prices below.
- Hourly rate and minimum
- Half-day and full-day rates
- Materials at cost plus a markup
10
Put your business online
1 day Included

Show the jobs you do, your rates and photos of your work, and let customers send their to-do list online.
- Website with your services
- Online booking
- Google Business Profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
11
Get your first 10 customers
1–4 weeks Up to $180

Friends, neighbors and local groups first. Realtors and landlords need small fixes all the time.
- Neighborhood groups
- Realtors and landlords
- Ask every customer for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
12
Keep track as you grow
Ongoing Included

Keep notes on each home, send clear invoices and follow up when the next list is due.
- Customer list and notes
- Invoices
- Repeat visits
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in TN

What Tennessee asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Articles of Organization (LLC)

Registers your business with the state.

The Tennessee Secretary of State$300+once

Annual report

Keeps your LLC in good standing with the state.

The Tennessee Secretary of State$300a year

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

IRSFree

Sales tax registration

Only if what you sell is taxable where you are: ask the state.

The Tennessee Department of RevenueFree

Licensed trades

Electrical, plumbing and gas work usually needs a licensed tradesperson. Leave it out unless you hold the license.

Your trade licensing boardVaries

Building permits

Bigger jobs can need a building permit, and permit work often needs a licensed contractor.

Your city or local councilVaries

Contractor license above a job-size limit

Many states let you take small jobs without a contractor license, up to a limit that varies a lot by state. Bigger jobs, permit work or hiring help can need one.

Your state's contractor licensing boardVaries

Lead-safe certification

To disturb paint in homes built before 1978, your business needs EPA or state lead-safe certification (renewed every five years) and a trained renovator.

EPA or your state$540–$550

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

Cordless combo kitDrill, impact driver, saws, batteries

$270–$610Must have

Oscillating multi-toolCuts, sands and scrapes in tight spots

$120–$170Must have

Hand tool setSockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers

$130–$250Must have

Stud finder and laser levelHang things straight and secure

$30–$65Must have

6-foot fiberglass stepladderSafe around electrical work

$130–$210Must have

Wet/dry vacuumLeave every job cleaner than you found it

$90–$200Must have

Tool bags and rolling boxCarry the right tools in one trip

$30–$90Must have

Extension or multi-position ladderFor gutters, ceilings and stairs

$270–$450Later

Miter sawClean cuts for trim and shelving

$170–$370Later

Truck rackFor ladders and long materials

$580–$1,200Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Small-fix visit

$110 per visit · Up to 1 hour

One or two quick jobs
Travel included
Materials extra

Half day

$270 per visit · Up to 4 hours

Work through your to-do list
Small repairs and installs
Materials extra

Full day

$510 per visit · Up to 8 hours

Bigger lists or one larger job
Best value per hour
Materials extra

Prices for a typical handyman job in TennesseeTypical: $140–$550

Average $280

$0$180$370$550$730

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Google Business Profile

Most customers search "handyman near me". A free profile with photos and reviews puts you on the map.

Free

Neighborhood groups

Nextdoor and local Facebook groups are full of people asking for a reliable handyman.

Free

Realtors and landlords

Homes being sold or rented need quick fixes. Become the person agents and landlords call.

Partnership

Before and after photos

Show finished work on your site and social pages.

Free

Reviews

Ask every customer. Trust is what people buy when they let you into their home.

With PressUp Reviews

The next to-do list

Before you leave, ask what else needs doing. Many customers book again when the next list builds up.

Repeat income

What a handyman website needs, and how PressUp builds it

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

List your services
Check your license limit
Register your business

Week 2

Get equipped

Get insurance
Fill your toolbox
Practice on friends' fixes

Week 3

Go live

Website with your services
Google Business Profile
Set your rates

Week 4

First customers

Aim for 10 visits
Meet 3 realtors or landlords
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to work as a handyman in Tennessee?

It depends on where you are. Many places allow small jobs without a contractor license, up to a size limit, while bigger jobs and electrical, plumbing or gas work need licensed trades. Check with your licensing board before you advertise.

How should I charge?

Most handymen charge by the hour with a minimum, or a flat price for common jobs. Customers usually pay for materials, often with a markup.

What jobs are most common?

Small repairs and installs: patching drywall, hanging doors, shelves and pictures, mounting TVs, assembling furniture, caulking and small carpentry.

Can I start part-time?

Yes. Many handymen start on weekends with jobs for friends and neighbors, then go full-time once word of mouth builds.

What about older homes?

In many places, disturbing paint in older homes means following lead-safe rules. In the US, homes built before 1978 need EPA or state lead-safe certification.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources