Which Of These 5 Names Should I Use For My Handyman Business?

FreeRepublic ^ | 11-10-19 | OV

[OneVike]

I have decided to start my own handyman business. I am currently doing odd jobs for people, but I want to make it official and thus I need to get a good business name while legally getting all my ducks in a row.

In the state of Idaho, I only need to be certified if I do plumbing or electrical. If I get a request for plumbing or electrical work I have friends who are certified that have agreed to work with me on those jobs.

I am in the process of getting a business license by the state, and will soon be bonded for $3000.00. This week I will open a business bank account, but I need a good name.

I already have business cards, (image below) I made with my computer. I also made a flyer (image below) that I have in many stores in towns throughout the County I live in. So far I have been getting good responses and I am actually getting more jobs than I expected.

My last name being Ness, gives me a good start for a catchy name. I have come up with 5 names I am considering.

Please help me by choosing which of the following names you think would be best. Mind you, I will be using this name for as long as my business is profitable

Helpful-Ness Handyman Services

NESS HANDYMAN SERVICES

Ness For Less Handyman Services

NESS Handyman Express

Handi-Ness Services

For obvious reasons I omitted the complete phone number and email address for this post

My business card


My Flyer

[CivilWarBrewing]

Re: HANDY NESS

Let the customer think about how your business name is really a word.. Gets the customer to think about your business name beyond what meets the eye. This is very effective in marketing.

[Iscool]

To me ‘HandyMan’ gives a vision of someone who will be limited to painting the trim on the windows, rake the leaves, haul brush out of the back yard, repair a broken window...Perhaps that’s your intent or maybe I’m wrong about it...

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

You could class it up with French like Mitt Romney did with his shadow twitter account, Pierre Delecto.

Monsieur Bricolage Services

https://www.quora.com/Can-you-give-me-an-example-of-bricolage

Who knows... those Iowa galls may mistake you for an in call giggilo service.

;-)

[CivilWarBrewing]

See my post #81. It's hard to avoid the 'handiness' angle because of your last name, so I would try to stick to that idea.

If you can get the customer to think about your business name AFTER they first see it, you've scored a point from a marketing perspective.

'HANDY NESS' is simple, straightforward literally and figuratively.. A winner!

[Rdct29]

Need The Best? Call Handyman Chuck Ness.
No Job Too Big Or Small, Chuck Ness Does It All.

[CivilWarBrewing]

I like it!

Need the Best? Call Handy Ness!

Good idea, Rdct29!

[SunTzuWu]

NESS HANDYMAN SERVICES

[RegulatorCountry]

Just go for “Handy Ness” and let the wordplay reveal itself on it’s own.

[V K Lee]

Handy Man/Jimmy Jones (1960)
Helpful-NESS, (because there are times everyone needs a third hand)

[CivilWarBrewing]

(Great minds think alike)

I was in advertising/marketing/logos/slogans, etc for 15 years.

[TalBlack]

NESS HANDYMAN SERVICES. Because that what you are and that what you do. Business-like beats cute. It gets right to the point. People hiring a handyman want a guy who knows what he’s doing; it’s the main concern beside price.

[ASOC]

nice flyer Chuck.

Didn’t see where you noted that your ‘company’ is licensed, bonded and insured.

Without these, not a chance I would hire you.... I want to keep my house, you see.

[Robert DeLong]

Handi-Ness Services

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Be sure to include your license number, bonded, and insured.

The cute pic is nice, but WAY too busy and complex. You need a simpler logo.

I like to know the local address of contractors I hire. Shady operators often do not provide a real address. I’m a little less put off by a P.O. Box, but I think a real address indicates better solidity and community connection.

The card is actually a very small part of your problem. You need a good web site or perhaps presence on Facebook. I prefer a web site with pictures of the work you’ve done and customer testimonials. Be sure to include a good backgrounder on yourself and relevant experience.

You need more of an overall branding strategy. The web and your card fit into that strategy.

Get listed on Yelp, NextDoor, maybe Angies List. You have to ask people to provide reviews on Yelp and referrals on NextDoor, otherwise they won’t do it. If you get a bad review, IMMEDIATELY work with the person to understand why he or she is unhappy and correct the situation. You can also explain on Yelp your side of the story and what you did to correct it.

Be sure to get somebody who knows Search Engine Optimization to make sure your web site pops up for all relevant searches in your area.

You wouldn’t believe how hard it’s been for me to find good handymen in the Coeur d’Alene area. I usually have better luck looking for print ads in the local newspaper rather than via web search. I’d recommend using local newspaper ads for a while.

Lastly, be sure to subscribe to a good system for estimating and invoicing. These MUST be done with a professional look. Be sure to accept credit card payments, not just checks. Some of the contractors I’ve hired in North Idaho use very impressive systems for this end of their business.

If you are good at this, you’ll soon have more work than you can handle.

Swinging a hammer and driving screws are good talents, but you must pay attention to the business side, too.

[Jhadur]

Grrrrrrrrrrrr...you thought of it first! :)

[CivilWarBrewing]

"How about “Things your husband won’t do”."

ROFL! Sorry but lots of sexless marriages out there..

[mjp]

Ness for best service

[MrHead]

Tool Guy.

[EinNYC]

Ness to the RESScue -->Name
Handyman Extraordinaire-->Descriptive Billing
"Don't stress, call NESS!"-->Slogan

Best of luck in your new business. If I can find my teeny dream house here in suburban Baltimore, you can strut your stuff as payment, LOL. I just finished putting together a new over-the-commode cabinet unit for my present new housing, ably "assisted" by Cat 1 and Cat 2. Boy, you can't get good "help" like that any more...it's PURRfect!

[House Atreides]

I also like “Handi-Ness Services”. But definitely also keep your motto “Have a mess? Call Chuck Ness” formatted just as you have it and feature in any advertisements/cards you may use.

Good fortunes to you.