Start & Run a Handyman Business. Sarah White

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      4. Business and Legal Requirements

      Legal and business requirements vary by state and province. For current and accurate information, you need to check on the requirements for small businesses in your area. Start with your municipal government; ask for any information on rules pertaining to small-business start-ups. From there you can check into any state or provincial regulations, or even federal requirements you might need to meet. In the United States, contact your state tax office to find out what permits may be needed for sales tax. In Canada, with very few exceptions, businesses are obliged to collect and remit the goods and services tax (GST). Canadians can contact their local Canada Revenue Agency office for details on tax and filing requirements.

      Sales tax is just one area you need to look into to ensure your business meets all legal requirements. There are a number of other areas you must consider.

      4.1 Zoning and licensing

      Almost all handyman businesses are home-based businesses. You need to make sure you are legally allowed to operate your business from your home where you live. Even though most of your work will be away from your home, you will likely have some kind of home office and workshop. Check zoning regulations before you start your business.

      You also must be licensed to operate a business, or at least registered with the government. What licenses you need will vary among regions. In some areas, a locally obtained business license is all you need to get started. In others, federal and state or provincial licenses are required as well.

      The cost of a business license is minimal. The penalty for operating without a license varies with the issuing local government.

      4.2 Form of business

      A business can be formed as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a limited company. A handyman business lends itself well to the sole proprietorship form of business. The sole proprietor is responsible for the business in its entirety. Debts that are incurred by the business are debts of the sole proprietor, as are the assets. There are many advantages to sole proprietorship, including low start-up costs, as well as the most freedom from regulation of all business forms. These may be important considerations, especially if you plan to start a part-time business and don’t want to get bogged down by paperwork.

      A partnership can work well if you plan to run your business with someone else. Like a sole proprietorship, a partnership has low start-up costs. As well, there may be tax advantages. However, a partnership must be registered, and it is essential to draw up a partnership agreement stipulating the responsibilities of each partner. You should consult with a lawyer if you want to create a partnership agreement.

      If your business grows to the extent that you want the formal legal structure of incorporation as a limited company, you should seek tax and legal advice to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages.

      4.3 Insurance

      As a handyman you need additional insurance to your standard homeowner insurance. It is important to talk to a professional about your needs. If you start a business from your home without the proper insurance, you take the chance that it will void your existing coverage.

      As an employer, you must also consider worker’s compensation insurance. All the states in the us and all the provinces in Canada have specific requirements for providing insurance for injured workers. As an independent operator, you can also arrange worker’s compensation for yourself. Check with your local government offices for specific advice on registering for worker’s compensation and how to manage insurance claims.

      Here are a few items you should discuss with an insurance professional:

      • Insurance for your work vehicle with special consideration of a replacement vehicle should yours be unusable for a time

      • Adequate insurance for your tools and other supplies in case of damage, theft, etc.

      • Liability insurance to offset the cost of any damages caused by your business

      • Disability insurance if you are injured and can no longer work

      Take care of your insurance needs and review them periodically. Once you have your insurance plan in place, you can relax and get on with your real job as a handyman.

      4.4 Naming your business

      Your business will need a name that helps customers remember who you are and what you do. The only rule of thumb to follow when choosing a name is to keep it simple. Take some time to brainstorm names; you might include family and friends in this task to broaden your choices. List every name you can think of that appeals to you. As you assess the competition, you’ll see names of other companies that may inspire you.

      Before you register your company name and certainly before you have any flyers, business cards, or other stationery printed, check to make sure you have a unique name that no one else in your area uses. You want to stand out from the crowd with a business name that will be associated with you alone. In the United States, your city or county clerk will tell you if the name you have chosen is available for use. In Canada, a name search can be done through the provincial ministry that handles incorporations.

      When you have chosen a name for your business, you should protect it by filing, or registering, the name with the appropriate authorities. Your name will be checked against previously filed names to ensure that it has not been taken by another business. Once your name is on file, it cannot be used by anyone else in that district.

      4.5 Hiring employees or contract staff

      If your business grows to the point where you need help, you will have to decide whether you want to hire an employee or perhaps hire occasional contract workers.

      Becoming an employer requires you to assume a number of additional responsibilities as a business owner. You will have to register with the local labor authority, make arrangements to pay your employees on a regular basis, make the necessary tax payments to the government on behalf of your employees, maintain employee records, provide a safe work environment, provide training and supervision, supply and maintain the tools needed by your employees, and, most importantly, take legal and financial responsibility for your employees’ actions.

      Employer-employee rules and regulations are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which you live. If you want to hire an employee, you will need to conform to the law in terms of hours of work, minimum wage, workers compensation board coverage, vacation pay, severance pay, and so on. All this adds another management facet to your business and can take a substantial amount of time and effort. However, if you need to expand your operation and take on larger and more complicated jobs on a regular basis, this will be time and effort well spent.

      If you need extra help on an occasional basis only, it is much more convenient to hire someone on a contract basis. This saves you the time and extra paperwork of having a regular employee. For most small handyman businesses, hiring contractors from time to time is probably the most practical solution. Unless your business grows significantly, it is unlikely you will be able to provide enough work to someone on a regular part-time or full-time basis.

      In our business, we do not employ anyone full time, but we occasionally СКАЧАТЬ