Free handyman estimate generator

How to write a handyman estimate

A handyman estimate is a task list with a price on each line. Walk the house with the client, write down everything they point at, and price it with the form at the top of this page. It opens as an estimate with a Valid until date 30 days out.

• Walk the house with the client's list and write each task as its own line. A line per task lets the client approve some items now and save others for later.
• Be specific in each description: which room, how many, what size, and whether the client supplies the fixture.
• Price small, predictable tasks flat and put open-ended work like troubleshooting on an hourly line with an estimated number of hours.
• Add a materials allowance as a materials line and mark it taxable where your state taxes materials.
• Use the notes for your minimum charge, how the allowance works, what happens if you find hidden damage and anything you do not do.

What to include on a handyman estimate

Handyman work is full of unknowns. A good estimate names them before you open the wall instead of after.

• The full task list with a price for each item, so the total adds up in front of the client.
• Your minimum charge, such as a 2-hour minimum per visit, so a single small task still covers your drive.
• Who buys materials. If you buy them, show an allowance and say whether you bill actual cost or a markup.
• Unknowns behind walls, under floors or under sinks: rot, old wiring, leaks or mold. Say that any of these gets priced before work continues.
• Work you will not do and why, for example electrical panels, gas lines or anything needing a permit.
• A deposit for materials on larger jobs, with the amount and when it is due.
• Cleanup and haul-away, such as removing an old vanity or faucet.

Hourly vs flat price per task

Flat prices win more jobs because the client sees a fixed number. They work for tasks you have done many times: hanging a door, mounting a TV, swapping a faucet, patching drywall. Track your real time on these and the flat price takes care of itself.

Hourly makes sense when you cannot see the problem yet, like a running toilet that might be the flapper or the fill valve, or an older house where nothing is square. Give an estimated number of hours and say you will check in before going over.

A minimum charge protects you on short visits. Many handymen set it at one or two hours of labor.

When a licensed trade is required

Rules on what a handyman can do depend on the state and sometimes the city. Many places require a licensed electrician, plumber or HVAC contractor for work beyond simple fixture swaps, and some states set a dollar limit above which you need a contractor license for any job. Check your state and local rules, and say on the estimate which items you are not doing so the client can hire the right trade.

Estimate, quote, bid or invoice

Handymen often use estimate and quote the same way. If you want to tell them apart, an estimate is your best guess that may change once you open things up, and a quote is a fixed price. A bid is a price submitted against other contractors for the same scope. An invoice comes after the work. When the task list is done, switch this form from Estimate to Invoice, drop or adjust any lines that changed, and send it.

Keeping track of task lists and repeat clients

The free ToolBerry app keeps your clients and jobs in one place. You build estimates, called proposals in the app, line by line or from your saved list of common tasks with your usual prices, and get a PDF to share or send from your own email. Each one is tracked from draft to sent to accepted.

You can capture the client's signature on your phone before you start, then turn the accepted estimate into a job or an invoice without retyping the task list. It is free with no signup or card, works offline and runs on iPhone, Android and the web.