Handyman contract template
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Between
Customer name
Scope of work
Describe exactly what is included — and what is not.
Price and payment
Total: $0.00
Deposit (50%): $0.00 before work begins
Balance: $0.00 on completion
Terms
Payment
A deposit is due before work begins. The balance is due on completion. Invoices unpaid after 14 days may carry a late fee of 1.5% per month.
Changes to the work
Anything outside the scope above is a change order, priced and agreed in writing before that work starts. Verbal changes are not binding on either of us.
Access
The client agrees to provide access to the property, water and power where needed, on the agreed dates. If we cannot access the site on a scheduled day, a return visit may be charged.
Weather and delays
Work may be rescheduled for weather or conditions that make it unsafe or would affect quality. We will give as much notice as we can. Neither party is liable for delays outside their control.
Existing condition
We are not responsible for pre-existing damage or for defects revealed by the work. Where we find something unexpected, we will stop and tell you before continuing.
Insurance
The contractor carries liability insurance and will provide a certificate on request.
Cancellation
Either party may cancel in writing before work begins. Deposits cover materials already ordered and scheduling held for you, and may be non-refundable to that extent.
This is a starting point written for small home service work, not legal advice. Contract law varies by state, and some states require specific notices, licence numbers or cancellation language on residential contracts. Have a local attorney read it once before you use it for everything.
Number the tasks
Handyman work attracts scope creep more than any trade on this site. “While you’re here, could you just…” is the sentence that turns a profitable day into an unpaid one.
The fix is a numbered list in the scope:
- Rehang and adjust garage side door
- Replace kitchen mixer tap (customer-supplied unit)
- Patch and sand two drywall holes, bedroom 2
- Refit loose stair spindle
Work not listed above is a separate job, quoted and agreed before it begins.
That last sentence is not unfriendly. It is what lets you say “happily — that’s about an hour, shall I add it?” instead of either resenting the request or refusing it.
Say what you cannot do
Most states restrict electrical, gas, structural and significant plumbing work to licensed trades, and several cap the total value of an unlicensed handyman job.
Put a line in stating that such work will be referred to a licensed contractor. It protects you, and it heads off the customer who assumed you would rewire the kitchen because you fixed their light switch.
Define the day
If you sell day rates, define one. Start time, finish time, working hours, and whether material collection counts. A day rate without a definition is a disagreement scheduled for late afternoon.
Materials and the minimum
State how materials are billed — at cost plus a stated percentage — and state the minimum charge. Both are entirely reasonable and both cause arguments only when they appear for the first time on the invoice.
When the admin outgrows the template
A handyman business runs on volume: many small jobs, many small documents. That is exactly the workload that eats evenings.
QuoteIQ at $29.99/mo covers quoting, contracts with e-signature from the Beginner tier, and invoicing on site. Jobber at $49/mo adds a saved library of your twenty standard tasks and automated follow-ups, which recover quotes that would otherwise go quiet. Housecall Pro is the one to look at once several people are quoting for you.
Questions operators actually ask
Do handymen need a written contract?
For a single small repair, no. For a day rate, a list of tasks, or anything involving materials you buy, yes. Many states also cap what unlicensed handyman work can cost per job, and a written scope is what keeps you demonstrably inside that limit.
What should a handyman contract include?
The specific task list, the rate structure (hourly or per task), the minimum charge, how materials are billed, what happens when a task turns out bigger than expected, and a clear statement of work you are not licensed to perform.
How do I limit scope creep on a task list?
Number the tasks and add a line stating that anything not numbered is a new job, priced separately. Handyman work attracts 'while you're here' requests more than any other trade — the numbered list is what lets you say yes and charge.
Should I state what I cannot do?
Yes. Licensed electrical, gas, structural and most plumbing work are restricted in most states, and thresholds vary. A line saying you will refer that work protects your licence status and manages the customer's expectations before they ask.
What about a day rate?
Define the day. 'One working day, 8am–4pm, up to 7 working hours excluding material collection' is enforceable. 'A day' is not, and the disagreement always arrives at 3:30pm.