9780762752775

Terry Meany is the author of Knack Home Repair & Maintenance (GPP), Working Windows (Lyons), The Complete Idiot?s Guide to Plumbing, and The Complete Idiot?s Guide to Electrical Repair. A former contractor, he lives in Seattle, Washington.

Introduction	p. ix
So You Want to Start a Home-Based Handyman Business	p. 1
Congratulations---Or Should You Run for the Hills?	p. 1
The Eternal Handyman	p. 2
Turning Skills and Work Experience into a Business	p. 2
Self-Employment: Being Your Own Boss---Or Is Everyone Your Boss?	p. 3
What Can You Offer That's Unique or Different?	p. 5
Show Me the Money	p. 6
Personality Profile	p. 8
Meet Your New Partner, the Government	p. 12
Family Life	p. 12
Envisioning Your Business	p. 14
Adjusting Your Rose-Colored Glasses	p. 14
Who Needs You?	p. 15
Role Models	p. 17
Your Headquarters	p. 18
Time Frame	p. 19
It Costs How Much?	p. 19
Your Competition---Friends or Foes?	p. 22
Picking and Choosing Your Work	p. 22
Hitting the Road...or Not	p. 25
Making Your Lists and Checking Them Twice (or More)	p. 26
Staffing	p. 27
Customers---The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly	p. 32
Put It on My Tab	p. 38
Writing a Business Plan	p. 41
We Want to See Your Plans...	p. 41
Explain Yourself	p. 45
The Dreaded Marketing	p. 45
Organization and Management	p. 48
Off to Work You Go	p. 48
Selling Trinkets	p. 50
According to the Law...	p. 51
Starting Up	p. 52
Fixed Costs, Variable Costs, and Estimated Fees	p. 52
Plan B	p. 55
Financial Planning	p. 56
The Big-Ticket Items	p. 56
Open Your Checkbook	p. 57
Insurance	p. 58
A Bonding Experience	p. 63
Let Me See Your License and Registration, Please	p. 65
Legal Eagles and Number Crunchers	p. 65
Smaller-Ticket Items	p. 67
Marketing	p. 69
Taxes	p. 71
Enough with These Expenses; Let's Talk Income	p. 71
Is It Enough?	p. 74
If the Numbers Don't Work Out...	p. 75
Getting Started	p. 76
First Things First	p. 77
Licensing	p. 79
Banking	p. 80
The Tax Collector Cometh	p. 81
Dreaming of a Paperless Office	p. 82
Estimates and Contracts	p. 84
Marketing Materials	p. 88
Finding Suppliers	p. 91
Business Vehicles	p. 92
Your Home Work Space	p. 94
Filling the Space	p. 94
Technology Rules...with Exceptions	p. 96
Office Printer	p. 97
Connecting to the Outside World	p. 98
Other Office Supplies	p. 102
Work/Repair Area	p. 104
Vehicle Storage	p. 105
Financial Management	p. 107
Handyman and Collection Agency	p. 108
Paper Dollars	p. 109
Digital Dollars	p. 109
Snail-Mail Payments	p. 109
Mechanic's Lien	p. 111
Small Claims Court	p. 113
Collection Agencies	p. 113
Your Turn to Pay	p. 114
Cash Flow	p. 115
Bank Line of Credit	p. 116
Equipment Allowance	p. 117
Vehicle Maintenance	p. 118
Savings and Retirement	p. 120
Taxes and Recordkeeping	p. 127
Good Accounting and Recordkeeping Lead to Easier Tax Filling	p. 129
Filing Tax Returns	p. 131
Who You Are Determines Which Forms to Use	p. 132
Reducing Your Taxes with Deductions	p. 133
About That Office Deduction...	p. 134
Do It Yourself or Hire a Tax Service?	p. 136
Employees	p. 138
Legal and Ethical Issues	p. 139
Legal Requirements	p. 140
Policies and Procedures	p. 141
Employees	p. 141
Income and Taxes	p. 143
Cash	p. 144
Trade and Bartering	p. 144
Contracts Count	p. 144
Hourly Fees	p. 146
Client Confidentiality	p. 146
Up Close and (Too) Personal?	p. 147
Smile, You're on Candid Camera	p. 148
A Few More Job Concerns	p. 148
Substituting Materials	p. 149
Waste---Toxic and Otherwise	p. 149
Lead-Based Paint	p. 150
When It's About You	p. 151
When It's About the Customer	p. 151
Marketing Your Business	p. 153
People Are Talking about You	p. 154
Blogs	p. 156
Crank Up the Printer	p. 156
Customer Targets	p. 158
Direct Mail	p. 159
Special and Seasonal Promotions	p. 166
Preferred Installer Status	p. 167
Charitable Work	p. 167
Internet Marketing	p. 168
Marketing a Niche Service	p. 168
Everyone Likes a Freebie	p. 169
Radio and TV	p. 171
Stretching Your Marketing Dollars	p. 172
The Internet and E-Commerce	p. 175
Your Web Site	p. 175
Forums	p. 181
Craigslist	p. 181
Paying for Internet Advertising	p. 182
Training and Certification	p. 184
Online Info	p. 184
Back to School	p. 186
Other Community Resources	p. 187
Industry Certifications	p. 187
Books	p. 188
Magazines	p. 189
Historic Preservation Training	p. 190
Safety Training	p. 190
Law School	p. 192
Business Endgame	p. 193
You're Established; Now What?	p. 193
Time to Widen Your Vision?	p. 194
Lifestyle Choices	p. 195
Those Pesky Kids	p. 196
Employees	p. 196
Temporary Laborers	p. 197
Contracting Out	p. 198
Specialty Work	p. 198
Grunt Work	p. 200
Bigger, But Not Always Better, Customers	p. 200
Time to Close Up Shop	p. 201
What You're Selling	p. 202
Pre-Sale	p. 202
Setting a Price	p. 203
If Your Price Isn't Met...	p. 204
Letting Go	p. 204
Hiring and Firing Employees	p. 206
How to Figure Your Costs	p. 213
Resources	p. 217
Index	p. 222
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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