Abby B. Looking for best side hustles for handyman? Are you a handyman by profession or someone that wants to start a side job as a handyman? Here’s 15 ideas!
My father knows how to fix almost everything there is around the house – either through experience or from watching too many YouTube videos. I believe at his age, he could just teach someone else to do it or pay a professional handyman.
If you’re a handyman, just know that there are so many opportunities you can explore to make extra money on the side!
In this article, I’ll be sharing 15 practical side hustles for handyman and anyone that’s looking to start a handyman side hustle. I’ll provide brief recommendations of what you’ll need to start plus viable options for making money on the side as a handyman.
*This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you) if you sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link!
15 Best Side Hustles For Handyman
1. Design and build your own furniture to sell
One of the advantages of being handy is knowing what to source and how to create something from different parts. If you’re a handyman that also loves woodworking or creating products for final use, consider making your own furniture!
Although it’s labor-intensive and you won’t be able to make a lot of units, you can specialize in unique creations that can get sold at a high price. It can be a customized built-in kitchen cabinet or a sturdy dining table for eight.
Alternatively, focus on smaller sized furniture and making multiple units of the same so you can sell on bigger platforms like Etsy. Here’s an example of small wood products you can make!
Some furniture you can make to sell:
- Kitchen cabinets
- Wardrobe
- Shoe shelves
- Dining tables
- Study tables
- TV consoles
- Stools and chairs
- Outdoor furniture
- Pergola
- Swings
| What do I need to start? | – Skills to build furniture – Space and storage to work with – Platform to sell your products on |
Check out: A guide to good quality wood furniture
2. Create a YouTube channel to teach DIY and how-tos
Like I’ve mentioned above, my father is a strong believer of self-learning and doing things on your own – if you can. He spends a lot of time watching YouTube videos to learn how to create or fix something.
If you love YouTube or TikTok as much as he does, it’s probably your turn to share your handyman skills with either long-form or short-form videos.
I always believe in setting up a YouTube channel with good long-form content first then making shorter versions of the same content for TikTok. You’ll have a good growth of subscribers this way!
You can either teach others how to fix simple things around their house or create vlogs as a handyman. Generally, people would follow you as they find your videos educational or inspiring.
Common ways to earn with YouTube include advertising income, affiliate income, sponsorships and earnings from selling your own products. The key is to be consistent with your uploads!
Interesting YouTube channels in the handyman niche:
| What do I need to start? | – A camera to record – Portable microphone for better sound – A video editing software |
Read: What I spent for my vlogging gear in first 6 months
3. Start a podcast for new home owners
As someone who’s looking to move out and become a new home owner, I don’t know much about managing homes the right way. It can be educational to know about the tough things other people had to go through and ways they overcame these home-owning problems.
If you’re someone who loves to talk and share your insights to friends & neighbors, start a podcast to make it your new side profession. It’s time to record your handyman knowledge and share it with more people around the world!
You can also run a podcast together with a YouTube channel. Take videos of your podcasting sessions and upload them to YouTube – it’s a popular way to streamline your content on both platforms.
Just get a good microphone, pair of headsets and start learning how to use an audio editing software. Podcasting allows you to earn differently compared to YouTube which is through downloads and paid partnerships with brands in your field.
| What do I need to start? | – Good desk microphone – Set of quality earphones – An audio editing software |
Check out: 30 podcasts in the home improvement niche
As an introvert that loves sharing my knowledge and opinions with others, I find a great deal of comfort in blogging on my own website. If social media isn’t something you like going on, you might also love blogging as much as I do!
No matter what platform you’re writing on, it’s always best to stick to a single niche that you’re personally passionate about. Your audience are more inclined to trust your suggestions this way – especially if it’s about home fixes.
Just like YouTube, it can take awhile before you’re able to make any money with a blog. I would only recommend going into it if you don’t need the extra income as soon as possible.
You can create a blog for home fixing, plumbing, carpentry, DIY home projects or sustainable living – anything others are interested in reading.
Blogs allow you to earn through advertising revenue, affiliate income, sponsorships and from sales of your own products. Check out my free article on how to start a blog step-by-step.
| What do I need to start? | – A WordPress Website – Domain name & hosting – Passion to write for a specific niche |
Read: Why I invested in a blogging coach before doing anything else
5. Get commissions from promoting affiliate products and services
Don’t want to go through the hassle of creating a blog or making videos for YouTube, but still want to earn affiliate income? You can promote the same links on social media platforms like Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok.
To grow your social media, you’ll need to upload consistently and share what others are looking for. Even with a small number of followers, you can start earning with affiliates – although not much.
Some affiliate marketplaces I’d recommend checking out are Amazon Associates, CJ affiliate, Clickbank, Share-a-sale and Rakuten Advertising. Generally, you’ll earn a commission when someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase.
So it’s always best to promote products/services you personally use that serves your audience! If your social accounts are all about fixing stuffs, promote affiliate links to tools you use to make these fixes.
| What do I need to start? | – Affiliate products or services you can promote – Social media account with growing followers |
6. Take real life photos to sell on stock websites
If you’re looking to explore something different, I highly suggest going into side hustles that allows you to earn passively. This means you no longer need to trade in time for money or use your physical energy to earn – things get tougher as you grow older!
One of things I’m going into is stock photography. Essentially, you’ll be taking photos and selling them on stock websites where others who want to use the picture will pay for it. Best part is, you can be selling these photos over and over again to different people!
Stock photos and videos are bought by content creators, large websites and businesses as they don’t always have their own photos to use. It would take some time for you to build your portfolio of photos but they can make you money as you’re asleep.
Below is a sample of free stock photos when I searched for “handyman” – don’t worry as there is a huge demand for paid ones as well (that’s where you come in).
Stock websites you can join to start:
| What do I need to start? | – A good camera & photography skills – Basic photo editing skills – Consistency to upload photos frequently |
7. Become a freelance content writer for other blogs and websites
Looking for a freelance role that will put your handyman knowledge to good use? You can become a freelance content writer for other blogs and websites.
There are plenty of sites in the home improvement niche. Although they are not 100% aligned to your field or experience, these sites would still require articles on topics of basic home fixes and DIYs.
Before applying to any writing jobs on sites like Upwork, I would recommend taking up a SEO content writing course and creating your portfolio for clients’ easy reference. They usually want to see a sample article you’ve wrote!
Freelance writers are usually paid according to their writing experience and can earn over $100 per article if they’re specialized in a topic/field.
| What do I need to start? | – SEO writing skills – Good command of English or language you’re writing for – Platform to promote your freelance writing service |
8. Sell online courses or e-books for basic home fixes
Another way to monetize your handyman knowledge while also making passive income is to sell online courses or e-books. Although these two take time to build, you’ll reap the benefits later!
From my personal observation, it’s much more easier to start selling a course then progress to creating your own e-book. You can promote your e-book to people who purchased your course at a discounted price.
Teach basic things like how to use XYZ tool and its extensions, or what’s required in a basic home repair toolkit. People are also more inclined to buy a course if it helps them make extra money or save money. If your lessons can help them fix their house or indulge in DIY projects, your courses will do well!
So structure your course, pre-record your lessons and upload them into short courses on platforms I’ve listed below. You can be selling your courses to anyone in the world and not tied to just people in your area.
Some sites you can host online courses on:
| What do I need to start? | – A niched course idea – Well thought out module – Tools to record your lessons e.g. screen record, microphone |
Creating courses is too much work for you? Here’s a list of digital products you can make to sell on easy platforms like Etsy. I’ve made a quick guide on how to make these products too!
9. Create instructional plans as digital products to sell on Etsy
In all my side hustle guides, I would always try to suggest ways to sell digital products as its the easiest way to make passive income online. These digital products can come in all sorts of forms including templates, presets and PDF files.
If woodworking interests you but you don’t want to be selling physical furniture, you would probably love making easy-to-follow instructional plans instead. You can sell them on Etsy and include a video guide, a PDF download, SketchUp file and a list of materials to purchase for others’ easy reference.
Here’s some samples of woodworking plans sold on Etsy! These don’t include the final product and only teaches others how to make them by following a step-by-step guide.
Once a customer makes a purchase, they will be able to download the file immediately. As long as you follow these steps to list a digital product on Etsy, there won’t be any shipping or handling needed on your side as a seller.
People even sell step-by-step guides to create a chicken coop on Etsy – I would buy it one day!
| What do I need to start? | – Skills to build furniture – Tools to create a step-by-step guide with pictures and videos – Platform to sell your digital products on |
10. Offer a service of painting homes
As a handyman, you’re probably only focused on fixing things around the house. However, another way to find new customers for your existing business is to offer a new service e.g. painting homes or doing minor enhancement work.
Painting walls and terraces are one of the easiest jobs to get into even if you have zero background in it. You only need to get the right tools to ensure a fast painting job with minimal mess made.
New home owners tend to be one looking for this service and while they don’t have anything to fix yet, you can market yourself for future work. Make sure they keep your contact number!
| What do I need to start? | – Basic skills to paint homes – Tools to provide the service you’re offering – Platform to promote your services |
11. Help people move houses with your vehicle
Own a big vehicle or truck and want to make money from it? You can help others move houses, shops or offices.
Although you’re doing this on the side, consider learning the proper ways to move items fast and seamlessly. You don’t have to be a large company to be having the right tools e.g. trolleys, rugs and boxes.
People will appreciate the extra details and recommend you to others!
Some of these services can come additional for an extra price. Your rate should be cheaper if you don’t need to be the one packing and only deliver things in a single trip.
| What do I need to start? | – A commercial vehicle with large trunk – Tools to make moving easier for others – Platform to promote your service |
12. Do specialized renovation work in your area
Want to explore something more unique in home improvement? Specialized yourself in renovation services that is doable on the side and can be offered on sites like TaskRabbit.
You’re probably used to taking up all sorts of fixing jobs as a handyman but the way forward is to make your service unique, limited and well-priced. This can mean majoring yourself in setting up container homes, pergolas, solar systems for houses, building fences or decks and roofing.
For some of these services, you will have to be licensed with the right insurance. So decide based on your own situation and choose one service to start with!
Alternatively, you can also do indoor services like installing pre-built cabinetry or installing residential windows. These jobs are possible on weekday evenings or weekends.
You will be able to price your services better by specializing in a single type of service. It will also make it easier to partner with a friend and get an extra helping hand when doing bigger jobs.
If you have all these tools that most people do not have, it’s also possible to rent them out to people who occasionally needs it on apps like Nextdoor. You get to advertise your services for free and make passive income!
| What do I need to start? | – Ability to perform renovation service (license, insurance) – Vehicle for easy transportation – Platform to market your services |
13. Pet-sit for others in your free time
Love pets and don’t mind taking care of them in your free time? Pet-sitting is a profitable side hustle for most!
Pet-sitters would usually visit the homes of pet owners and take care of pets during their absence. If you’re more interested in having pets over at your place and not go out, you can offer home boarding services instead. This allows you to charge more as they’re using your facility!
Typically, pet-sitters charge about $15-20 per visit and able to make at least $200 in a week from making 10 visits. These charges differ based on your experience and if there’s any additional services.
Aside from promoting your usual handyman services, you can also look into building pet houses or play area as a product to sell to these pet owners you work with. They’re probably very interested in keeping their furry ones happy!
Services you can include with pet sitting:
- Walking
- Home boarding
- Sleepovers and night care
- Training
- Bring to vet
- Basic grooming & care
- Travel trips
| What do I need to start? | – Good skills with pets e.g. dogs, cats – Tools for the service you want to offer – Socializing to get clients |
14. Thrift old furniture to fix and flip for profit
The demand for vintage furniture has been increasing over the years and thrifting has become a popular hobby even among young adults. It’s probably a way to save money for most but for me, it’s a way to keep tasteful décor!
Depending on where you live, second hand furniture might be high in demand. As a handyman, you’re incredibly resourceful compared to others when it comes to fixes and probably have a bigger car to carry things around.
If I had what you have, I would be buying old furniture for cheap, do minor fixes to make it look good and resell for profit!
You can look around your neighborhood for free furniture (usually placed outside houses) or look for these gems on sites like Facebook Marketplace or eBay.
It should take you a short while to fix furniture as you’re working with a ready structure so it’s a definitely a doable side hustle.
| What do I need to start? | – Good eye to spot unique furniture to flip – Storage space to keep new furniture – Platform to resell your upgraded furniture |
15. Sell your own designed merchandise with print on demand
Want to start a separate ecommerce business but unsure what or how to sell? I would recommend trying out print on demand as a side hustle for beginners online – check out my seven reasons why.
If you’ve heard of dropshipping, print on demand works just like it. But compared to dropshipping, print on demand won’t require you to purchase from oversea suppliers and face complaints about shipping from your customers.
POD suppliers like Printify and Printful prints most of their orders in the USA with a few printing centers across the world. So even if your customers are ordering from South East Asia, there’s a high chance they’ll get it in a week’s time.
You just have to create the designs you want to sell using tools like Canva or Kittl, upload them on merchandises like tumblers, tank tops or blankets, then sell them on Etsy. Once a customer makes a purchase, your chosen POD supplier will print the product and ship it directly to customers for you.
If you don’t want to make your own designs and have some funds to spare, you can purchase ready ones on creative marketplaces like Envato Elements or Creative Fabrica.
Here’s an example of printed tank tops on Etsy!
| What do I need to start? | – Basic designing skills – A laptop to work with – An initial niche and product |
Can’t decide what product to design and sell? Check out my product guides before deciding!
- Tote bags for print on demand
- Tumblers for print on demand
- Phone cases for print on demand
- Posters for print on demand
- Leggings for print on demand
- Jewelry for print on demand
- Candles for print on demand
- Doormats for print on demand
- Hoodies for print on demand
- Pet products for print on demand
- Socks for print on demand
- Pajamas for print on demand
- Blankets for print on demand
- Baby clothes for print on demand
- Wrapping paper for print on demand
- Puzzles for print on demand
- Stickers for print on demand
- Athletic wear for print on demand
- Hats for print on demand
- Journals for print on demand
- Greeting cards for print on demand
- Mugs for print on demand
11 Freelance Handyman Jobs To Explore
Here are 11 ways you can earn as a freelance handyman:
- Become a freelance content writer for home and DIY blogs
- Sell step-by-step woodworking guides on Etsy
- Create small wood furniture to sell online
- Offer a home painting service on weekends
- Teach basic repairing skills via online courses
- Coach people who want to start a career as a handyman
- Start a YouTube channel for general fixes
- Design handyman merchandise with print on demand
- Resell or recycle used electrical parts for money
- Purchase old furniture to fix and resell for profit
- Become a podcaster for home improvement
How To Make Money As A Handyman
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can make money as a handyman:
- Ensure you have the necessary license and insurance before starting
- Choose a name for your handyman business based on area you’re serving
- Purchase a good vehicle to bring your tools and equipment around
- Create a basic website to collect customer leads using Google Form
- Start with a lower rate and progress to increase it as you get more jobs
- Get customers to write a review for your service to build market trust
- Share pictures of your handyman service on social media especially Facebook, TikTok and YouTube
- Hire partners and part-timers as you get more jobs
- Work on systemizing your processes to allow scalability and avoid problems
Which Side Hustle Should I Choose?
Unsure which side hustles for handyman you should go for? Here are the top 6 things to consider when deciding which is best for you.
- How much time can you commit to it?
- Consider how much time you can set aside for your side hustle for weekdays and weekends
- What type of income are you looking for?
- Do you want to make income actively or passively while you sleep?
- What sparks interest & passion in you?
- Choose a side hustle that aligns to your personal goals and interests as it keeps you motivated
- Are you an extrovert or an introvert?
- Different side hustles requires different level of communication with the outside world, are you comfortable meeting new people every day?
- What is your current partner or friend up to that you can leverage on?
- Doing something with a friend or partner makes things easier and more manageable
- How soon do you need to make extra money?
- Not all side hustles make the same amount of money in the same pace, do you need money today or in a year’s time?
Bottom Line
There’s a ton of ways you can make money on the side as a handyman – even if means doing odd jobs.
Ultimately, you’ll have to decide between taking up more projects and wearing yourself thin or building income streams that does not involve trading time for money.
Things maybe harder in the beginning but once you’re set on something, it’s time to go all in. I always encourage my readers to build passive income streams and have the freedom of time!
Here are 15 best side hustles for handyman:
- Design and build your own furniture to sell
- Create a YouTube channel to teach DIY and how-tos
- Start a podcast for new home owners
- Share your handyman knowledge by writing for your own blog
- Get commissions from promoting affiliate products and services
- Take real life photos to sell on stock websites
- Become a freelance content writer for other blogs and websites
- Sell online courses or e-books for basic home fixes
- Create instructional plans as digital products to sell on Etsy
- Offer a service of painting homes
- Help people move houses with your vehicle
- Do specialized renovation work in your area
- Pet-sit for others in your free time
- Thrift old furniture to fix and flip for profit
- Sell your own designed merchandise with print on demand
I’m not one to brag, but blogging has changed my life. I’ve been able to earn an income passively while on a coffee date and traveling with my family. With everything, it takes time to learn and not an overnight success – to speed things up, get yourself a blogging coach before starting.
These are my blogging resources to help you out:
- Step-by-step guide how to start blogging in your free time
- Why you need a blogging coach right from the start
- Worried of exposing yourself? You can blog anonymously
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
