Handyman Services near you: costs, licensing & how to hire
Small repairs, odd jobs and fix-it lists — one call for the stuff that's been bugging you for months. Below: what handymen do, what they cost, how to check a license, and the questions to ask before you hire.
What handymen do
The jobs people hire handymen for most.
Repairs around the house
Doors, drawers, drywall holes, loose railings and squeaky floors.
Installs
Ceiling fans, light fixtures, faucets, toilets, shelves, TV mounts and blinds.
Assembly
Furniture, playsets, sheds and storage systems.
Caulking and sealing
Tubs, showers, windows and doors to stop leaks and drafts.
Small painting jobs
Touch-ups, trim, one room or a door.
Honey-do lists
A batch of small jobs done in one visit, which usually saves money.
How much do handymen cost?
Typical national price ranges. Prices in your town will vary, so always get a written quote.
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $50 – $125 | Self-employed $50–$80; larger companies $75–$125 |
| Ceiling fan install | $75 – $150 | Existing wiring |
| Toilet install | $120 – $230 | Labor; toilet extra |
| Door install | $225 – $825 | Depends on door type |
Source: HomeGuide handyman prices (2023). Checked 2026-10-03.
Does a handyman need a license?
Handyman rules are set by each state, and they vary a lot. In California, someone without a contractor license can only take jobs under $1,000 (labor plus materials) that need no permit, and only if they have no employees. In Oregon, anyone paid to do construction work on a home must be licensed with the Construction Contractors Board, with only a few tasks like gutter cleaning exempt. If a job needs a permit, it usually needs a licensed contractor.
Sources: California CSLB: unlicensed work limit raised to $1,000 (AB 2622) · Oregon CCB: who needs a license
Show the licensing board for every state
| State | Contractor licensing agency | Lookup |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors | Look it up → |
| Alaska | Alaska Dept of Commerce — Construction Contractors | Look it up → |
| Arizona | Arizona Registrar of Contractors | Look it up → |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board | Look it up → |
| California | California Contractors State License Board | Look it up → |
| Colorado | Municipal — varies by jurisdiction | Look it up → |
| Connecticut | CT Department of Consumer Protection | Look it up → |
| Delaware | Delaware Division of Revenue | Look it up → |
| Florida | Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board | Look it up → |
| Georgia | Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors | Look it up → |
| Idaho | Idaho Contractors Board | Look it up → |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation | Look it up → |
| Indiana | Municipal — varies | Look it up → |
| Iowa | Iowa Division of Labor — Contractor Registration | Look it up → |
| Kansas | Municipal — varies | Look it up → |
| Kentucky | Municipal — varies | Look it up → |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors | Look it up → |
| Maine | Municipal — varies | Look it up → |
| Maryland | Maryland Home Improvement Commission | Look it up → |
| Massachusetts | MA Office of Consumer Affairs — Home Improvement Contractor Registration | Look it up → |
| Michigan | Michigan Residential Builders Board | Look it up → |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry | Look it up → |
| Mississippi | Mississippi State Board of Contractors | Look it up → |
| Missouri | Municipal — varies | Look it up → |
| Montana | Montana Department of Labor and Industry | Look it up → |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Department of Labor | Look it up → |
| Nevada | Nevada State Contractors Board | Look it up → |
| New Hampshire | Municipal — varies | Look it up → |
| New Jersey | NJ Division of Consumer Affairs | Look it up → |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Construction Industries Division | Look it up → |
| New York | County / municipal — Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, NYC each have boards | Look it up → |
| North Carolina | NC Licensing Board for General Contractors | Look it up → |
| North Dakota | ND Secretary of State — Contractor Licensing | Look it up → |
| Ohio | Municipal — varies | Look it up → |
| Oklahoma | Municipal — varies | Look it up → |
| Pennsylvania | PA Office of Attorney General | Look it up → |
| Rhode Island | RI Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board | Look it up → |
| South Carolina | SC Residential Builders Commission | Look it up → |
| South Dakota | Municipal — varies | Look it up → |
| Tennessee | TN Board for Licensing Contractors | Look it up → |
| Texas | Municipal — varies | Look it up → |
| Utah | Utah DOPL | Look it up → |
| Vermont | Vermont Office of Professional Regulation | Look it up → |
| Virginia | Virginia Board for Contractors | Look it up → |
| Washington | WA Department of Labor and Industries | Look it up → |
| West Virginia | WV Contractor Licensing Board | Look it up → |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin DSPS | Look it up → |
| Wyoming | Municipal — varies | Look it up → |
Agency list from public state sources. Whether a license is needed depends on the job size and type, so check the agency's rules before you hire.
Good to know
- Test smoke alarms monthly, change batteries at least once a year, and replace the alarm every 10 years (U.S. Fire Administration).
- About 47% of owner-occupied homes were built before 1980, so small repairs add up (NAHB).
Questions to ask a handyman before you hire
Ask these on the phone or at the estimate. A good pro answers every one without dodging.
- Does this job need a license or permit here, and do you have it?
- Do you carry liability insurance? Can I see it?
- Is it a flat price or hourly? Is there a minimum or trip fee?
- Who buys the materials, and do you mark them up?
- Do you stand behind your work, and for how long?
Red flags to watch for
Warning signs from consumer protection agencies and trade groups.
- They knock on your door saying they're "in the area" or have leftover materials. Source
- They want all the money up front, or cash only. Source
- They ask you to get the permit yourself. Source
- They take a job that's over your state's limit for unlicensed work. Source
If you get scammed, report it to your state attorney general's consumer protection office and at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Find handymen by state
Pick your state, then your town, to see handymen near you.
Why find handymen on Great Local Pros?
Every pro is checked
We check the business, the license where your state requires one, and that someone answers the phone before we list them. See our standards.
You call them directly
No forms that sell your number to five companies. You see the phone number and you call.
No lead fees in the price
Pros here don't pay per lead, so that cost isn't built into your quote.
Built for small towns
We list pros by the towns they actually serve, across 13,700+ towns under 60,000 people.
Are you a handyman?
Most towns don't have a handyman listed yet. Get a free profile page with your phone number, services, service area and a link to your website, with no lead fees. If you're licensed where required, insured and quick to answer, you'll fit right in.
Common questions about hiring handymen
How much does a handyman cost per hour?
Does a handyman need a license?
What can a handyman not do?
How do I save money with a handyman?
Should I pay a handyman up front?
Sources
- HomeGuide handyman prices (2023)
- California CSLB: unlicensed work limit raised to $1,000 (AB 2622)
- Oregon CCB: who needs a license
- Smoke alarms (U.S. Fire Administration)
- How old is today's housing stock? (NAHB, 2026)
- consumer.ftc.gov
Last checked 2026-10-03. Great Local Pros is a directory; we don't do the work or guarantee it. Terms.