HANDYMAN TOOL
Handyman hourly rate calculator
Start with the income and expenses you need to cover, then divide by realistic billable hours.
CALCULATOR
Find your required hourly rate
Use annual or monthly figures consistently.
Recommended minimum
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This is a planning tool, not a final quote. Verify local costs, taxes, and regulations.
Why billable hours are lower than working hours
A full-time year can contain more than 2,000 working hours, but not all of them can be billed. Quotes, travel, shopping, admin, training, marketing, and unpaid callbacks reduce billable capacity. Use a conservative number.
Formula: (target take-home + business expenses) ÷ billable hours.
Keep materials separate
The hourly rate covers your time and business overhead, not project materials. Mark up materials only when your contract, local rules, and customer expectations support it, and disclose how materials are handled.
Use fixed quotes when possible
Customers often prefer a fixed price. Estimate labor hours × required hourly rate, add materials and risk, then present a clear scope. Track every job to see whether your estimates are accurate.
Frequently asked questions
How many billable hours should I assume?
This depends on your market and admin load. Many solo operators start with 900–1,300 billable hours per year, then update from actual records.
Does the rate include taxes?
Include income tax, self-employment tax, insurance, and retirement in either the take-home target or business expenses. Confirm your assumptions with a qualified professional.
Can I charge different rates for different work?
Yes. Specialized, urgent, licensed, or high-risk work can command a higher rate, while routine work may use your standard rate.
NEXT STEP
Build the business from real numbers.
Use the free calculators first. The starter kit turns the same framework into reusable spreadsheets, checklists, and customer templates.
See the starter kit