Building a business p1 - Military - Start Your Own Business - Military Times Edge

When an unlicensed contractor walked off with the money Julie Daniels paid him to remodel her kitchen, Daniels decided that what Pinellas County, Fla., really needed was better access to a reliable handyman service.

“I decided at that time that I was not going to allow someone else to be treated like I was,” Daniels said. So with a little experience on construction sites — between deployments and while working a full-time job in computer programming — Daniels, an active-duty Air Force veteran and Air Force Reserve retiree, studied for Florida’s 19-hour contractor’s exam. She passed the test the first time and bought a Handyman Matters franchise in July 2008.

Being a female veteran, Daniels has found, inspires confidence in customers wary of unscrupulous builders who are notorious for targeting Florida’s elderly population. Here’s what Daniels had to say about her mid-career change from IT professional to small business owner:

How did you prepare for the contractor’s exam, and what did the test consist of?

I took a prep course over four weekends, with classes all day on Saturdays and Sundays. The test was taken over two days. The first day was all business and accounting, testing you on how you keep your books. Day two was on contracting skills — nails, rebar, reading schematics and calculating concrete pours.

Why was it important to you to pass the exam?

A contracting license isn’t required to become a Handyman Matters owner, but any repair work done in Pinellas County for more than $500 without a license is a first-degree misdemeanor and 12 months in jail.

How did you find Handyman Matters, and what drew you to the company?

A query on the Web site www.franchise.com sent back four companies, and I started doing research. I got federal disclosure documents and called people who owned territories. Handyman Matters wasn’t ridiculously priced, and the royalties were not extravagant. And the owners — they raved about the company.

How much did the business cost?

Handyman Matters has a discount for vets. As a minority veteran, it came to a little under $30,000.

Do you work with your hands?

I’ve done a little work. I try not to do that, though. If you’re an owner who goes out there and does work, you have a tendency not to run the business.

Who works for you, and what kind of work does your company do?

I interview all the guys who work for me — one full-time and two part-time. Some people just want small jobs, such as repairing a toilet. Software tells us how long it should take to complete that type of work. Our larger jobs have been painting the exterior of a house, pressure-washing a lanai and fascia work around a roof that’s deteriorated.

What’s been the greatest benefit of owning a franchise?

Since we’re a franchise, there were already commercial accounts in place. I completed training on July 25, 2008, and started working July 28. I had a company call and book a job with me for two days after I got back.

How is business, and do you expect to break even on your investment soon?

It’s beginning to pick up. We were in the top five new Handyman Matters franchises for new growth in 2008. The last couple of months have been pretty good. I’m beginning to see the light.