9 Top Handyman Franchise Opportunities to Know

1. Mr. Handyman

Source: Mr. Handyman

Mr. Handyman is a commercial and residential repair company established in 2000. Its franchising operation was initiated in the same year, and it currently has 350 units across Canada and the United States.

Mr. Handyman has a training program organized by experts in various fields that franchisees undergo before and after launching their location. It also assigns franchisees dedicated business coaches and marketing teams, who guide them to ensure the business runs successfully. 

Furthermore, Mr. Handyman assists with running marketing campaigns and supplies franchisees with professionally designed marketing collateral for social media, print, and digital media.

However, this franchise doesn’t allow absentee ownership and prohibits home or mobile units—all storefronts must have a physical office. Additionally, it only accepts full-time business owners and doesn’t give exclusive territory statuses.

To join the Mr. Handyman franchise, entrepreneurs must make an initial investment of $123,000 to $159,000 (veterans pay 15 percent less) and an upfront franchise fee of $65,000. They must also have $25,000 in liquid assets and a net worth of $250,000.

The franchise agreement lasts for an initial period of 10 years. During the life of the agreement, franchisees will pay nine percent of gross sales for ongoing fees—seven percent for royalties and two percent for ad management.

2. Ace Handyman Services (formerly Handyman Matters)

Source: Ace Handyman Services

Ace Handyman Services is a renowned home improvement company founded in 1998. Since its franchise operation started in 2001, the company has gradually expanded its locations across the United States, from 115 in 2019 to 380 in 2024.

Before the grand opening of their location, franchisees receive software tutorials, meet with other franchise owners, and partake in 40-54 hours of on-the-job and classroom training. 

The franchise also organizes training at franchise locations for all employees 90 days after launch and promises ongoing support throughout the contract, which lasts ten years and is renewable.

Ace Handyman Services offers designated territories defined by zip codes, containing 125,000 to 250,000 households. However, franchise owners must have a physical location and be fully involved in running the business.

Those interested in the franchise are required to have $75,000 to $150,000 in cash and a net worth of $250,000. The initial investment is between $131,077 and $222,297, plus a franchise fee of $70,000.

3. Handyman Connection

Source: Handyman Connection

Established in 1990, this franchise is known across North America. It became a fully-fledged franchise in 1991 and has since launched 69 locations across Canada and the United States.

The franchise contracts include multiple hours of online and in-person training, ongoing support, and marketing assistance. There’s also provision for weekly checkup calls and on-site, company-wide training immediately after you pick your location.

Handyman Connection neither provides exclusive territory status nor allows franchisees to operate without a physical storefront. Additionally, all franchisees are expected to be fully involved in the day-to-day operations. 

Ideal candidates must have $105,000 to $150,000 in liquid cash and a net worth of $200,000. They must also be financially prepared to handle the initial investment fee ranging between $105,620 to $224,774 and the upfront franchise fee of $65,000.

For the entire agreement duration, franchisees are expected to submit six and two percent of gross sales to cover royalties and advertising costs, respectively.

4. HandyPro

Source: HandyPro

HandyPro is a franchise founded by Keith Paul that has been offering home improvement services to homeowners across the United States since 1996.

The Connecticut-based franchise has 11 units in different states, two of which the company owns. It plans to open more in communities nationwide, including Wyoming, Alaska, Alabama, etc.

To differentiate itself from other companies, HandyPro specializes in maintaining and installing ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Standards for Accessible Design solutions, including wheelchair ramps, grab bars, bed rails, and accessible light outlets. The franchise teaches this specialization to all franchisees.

Another special fact about this franchise program is that construction or business management experience is not required since the franchisor’s 60-day training program covers all it needs to run a successful handyman business. 

All franchise owners are also promised ongoing marketing, operations, and finance training for as long as the contract lasts.

HandyPro looks at both financial and personal characteristics when evaluating franchise applications.

Applicants must have strong communication abilities, leadership qualities, a willingness to learn, and a priority for customer service. They must also be worth around $200,000 and have $30,000 in liquid capital to fund the venture.

The initial investment is between $69,840 and $129,643, while the franchise fee is $9,500. For the contract to remain active, franchise owners pay six percent in royalties and one percent for ad management fees.

5. House Doctors

Source: House Doctors

This home and commercial property repair and improvement company has operated for over twenty years. Its franchise operation started in 1997 and expanded after Jim Hunter—an experienced franchisee—purchased the company.

The Charlottesville-based franchise currently has over 68 units spread across the United States.

Entrepreneurs signed to this franchise enjoy ongoing support from a dedicated business coach and must participate in a four-week free training program featuring instructors trained in marketing, sales, financial accounting, etc. This training program takes place at the firm’s headquarters (76 hours), online (40 hours), and in the field (four hours). 

Franchisees can operate from home, provided they have a reliable internet connection and space for storing inventory. However, all franchisee staff must be headed by a full-time manager (the franchisee or someone else who completed the initial training).

Once the FDD is signed, House Doctors franchisees receive a protected territory designated by zip codes containing a minimum of 50,000 to 80,000 standalone residential structures. This grants franchisees a large pool of prospects to target.

House Doctors require applicants to have a net worth of $150,000, liquid assets of $70,000, and be prepared to invest between $101,350 and $145,000. The franchise fee is $65,000, but veterans, rescue workers, police officers, and emergency responders pay a discounted rate.

For the life of the agreement, franchise business owners pay a royalty fee of six percent of gross sales, with a minimum of $150 per week. They must also contribute four percent of gross sales to the marketing and contact center fund and $210 weekly for using the franchise’s technology stack.

6. The Honey Do Services

Source: The Honey Do Services

Named after the famous to-do list spouses leave for their partners (honey-do lists), this franchise offers maintenance services to homeowners and businesses.  

Since its franchising operation began in 2008, this Virginia-based franchise has opened over 15 units nationwide and plans to launch more this year in states like Alabama, Iowa, and Oklahoma.

Franchisees are promised custom marketing collateral, lifetime support, technological assistance, and a free website and lead generation system set up by qualified professionals.

Once a franchise agreement is signed, Honey Do provides business owners with a detailed start-up guide that explains crucial aspects like equipment acquisition, licensing, etc.

Once they’ve completed the start-up guide, franchise owners and key employees are invited to attend a two-week training program in Virginia that covers operational procedures such as bookkeeping, scheduling, and office management.

After the training program, Honey Do Services dispatches a team of experts to the franchise location to assist in the grand opening. They will stay one week to help the business manage its first customers, recruit the right people, and train employees.

Honey Do Services offers only full-time owner models that require a franchisee to actively supervise operations at all times without holding any other job. The franchise will assist franchisees with lease negotiations for their required physical storefront location.

For applications to be successful, prospective business owners must fulfill the franchise’s financial and behavioral franchisee eligibility requirements. They must prioritize customer satisfaction, have basic remodeling knowledge, and share the franchise’s values.

Per the financial requirements, franchise owners must provide documents proving they have $53,000 in liquid cash and $175,000 in assets. They must also be prepared to invest between $85,000 and $122,200 to cover startup costs.

Lastly, the franchise agreement has a renewable term of ten years, during which franchisees are to pay six and two percent of gross sales to cover royalty fees and advertising costs, respectively.

7. TruBlue Home Service Ally

Source: TruBlue Home Service Ally

TrueBlue Home Service Ally is a franchise founded in 2011 with almost 100 locations across the United States.

The franchise has packages tailored to the unique skills of first-time and experienced business owners and individuals working in the care, medical, home improvement, and real estate industries.

TruBlue Home Service Ally is a low-investment franchise that promises many benefits. Most importantly, it provides franchisees with a proven business model covering multiple verticals and protected territory status. It also assists with recruitment, site selection, scheduling, and billing.

Franchisees benefit from a five-day workshop at its main office in Cincinnati, weekly calls for the first 90 days of operation, periodic webinars, and access to the franchise’s virtual training resources.

Unlike other franchises, the TruBlue Home Service Ally franchise is extremely flexible. Franchisees can operate from home—which reduces startup and operational costs—and run the business part-time while holding another job.

Before you apply, ensure you have $50,000 in cash, are prepared to invest between $70,050 and $96,400 for startup costs, and pay an upfront franchise fee of $50,000 to use the franchise’s trademark. The royalty fee is six percent of gross sales plus an additional two percent for advertising costs.

8. Klappenberger & Son

Source: Klappenberger & Son

Klappenberger & Son is a painting, handyman, and remodeling franchise founded in 1989. Its franchising operation is a decade old and provides franchisees with multiple benefits.

For example, Klappenberger & Son offers exclusive territories three to five times larger than other programs (usually containing a minimum of 600,000 households) at no extra cost. This potentially increases the revenue each franchise location can generate.

The franchise also compresses its 35 years of experience in the business into a one-on-one six-week training program and a video series of mistakes to avoid. Franchisees who undergo training and fail to generate $500,000 in gross revenue after operating for 20 months can request a full refund of their franchise fee, no questions asked.

Furthermore, the franchise adopts a unique structure that charges low ongoing fees, which decrease as the franchise location grows.

For the entire life of each unit, Klappenberger & Son will assist with:

• 24/7 call booking and appointment-setting services

• Customer data management

• Project estimate creation

• Bookkeeping

• Digital marketing

• Business coaching

• Periodic training programs

• Lead generation

This reduces the burden on franchise owners' shoulders, allowing them to focus more on day-to-day operations.

Klappenberger & Son is currently accepting applications across 43 states in the United States. 

To be eligible, applicants must be ready to become full-time business owners and be willing to ask questions. They must also pay an upfront fee of $47,000 and invest between $77,725 and $119,455 into the business.

Royalties are capped at 8.25 percent of gross revenue and reduce as your business grows.

9. Mr. Appliance

Source: Neighborly Franchising

This is a franchise that specializes in the service and repair of appliances and dryer vents.

With a franchise operation that’s over 28 years old, the company has over 335 units across the United States and Canada, which over 270 franchise owners manage.

Mr. Appliance stands out from the rest of the franchises listed here as it is a member of Neighborly—one of the largest home services companies in the world. This membership gives franchisees access to an extensive network of business owners, plus discounts and rebates from over 250 renowned vendors.

Before joining the franchise, owners undergo a rigorous four-to-six-week training program covering essential aspects of business operations, such as sales, marketing, and job management. The program also includes sessions on how to use the franchise’s proprietary business management software.

After the FDD is signed, dedicated consultants and business coaches are assigned to work with new franchisees for one year until the business is stable. They’ll design local digital and offline marketing plans, craft success roadmaps, hire the right people, and provide ongoing support. 

Mr. Appliance has stringent criteria for evaluating prospective franchise owners and requires a minimum cash requirement of $85,000 and a net worth of $250,000.

Applicants must also pay a minimum investment ranging between $113,750 and $204,350, plus an upfront franchise fee of $63,750 (veterans pay 20 percent less).

Royalties range between five and seven percent, with an extra two percent for advertising.

What Are The Benefits of Handyman Franchising?

The benefits of buying handyman franchises include the following:

• Reduces risks: Starting a business from scratch has many uncertainties and may involve grave mistakes. Conversely, buying a franchise gives you access to a proven business model already working. It also grants you access to experts who can help the company achieve profitability quickly.

• Brand recognition: The most challenging part for new startups is getting customers to know and trust their brand. With a franchise, you can circumvent the slogfest of building brand awareness from scratch by latching onto the brand recognition the franchisor has achieved.

• Valuable training programs: Franchisors organize training programs for business owners and employees. Some also have continuing education resources that franchisees can use to update their knowledge.

What Are The Drawbacks of Handyman Franchising?

Franchising has its drawbacks. They include the following:

• Loss of autonomy: With franchising, entrepreneurs are restricted in some way. They have to abide by the franchisor’s rules, values, and method of operation.

• High startup costs: The cost of buying a franchise can be markedly higher than the cost of starting a business from scratch. That’s because franchises have minimum-investment requirements and high franchise fees. Entrepreneurs have to raise funds from financing institutions, handyman grants, etc.

• Misinformation: Franchisors may overpromise, present a false impression of the business's state, or hide important information. This may cause entrepreneurs to invest in a franchise on the brink of bankruptcy or with poor financials.

Picking the right franchise can mitigate these drawbacks. We’ll explain how to do that in the next section.

How Do You Choose a Handyman Franchise?

Franchising is only beneficial when you pick the right one that can contribute positively to your success. That’s why your choice of a franchise must be a product of deep research, consultations with experts, and evaluation of your needs.

First, determine your priorities. What are you looking for in a franchise? Are there non-negotiables? Do you prefer a franchise experienced in a specific niche? What’s your budget like? Will you let go of your current occupation or run the business part-time?

Once you’ve set your priorities, speak with franchise experts, business coaches, and handyman business owners to create a list of potential franchises. Whittle the list by checking each franchise against your identified priorities.

Now you’ve gotten a list of solid prospects, use the following to pick the best option:

• Initial and ongoing cost: Read the FDD to find out the initial investment price, franchise fee, and royalties. Compare the cost of each franchise alongside the level of support they promise. For example, some franchises may cost more than others but will offer to manage your calls and set appointments.

• Name recognition: It’s advisable to pick a franchise that your target audience knows. They should be located within or close to your franchise area.

• Franchisor’s experience: The best franchise will have operated for a long while. This will give you access to proven business models and networks. It also minimizes the risk of being defrauded.

• Reputation: Ensure no pending lawsuits or complaints are filed against the franchise, as every bad rating it receives will trickle down to your business. Check local consumer protection agency records, Better Business Bureaus, etc.

• Level of training: Compare the amount of training promised. Does it match what’s required to run a successful handyman business? Does it provide all the tools you need? How experienced are the instructors?

You can find all this information by reading the FDD before you sign. Consult a franchise legal professional to explain vague contractual details to ensure you’re treated fairly.

How Can You Grow a Handyman Business?

Buying a franchise doesn’t mean instant success. You still have an essential role to play in the business's continuous existence and growth.

We recently held a webinar where Rebekah Hatcher, whose company is an HVAC franchise under Aire Serv, emphasized the vital role franchise owners play in the success of their businesses. She explained what she did after franchising to help her business grow.

“Anyone considering going into a franchise, I will say [that] if you think it's going to be easier than what you were doing before, that is a lie.”

Here are some tips for growing your handyman business after signing with franchises:

• Invest in marketing: In addition to the franchise’s national marketing efforts, you must invest in local marketing campaigns. This includes mailing homeowners, distributing fliers, knocking on doors, and networking with business owners. Remember to measure the revenue generated by each campaign using ServiceTitan’s Home Services Marketing platform.

• Employ the right people: Hiring the right employees enhances service delivery. That’s why you should write clear job descriptions that capture each position's technical and behavioral qualifications. Consider collaborating with hiring experts.

• Practice sound financial management: Finances are the lifeblood of every business—get it wrong, and the company crumbles. Use ServiceTitan’s Accounting Platform and Job Costing software to manage your finances and track each order’s profitability.

• Provide a great customer experience: Treat customers right so they keep returning to generate massive revenue and referrals. Train employees to communicate clearly with customers and exceed expectations. You should also empower them with ServiceTitan’s Customer Experience software so they can speak directly with customers and access all the information required to deliver quality service. 

• Give customers multiple options: Customers have various financial strengths. To accommodate them all, invest in ServiceTitan’s Pricebook Pro software so field technicians can create accurate estimates with multiple tiers from which customers can choose one matching their budget.

• Invest in technology: Streamline key business processes with handyman company software like ServiceTitan. This will help you track key performance indicators, which you can use to improve your business.

The Bottom Line

Investing in a franchise is a decision that yields a lot of benefits in the long run, but only if you pick the right one. So, approach this decision with careful consideration.

The franchise list we’ve provided is a great starting point. Pinpoint your preferences and use the checklist we’ve provided to pick the best one from the list.

After buying a franchise, take the initiative and grow your business. Hire the right employees, devote resources to marketing, and invest in handyman software like ServiceTitan.

ServiceTitan is a comprehensive software solution for handyman companies that automates vital business processes to boost efficiency and sales. Our cloud-based platform is used by thousands of contractors nationwide, and they have increased their revenue by an average of 25 percent in just their first year with us.