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When Tim Leary partnered with his dad to launch a handyman business in Salt Lake City, he didn’t know how much demand would flood in—or how fast. Less than a year later, Handy’s Handyman Services is bringing in over $83,000 per month and on pace to hit $1 million in annual revenue.
What started with a few client referrals and a lot of trial-and-error has turned into one of the most dialed-in, fast-growing home service companies in the region. Here’s how Tim pulled it off—and what you can take away to launch or improve your own local business.
Starting Scrappy — and Learning Fast
Tim came from a real estate background. After years of dealing with unreliable handymen for inspection repairs, he spotted a major gap in the market. So he teamed up with his dad, who had a lawn care background, to launch a handyman business.
“I partnered with my dad who had the handyman experience—though we quickly realized it was a lot less than what people expect.”
In the early days, Tim rode in the van taking notes while his dad worked. That’s how their first SOPs (standard operating procedures) were written—literally from the passenger seat.
The Power of Small Jobs (and Saying “No”)
While many handyman businesses get caught up chasing big remodels or renovation projects, Tim took a different route.
“We don’t do remodels, plumbing, or electrical. We focus on fence repair, TV mounting, deck repairs—convenient, high-margin jobs.”
Their average ticket? About $775. But their secret weapon is volume and speed: four vans on the road, each doing $25K–$28K/month, and often responding to jobs within 3 days.
TV Mounting = The Ultimate Cash Cow
Surprisingly, one of Handy’s most profitable and repeatable jobs is TV mounting.
“We can mount two TVs in under an hour and charge $730. No Home Depot runs. No complexity.”
They’ve even seen competitors build entire businesses around it. Why? It's fast, perceived as risky by homeowners, and customers are happy to pay for peace of mind.
Lead Generation via Google LSA
Tim credits much of their early growth to Google Local Service Ads (LSA). At one point, they spent 15% of revenue on ads—until they realized a better way to scale.
“We cut our LSA spend by 75% by hiring an estimator and focusing on follow-up. Now we’re converting at 55% instead of 25%.”
They use tools like Go High Level to automate follow-up, and a full-time estimator handles quotes on the spot, often closing jobs same day.
Systems, SOPs, and a Rock Star VA
Tim’s not just building a service business—he’s building a scalable machine. Every time the team hits a snag, they document the fix and turn it into a process. Their VA in the Philippines takes those notes and builds new SOPs weekly.
“If we fail at something, I write it down, send it to Myla, and she turns it into a training doc. That’s how we’re scaling.”
This has laid the groundwork for an internal apprenticeship program, where specialists train new hires in drywall, fencing, carpentry, and more.
Mindset: Share the Playbook, Elevate the Industry
What’s most impressive about Tim’s approach is his long-term mindset. He’s not worried about competition—he welcomes it.
“We want to raise the standard in the handyman space. If I can help others charge more, we all win.”
Tim even shares his backend systems with nearby business owners and talks openly about launching niche software products tailored to the handyman industry. He believes the future is niche-specific software—and he’s building in that direction.
Want to Start Something Simple?
If you’re sitting on the sidelines wondering how to start a service business, Tim’s advice is clear:
“Get a name. Get an LLC. Set up a Google Business Profile. Turn on Google LSA. Choose ‘TV mounting.’ Put in $200. You’ll get a lead tomorrow.”
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with one skill. Respond fast. Deliver great service. Document everything. And build from there.
Want the full breakdown of Tim’s growth, mistakes, mindset shifts, and exact systems?
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