Do you want to become your own renovation boss and put your passion forward by becoming a Solo-entrepreneur / self-employed worker?
So I hope you're not looking for reasons to dissuade you, go for it!
I'm Daniel Lauzon and I went into business leaving behind my job as a sales manager in the audio industry. In 2009, I became an entrepreneur handyman in the Montreal area.
Today in 2023, I live comfortably from this beautiful profession and Step Brother For Rent Inc, my company, employs several handymen, entrepreneurs and franchisees.
Why am I telling you all this? It's just to reassure you and even encourage you to take the leap. Become a self-employed entrepreneur too, and join the ranks of self-employed renovation workers in Quebec.
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Why become a residential renovation and services contractor?
I know very well the mix of feelings you are currently feeling with the idea of becoming an entrepreneur: The taste for adventure, the passion for renovation and above all, being your own boss and the incredible desire to cash YOUR first bill thanks to your talents. But, I know very well that all this comes with the fear of failure, the pressure of not finding enough clients, the insecurity in front of the option of leaving a stable financial situation and also the fear in front of the problems of duty take care of all the tasks alone.
I assure you that the good sides are worth the effort. And, you will find that your worries, if you are well prepared, are easily controllable and overcome.
Why becoming a Solo-entrepreneur is the best way to start a renovation business?
Let me tell you why starting a renovation as a solo contractor is your best option! Imagine a world where you are your own boss, no employees to manage, where you work at your own pace with loyal customers who pay well and where every hour worked pays off for you.
The essentials to be successful as a Solo-entrepreneur
If you want to succeed as a solo entrepreneur, there are a few must-haves you should focus on.
First, make sure you have a strong presence in your local market.
Make yourself known as a renovation expert and develop strong relationships with your customers. Trust and reputation are key.
Next, customer loyalty is paramount.
Provide quality service, listen to their needs and exceed their expectations. Satisfied customers are your company's best ambassadors. They will tell their loved ones about you, which will allow you to develop your clientele.
Knowing how to delegate non-paying administrative tasks is also crucial.
Focus on what really makes you money: renovation. For the rest, use the services of a professional or software that can make your life easier and allow you to focus on the essentials.
Technology is your ally!
Use it to simplify your management tasks. Tools and apps can help you manage your schedule, track your projects, and keep track of your finances. By optimizing your organization through technology, you will save valuable time.
The Connect-forces franchise network
Create a micro-enterprise as a residential services contractor:
The approach that I propose to you is based on my experience: there are a few essential steps that you must take.
First, it is important to know the provincial laws and regulations surrounding self-employed contractors. In addition, you will need to establish a good financial plan, a solid marketing plan and advertising strategies that set you apart from the competition.
It is also important in 2023, even for a micro company, to have solid administrative technological tools to control your finances, communicate effectively with your customers and partners.
Finally, you must avoid making the mistake of wanting to do everything alone, but of seeking to surround yourself with good partners to support you. So here are the steps in detail:
What are the legal requirements in Quebec?
Let's start with what's most boring. Before you can start as a self-employed entrepreneur in Quebec, it is important to do some research on the legal requirements. You must therefore familiarize yourself with the specific rules, local laws and regulations according to your legal entity. I will intentionally go over several of these points very quickly, because the information is readily available on the Internet and you can be sure of your compliance.
- THE business registration in Quebec (NEQ) in renovations
- Your NEQ will allow you to obtain your tax numbers
So far so good, but here's where it usually gets tricky:
- Apply to get your specialized contractor's license with the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ)
- Apply for a bond for your contractor's license
- Obtain liability insurance from an insurance company
And here is “THE” question that usually hurts:
Can a residential services company operate legally without a contractor license from the RBQ?
There is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about the RBQ license. And the answer is YES and NO. I'm not helping you, I know that, but give me a moment and I'll make this all clear.
Because the handymen are solicited for all kinds of requests concerning a client's home, some of these requests can be made without an RBQ license, such as thefurniture assembly, the painting fences, moving objects around and inside the house et window cleaning For example. So the answer is YES.
But, if you choose to do this kind of work just for your clients, then you're going to say “Great Daniel, let's do it without a license, I'll save a thousand dollars and a few months to get it. WRONG, here are the financial and logical reasons why this is a very bad idea.
Financial reasons:
With this kind of job, you will only be able to charge a very low hourly rate, because these jobs require little knowledge, and you will also be competing with all the other guys/girls in town who have two arms and two legs. So if that's really what you want? I advise you instead to find a job at McDonald's. I'm not kidding, it's just true! Think about it. No trucks and no tools to maintain, no stress to find customers, no marketing costs for your business, no administration to do once your work is done and no experts to hire for your accounting.
The logical reasons now.
1. Almonds:
Now that you understand that you need to provide more profitable services to your customers to be profitable (unfortunately those who apply for an RBQ license), let's now talk about the logical reasons.
You'll probably want to promote yourself as a handyman entrepreneur on your brand new website, on your fancy truck, on your awesome business card, and why not on your kijiji ad? Here is the problem:
If you don't display an RBQ license number on all your marketing, you risk a penalty of $2 to $000 for the first violation. So goodbye to your profits. And forget about building a successful business because you can never advertise it.
2. Question of insurability. General liability insurance.
The second logical reason is that no insurance company will agree to insure your handyman business if you do not provide an RBQ license number.
Imagine the situation, you are without insurance and bad luck falls on you, the client sues you personally for damages or injuries. You risk losing everything you own, not just your business, but also your home and all of your financial assets.
So is it possible to start a handyman business without an RBQ license? I'll let you think about it.
Is there another solution?
But is there a way around this problem if you want to start making money right now without a handyman license?
YES! You can work as an employee for a handyman company, like mine, and start training for the RBQ license while experimenting with your skills in the field and deepening your knowledge.
With your exams passed and your license effective in a few months, you will be ready to launch your business.
Why become a residential renovation and services contractor?
A business plan for your professional residential services business
A good business plan is essential for all micro business owners, and this is especially true for a handyman business. To be successful, you need to define your goals and strategies, as well as your expected expenses and income.
Company structure
One of the most important things to consider when starting a handyman business is choosing your corporate structure.
Will you be a sole proprietor, a general partnership or a corporation? Each has its pros and cons, so it's important to choose the right one for your business. Also, here I will skip very quickly since I am not an expert in this area and better reading sources can be found online.
Here is a summary :
Sole Proprietorship: This is the simplest and most common structure for small businesses. You will be personally liable for all business debts and obligations, but you will also have complete control over all aspects of the business.
Partnership: A partnership is similar to a sole proprietorship, but with two or more owners. Each partner will be jointly and severally liable for all debts and obligations of the company.
Corporation: A corporation is a more complex business structure that offers limited liability to its owners. This means that you will not be personally responsible for the corporation's debts or obligations. However, setting up a company can be more expensive.
The financial plan: A guarantee of success for a self-employed residential services entrepreneur
Have a good financial plan
One of the great difficulties for an entrepreneur is to properly describe his business objectives and strategies. You will need to have your financial plan on hand. This will include your anticipated expenses (including start-up costs, labor, materials, marketing, and administrative costs), seeking financing, as well as your projected income and growth as an entrepreneur. Having financial security in place will help you stay on track and ensure that as an entrepreneur you will be profitable.
Here's where many handyman entrepreneurs fail when starting their business.
- How much money should I really save before going into business as an entrepreneur?
- Another key element for a handyman entrepreneur is: is there enough cash flow to ensure I can get through the first months of business? Perhaps small business financing could be a solution?
- Make sure you have a pricing structure in place before you get started as an entrepreneur. Will you charge for your work on an hourly rate or on a fixed quote?
- How much money will you need for success and startup marketing strategies?
- How many customers do you need to be profitable?
- What are the necessary equipments you need?
- What are your overhead costs? Overhead costs can include things like rent, utilities, insurance, and marketing.
Be sure to factor these costs into your pricing structure so you can make a profit.
Develop a real marketing plan for a residential services company
Marketing plan: the essentials for a self-employed entrepreneur
You will need to find creative activities to satisfy your target market and their expectations.
Who are you going to offer your services to? Residential owners. Yes, that's obvious, but are there types of handyman jobs in certain areas of home improvement that are an ideal type of client for you…and your wallet?
Once you have identified a target market, you will need to create a marketing plan and activities to reach those potential customers.
Choosing the right services to offer.
You will also need to think about the type of services you are going to offer. Do you focus on small jobs, small repairs or maintenance work? Or will you be doing more complex projects on construction sites? It is important to have a clear idea of what you want to offer so that you can correctly price your services as a contractor and minimize financial risk.
Make your residential services stand out from the crowd
With so many contractors offering themselves as a handyman, your service will need to stand out. There are several ways to do this, including:
Offer unique professional services: Think about what you can offer that other entrepreneurs don't. On my side with experience, I have decided to no longer offer some of our services, such as exterior work, to bet on activities for which we have added value and resources to respond to a lack that other entrepreneurs ignored. We took risks for the organization, but the results gave us confidence thanks to a huge difference in profitability. I promise to do an article soon exclusively on this subject.
By taking the time to build a strong brand and offer unique services, you will be in a better position to attract and retain your customers.
Now that we've finally covered the boring stuff, let's talk about one of the fun parts of starting a handyman business:
Find your customers as a self-employed entrepreneur.
There are several excellent marketing and advertising strategies that you can use to attract target customers and create awareness for your business. Some of the most effective methods include:
Choose a business name and logo that will stick in people's minds.
As a freelancer, your business name and logo are two of the most important aspects of your brand. You want you ensure your business name is something people will remember. And you want you ensure your logo is something people will associate with your business. So please forget about “DL Renovation”.
Create a website and a blog for your new self-employed business
Creating a website and blog for your business is a great way to attract customers and increase visibility. Not only will potential clients be able to find information about your auto business, but you can also use your website and blog to share useful tips and advice for the Handyman job.
In 2023, the key to success is no longer having a website, because all the other entrepreneurs already have it. To succeed in today's economy, you'll need to create great content for online search (SEO) and do thorough research on keyword usage. You will also need to be active on social media platforms and establish a strong online presence.
you will tell me that if you do all this you won't have time to work? It's true, the disadvantage is that it takes a lot of effort and a lot of time to succeed in standing out on the web. For this reason, I strongly advise you to delegate. So it is important to plan a budget of a few thousand dollars and take steps to hire a web agency to take care of your site and its maintenance and your social media accounts.
Distribution of pamphlets and business cards
Another great strategy, which is less expensive for a new business, is to distribute flyers and business cards in your neighborhood. It's a great way to market your handyman business and describe the services you offer. It's also a great way to build relationships with potential customers.
Advertising on your truck
If you have a truck, you will absolutely need to include your advertising lettering in your start-up plan for your business. This is an excellent way, and the most profitable in my opinion.
Get involved in your community
Another great marketing strategy for most handyman businesses is to get involved in the community, such as through different Facebook groups in your neighborhood. It's also a great way to build relationships with potential customers inexpensively.
Finally the most important : you must be aware that the best tool in your trunk to succeed is you.
One of the most important things to remember when starting out as a handyman entrepreneur is that even if you have a perfect business plan, you are your greatest asset and your worst enemy at the same time.
This means that everything, including your marketing, is up to you. Be honest with your customers and let them know what you can and can not do. It also means being professional and courteous at all times and ensuring that your customers are satisfied with the work and your craftsmanship. Word of mouth for a handyman will always remain the best marketing strategy for success.
It is also important to have solid technological tools for the auto-entrepreneur.
Get your accounts in order
You can use software such as Quickbook to run your business and perform almost all accounting tasks, ensure you follow standards, reduce your bookkeeping costs. Call on a Quickbook expert accountant for its implementation
Use specialized handyman CRM software or app to keep your business in check.
CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software you helps track your customers, leads, and billing. That you also allows you to manage your sales pipeline and marketing campaigns. With a good CRM you have more time to grow your customer base. Here are some examples:
- Create a quote on the spot
- Invoice and collect payments upon completion
- Obtain all customer contact details and have them with you at all times to quickly answer questions.
- Create sales tax reports
- Require less administrative help
- Keep a close eye on your quotes
- Have more time for new requests
- Never forget to contact a customer
- Get reminders of appointment dates
- Customers can create new requests directly in the CRM
- Schedule automatic email follow-up
In summary, a CRM adjusted to your business is mandatory, period.
Finally, do you want to start your residential services activity alone or accompanied?
start alone
Si you consider the project of creating your company by you-even, and to manage everything alone, it is doable and I you sincerely wish the best of success. Becoming a handyman is a risk, but also a great adventure. By following these tips and with a little sweat, I'm sure you will succeed.
Advantages of doing it solo:
- You are the boss and you make all the decisions
- You keep all the profits
Getting started with the help of a franchisor
Being a franchisee partner in a network gives you the best chance of success.
Benefits of being a franchisee
- Start a micro-franchise with a low investment and without premises
- A solid business model that has been tested and proven,
- Comprehensive training and support in all areas of your business so you can get up and running quickly and efficiently
- A powerful, efficient and specially adjusted CRM for the residential renovation market.
- An established brand that will give you instant recognition in the market and the best references.
- And a team of experts behind you to help you every step of the way.
If you are curious to see how Brother-in-law for hire, as franchisor, can make your life easier with a franchise with low investment, you help earn more money and you give the chance to keep more time for you and your family, I you strongly recommend to consult Brother-in-law's website for rent to get more information about the opportunities we you offer.
It is a turnkey offer where everything is in place so that you just follow our proven system. Contact us today to see how you can become a franchisee of Beau-brother for rent!
It doesn't matter if you already have a contractor's license or you plan to get one soon, our business plan you offers the opportunity to be your own boss right now.
In summary, to start as a self-employed handyman in 2023
In summary, to start as a self-employed handyman in 2023, you must be legal, have a good financial plan, good marketing and advertising strategies. Next, produce a good business plan. You will also need to have strong technological tools to you help manage your income and expenses, communicate effectively with your customers and you surround yourself with good partners. Finally, the most important aspect of your success if you ask me, is that you should be THE best tool in your toolbox.
Je you thank you for taking the time to read my article and I hope that you will have found advice that you will help plan your success as an entrepreneur.
Do you know Connect-forces? Maybe we could be a good option for you!
Forgotten traditional franchise networks?
Connect-Forces is shaking up traditional franchisors!
Connect-Forces opens the doors to a unique, modern and tailor-made opportunity for you? We're looking for real, passionate entrepreneurs, not those with the most money to bring in quickly. A very affordable monthly subscription allows you to work in a network to succeed as a team.
Choose the banner that most resembles you, they all share the same tools, strategies and experts serving the success of the entire Connect-forces network.
No entry fees !!!
Avoid getting into debt and conserve your cash.
Compared to other traditional franchisors, we believe in real risk sharing. We only succeed if you are successful too. Entry fees are replaced by a monthly subscription to the Connect-forces network.
Free to stay or not, It's up to you!
If you stay with us as a franchisee, it's because you are successful, not because you signed a contract.
Share expenses to increase your profits!
Share with all other franchisees of all banners the costs of the call center, a diverse team of experts and high-performance technological tools.
Pay only the services you request!
We don't all have the same budget, available time or interests, do you want to delegate more? It's possible ! Do more yourself? It’s also possible!
https://www.connect-forces.com/appointment/1If you are not sure and would like to study our different banners before becoming one of our new partners, here is a list of links. To Compare:.
Several opportunities are available
Cities of Greater Montreal
Capital Region Cities
City of Trois-Rivières
City of Gatineau
I have an invitation for you.
If you want to become your own boss by offering a handyman service as an entrepreneur, because like me, you love the job, I invite you to contact me by email or make an appointment on our website via my agenda for a 15-minute call to discuss your project together.
https://www.connect-forces.com/appointment/1
Online form for more information:
Address: 2293 Ile-des-Lys, Terrebonne, Quebec J6Y 6A2.
Website : https://www.connect-forces.com/
Phone: 514-666-2328
Email address: franchises@connect-forces.com
More articles to come
To learn more about the handyman profession and the franchise, here are some articles that I will write that may be of interest. Come back to check for updates..
- Why become a franchisee, and what are the important franchisee rights to check in a franchise agreement?
- Why is the best formula for making money is to avoid hiring employees?
- What is the best protection against lack of work?
- What to do when a customer is not satisfied with your service or your rates?
- How can you be sure your prices are the right ones?
- Planning his home business?
- What is a good organization of work for an independent entrepreneur?https://www.connect-forces.com/