Fix, assemble and mount things for busy homeowners.
Time: Evenings and weekends
Most homes have a list of small jobs the owners will never get to: shelves, TVs, faucets, fences, flat-pack furniture. A handyman who shows up on time and charges flat rates per task builds a booked calendar from word of mouth alone. Rates of $50–$100/hour are standard — the constraint is your calendar, not demand.
Furniture assembly, TV mounting, shelving, door hardware, caulking, small drywall patches. Explicitly exclude anything needing a licensed trade — that protects you and focuses marketing.
Price per task, not per hour: $80 TV mount, $60–$120 per furniture assembly, $100 pantry door install. Flat rates kill the awkward clock-watching and raise your effective hourly.
TaskRabbit for immediate demand, plus your neighbourhood Facebook group and Nextdoor. Post a before/after photo set every job you complete.
A $300 kit: drill, stud finder, level, anchors of every size, Allen keys. Finishing the job in one visit — no 'I'll be back with a bracket' — is what earns repeat calls.
Hand clients your Google Business review link before you leave. Five reviews makes you the default handyman for your whole suburb.
Offer monthly 'property maintenance' packages to landlords and small businesses — 4 buildings at $300/month is steadier than any one-off job.
Instant demand for assembly and mounting jobs in big cities.
Canada's home-service review site — strong reviews bring steady local calls.
Many commercial clients and property managers require proof of insurance.
Affordable tools and free/cheap know-how sessions.
Where 'handyman near me' clients find and review you.