Weekend handyman for small home jobs

Homeowners, renters, landlords and older people who have small jobs that bigger trades won't bother with.

Hourly rate or fixed price per job, usually with a minimum call-out charge. Materials are billed to the customer, sometimes with a small handling mark-up.

• Basic carpentry and repair skills
• Reliable and tidy with customers' homes
• Honest quoting and time estimating

• Commercial general liability insurance; check that it covers the work you plan to do
• Electrical, plumbing and gas work usually needs a certified tradesperson, so check your provincial rules before taking these jobs
• Some municipalities require a business licence, so check with yours
• Register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold
• Lifting, ladders and tools carry injury risk, so plan jobs safely

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on the tools and insurance you need. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $2,500, depending on the jobs you take and the hours you can offer.

Check a few things first: electrical, plumbing and gas work usually needs a certified tradesperson under provincial rules. Some municipalities require a business licence. Also check that your commercial general liability insurance covers your work, and GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold.

Useful skills include basic carpentry and repair, being reliable and tidy in customers' homes, and quoting jobs honestly. Estimates suggest at least about 6 hours a week, which suits evenings and weekends, depending on how much work you take.