What a handyman invoice should include
A handyman day is a list of small jobs, and each one is priced a different way. The invoice above uses three methods side by side - per unit, per hour and flat rate - and makes it clear which is which.
- Per-unit pricing for repeat tasks. "Hang interior door, adjust, add hardware (per door)" with a quantity of 3 shows the rate for one door. The client can do the math, and your next quote is already written.
- Hourly labor for jobs you can't size up front. Fixing a sticking closet door and rehanging shelves at 1.5 hours is honest billing for work where the fix wasn't known until you looked.
- Materials on their own lines. The 30" pre-hung doors and the privacy and passage levers are listed apart from the labor to fit them. The client sees what the parts cost and what they paid you for.
- Flat rates for small, fixed jobs. "Patch and paint 2 drywall holes" is one price. Splitting a short job into minutes and materials makes it look bigger than it is.
- A trip charge, shown openly. It covers the drive and the fuel. On the invoice it reads as a fair cost; hidden inside your rates, it's hard to explain on a small job.
- How you price materials, in the notes. "Materials at cost with receipts available" answers the markup question before it comes up. If you do add a markup, say so on the estimate.
The example adds 6.25% sales tax. Whether a handyman charges tax on labor, materials or both depends on the state, so check with your state's revenue department.
How to write a handyman invoice
- Build the job list as you go. Add each task while you're still in the room, with its quantity. At the end of a long day, the small jobs are the ones that get forgotten.
- Choose a pricing method for each task. Per unit when you've done it many times, hourly when you can't see the problem yet, flat for small jobs you know well.
- Keep your receipts with the job. If the notes say materials at cost, the client may ask to see them. A photo of each receipt saved with the job is enough.
- Put labor next to its materials. Door installs, then the doors, then the levers. The client can match the work to the parts without hunting.
- Set a short due date. The example uses 7 days. You've already paid for the doors and hardware, so waiting a month to be paid comes out of your pocket.
- Start from the quote if there was one. Retyping a job list invites mistakes; TapBill turns an approved estimate into an invoice in one tap.
Use this handyman invoice template
When the client wants a list of jobs priced first, the handyman estimate template shows a one-day quote with clear exclusions. When a patch turns into a full room repaint, the painting invoice bills by the square foot. And if you refer out work for a licensed trade, the electrical invoice and plumbing invoice show what those trades put on theirs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a handyman charge per hour?
There's no single answer. Rates vary by area, by the type of work and by how busy local trades are. To set yours, add up what an hour costs you (insurance, vehicle, tools, phone, and the unpaid time spent quoting and driving), add what you want to earn, then add a margin. Then test it against what clients in your area will pay. The hourly rate in the example is made up for illustration.
Should a handyman charge by the hour or by the job?
Both, depending on the task. Flat or per-unit prices work for jobs you've done often, because the client knows the cost up front and you're rewarded for being quick. Hourly suits repairs where you can't see the problem until you start. Mixing them on one invoice is normal, as the example shows.
What does a handyman invoice look like?
Like a list of the day's jobs with a price on each: your business and the client at the top, an invoice number and due date, then labor, materials and any trip charge as separate lines. The totals and tax come after, and the notes say how materials were priced and when payment is due.
Is there a limit on the work a handyman can invoice for?
Rules on what a handyman can do without a contractor's license, and up to what job size, vary by state. Electrical, plumbing and gas work is often reserved for licensed trades. Check your state's licensing board, and list any work you won't do as an exclusion on the estimate.