Which handyman job types bring the most repeat customers?

Ask for invoices going back several years, grouped by customer and job type. Look for customers who appear more than once and note what they hired the business to do. This shows which jobs build relationships and which finish the connection. Look at both the busy and the quiet months.

Next, consider why people return. Some jobs are naturally recurring, such as seasonal upkeep. Others return because the customer trusted the worker and now has a list of small tasks. Ask the owner how customers are reminded or contacted, and whether any follow-up is done. Ask whether the business sends reminders or seasonal notes, because a simple habit like that often explains the returns.

Compare profit as well as repeat rate. A job type that brings regular customers but pays poorly may be less useful than a rarer, better-paid one. Your accountant can help weigh this. Finally, consider whether repeat work depends on a specific person. If customers ask for the owner by name, the repeat work may not transfer smoothly. Learn what the buyer would need to do to keep these customers. Ask also which jobs the crew enjoys and does best, because a business usually grows where its people are strongest.

Key takeaways

• Group several years of invoices by customer and job type.
• Compare repeat rates with how well each job type pays.
• Check whether customers return for the business or for the owner.
• Check whether repeat work depends on one particular worker.