A handyman or handyperson is a personskilled at a wide range ofrepairs, typically around the home.These tasks include trade skills, repairwork, maintenance work, both interiorand exterior, and are sometimesdescribed as "odd jobs", "fix-uptasks", and include light plumbing jobssuch as fixing a leaky toilet or lightelectric jobs such as changing a lightfixture.

The term handyman or handyperson increasinglydescribes a paid worker, but it also includes non-paid homeowners or do-it-yourselfers. Tasks rangefrom minor to major, from unskilled to highlyskilled, and include painting, drywallrepair, remodeling, minor plumbing work, minorelectrical work, householdcarpentry, sheetrock, crown molding, and furnitureassembly (see more complete list below.) The termhandyman is occasionally applied as an adjective todescribe politicians or business leaders who makesubstantial organizational changes, such asoverhauling a business structure or administrativedivision.

Market estimatesIndependent operators

Franchise businessesAssessment of handyman/handyperson options

An estimate was that in 2003, the market for home-maintenance and repair spending was up 14% from 2001 to 2003. Another estimate was that the market in the United States was $126 billion and was increasing by about 4% annually.American homes are aging; one estimate was that in 2007, more than half of all homes are older than 25 years. And, as populations worldwide tend to become older, on average, and since increasingly elderly people will be less inclined and able to maintain their homes, it is likely that demand for handyman/handyperson services will grow.

Many towns have handymen or handypersons who work part-time, for friends or family or neighbors, who are skilled in a variety of tasks. Sometimes they advertise in newspapers or online. They vary in quality, professionalism, skill level, and price. Contractors often criticize the work of previous contractors, and this practice is not limited to handymen/handypersons, but to all trades. Handymen have advertised their services through flyers and mailings; in addition, free websites such as Craigslist and SkillSlate help customers and handymen find each other.

In 2009, there were national handyman service firms which handle such nationwide tasks as public relations, marketing, advertising, and signage, but sell specific territories to franchise owners. A franchise contract typically gives a franchise owner the exclusive right to take service calls within a given geographical area. The websites of these firms put possible customers in touch with local owners, which have handypersons and trucks. Customers call the local numbers. Typically these firms charge around $100/hour, although fees vary by locality and time of year.

How well do the franchise chains perform? OneWall Street Journal reporting team did aninformal assessment by hiring "handymen allover the country and asked them to fix a widerange of problems, from a relatively routineleaky faucet to a sticky door." The reporterconcluded that "with few licensing requirementsand standards for the industry, prices are allover the board." One quote was ten times aslarge as another. Further, the reporterconcluded "A big corporate name is noguarantee of quality or speedy service.

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