I'm trying to validate a business idea...

18 replies
I want to help validate a business idea for a friend. It's basically a business where you buy a package and have a handyman on call for your home. I created a survey that I'd want homeowners to fill out so we can get some intel on whether its a feasible idea or not.

How would you go about this? I'd imagine any homeowner that's a single, divorced or widowed woman is probably a good target.

Appreciate any input. Thanks
#business #idea #validate
  • Profile picture of the author desbravador
    That type of business does well in Australia. I think that would be the best target customers. I dont have a business but always get a lot of work for single women, lesbains ets for handy man type of jobs
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    • Profile picture of the author aurettemag
      Originally Posted by desbravador View Post

      That type of business does well in Australia. I think that would be the best target customers. I dont have a business but always get a lot of work for single women, lesbains ets for handy man type of jobs
      Could you talk more about your experience?
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      • Profile picture of the author AffiliatingAlan
        I worked for a handyman service. What is the purpose in this. They want a handyman they call, appointment in a few days. The purpose of oncall im assuming means for getting a handyman out fast. except he would have multiple clients and would probably have to make you an appointment anyway. plus people dont expect stuff to break .
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  • Profile picture of the author ColdWritingLLC
    Originally Posted by izzyfoshizzy View Post

    How would you go about this? I'd imagine any homeowner that's a single, divorced or widowed woman is probably a good target.

    Appreciate any input. Thanks
    Well I'd say that would be a huge false assumption. Single women that are homeowners are often not the type of people who need a handyman, much less one on call all the time. Inversely, how many guys on this board do you think can repair a broken pipe or know even the basics of home repair?

    The best marketing plan is one that doesn't discriminate customers, typically. Would a house cleaning company only target single or men whose wife had died? Or is your own bias just showing here...
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    • Profile picture of the author Lloyd Buchinski
      Originally Posted by ColdWritingLLC View Post

      Well I'd say that would be a huge false assumption.
      I agree. I happen to know a woman who buys houses, fixes them up, and sells them. She does the work herself although you would never guess it talking to her. She's a very pleasant, quality female.
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    • Profile picture of the author OnlineAddict
      Originally Posted by ColdWritingLLC View Post

      Well I'd say that would be a huge false assumption. Single women that are homeowners are often not the type of people who need a handyman, much less one on call all the time. Inversely, how many guys on this board do you think can repair a broken pipe or know even the basics of home repair?

      The best marketing plan is one that doesn't discriminate customers, typically. Would a house cleaning company only target single or men whose wife had died? Or is your own bias just showing here...
      Don't be so sensitive. Yes, I would target single or divorced women, too. I'm a guy and yes, I can repair pretty much everything in the house on my own. I do cleaning, too, but I suck at it. So I'm the typical stereotype.

      p.s. The only wrong stereotype is that women cook better, while men are actually the ones who can make tasteful meals, just like me.
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  • Profile picture of the author DubDubDubDot
    Originally Posted by izzyfoshizzy View Post

    It's basically a business where you buy a package and have a handyman on call for your home.
    Sounds risky for the handyman. Will he be doing a home inspection looking for pre-existing conditions?
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  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    I don't think it would work.
    Don't know about NY but here in Houston i could pickup my phone and have a Handyman at
    my house within an hour...
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  • Profile picture of the author Bruce NewMedia
    Investing in a package of services (pre-need) usually works best when the service(s)
    are ones you are likely to be using often during the year. Example: Package of Haircuts/styling,
    Oil Changes, Car Washes, etc.

    I think Handyman Services would be a tough sell, due to perceived lack of need.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lightlysalted
    Good concept although, don't assume who your target market are. They key issue will be signing up enough clients to make it viable.
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  • Profile picture of the author izzyfoshizzy
    I'm not assuming a target market, I could be completely wrong. But I thought of which targets to go after and test first (i.e. single women, young males interested in tech, or just high income households). They may all be wrong, but those seemed like logically the best to start with. Did not mean to offend anyone with the female thing, I'm sure there are females that are better at construction than most men. Just thought in general it would be a good target to test. Shouldn't be so sensitive, it's business.

    I agree its a tough sale at first because there's no "perceived need", you just call someone when you need it or something breaks. But there are regular maintenance that's done annually and/or preventative maintenance. So you can pay a monthly fee to have someone on call in case something breaks, and for all the usual things that come up annually plus preventative stuff.

    Think about it, if you're already paying someone to clean your gutters, turn on/off your sprinklers, etc. Why not take that money you're already spending for a more comprehensive service that includes someone on call for basic stuff as well (leaky faucets, etc).

    But the goal is to find a way to validate the idea and assumptions. Am I off base with a survey? How can I find people in the target to take such surveys?

    Thanks everyone for chiming in. This is fun conversation.
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  • Profile picture of the author jwmann2
    No need. The Yellow Pages takes care of all of this and now there are review websites that let folks know who offers the best handyman services in their town, Angie's List most specifically.
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  • Profile picture of the author MouseandMice
    I don't think his assumption is "incorrect" though I don't think it is completely effective.

    Just because there are SOME women who know how to take care of their homes doesn't mean that all of them are. Just like how some men getting manicures doesn't mean all do.

    At the same time, I agree with other sentiments-- this can be VERY risky if you do it wrong. You need to have max values. Max calls per month. etc. or things will VERY quickly get out of hand.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    You said sell a package ... what does the package include? People need a large variety of handyman services, ranging from cheap to expensive and time consuming, so what do you get in this package service?
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  • Profile picture of the author izzyfoshizzy
    Yes I would put in max values and am not sure exactly what each package would include. That's not the point, and it is flexible. The question is how can you find potential customers and validate the idea with them? I'd love to hear if customers are willing to pay and what services they find most valuable. Then it's just a matter of providing that to them.

    How do I validate the idea? Is the idea of surveying people a good one? How do I find them and get them to take such a survey?
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  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    There's already a mobile app for this and they have raised several rounds of millions of dollars in venture capital funding. Pretty huge coverage too. The name of the app escapes me at the moment. You might want to look them up to see how their business model works.
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    • Profile picture of the author izzyfoshizzy
      I tried looking for an app that had something to do with this, no luck.
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