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My husband is like a business for an hour. Step by step guide
How to open a business from scratch without investment for a man. Step-by-step guide to action. Business from scratch without investment is possible even in times of crisis. A person who knows how to find the right and profitable application of his knowledge and skills will never be left without income. A man can always earn extra money by providing services as part of the “husband for an hour” business. Small household repairs are in demand today more than ever - people strive to fix things, since most people in our country do not have the opportunity to buy a new one or they do not want to spend their precious time on minor household repairs.
There are several options for starting your own business in the field of providing household services and repairs:
- open a large company and hire craftsmen who will work for you for a percentage of the work they complete - the company will look for orders
- work as a craftsman yourself (this type of activity will not bring much income and will take a lot of time and effort, but at the very start of the business you can try to work independently, provided you have professional skills and the necessary tools for this)
- become an intermediary between the master and the customer on the Internet.
Before you start providing services, you need to find out the level of competition in the city in which you are going to start and the size of the possible target audience.
Analysis of this niche is quite simple: you need to study newspapers with relevant advertisements and online platforms in your city that offer services of this kind. You can attract customers and differentiate yourself from competitors not only by a favorable price, but also by expanding the range of services you provide. These may be services not related to repair and construction, but aimed at your personal professional qualities and skills.
For example, this could include training and walking dogs.
Such a service can generate income:
| Name of service | Average cost of service | Number of services provided per month | Amount (in rub.) |
| Individual training | 500 | 20 | 10 000 |
| Group training | 300 | 100 | 30 000 |
| Dog walking | 100 | 100 | 10 000 |
| Total | 50,000 rub. |
Cleaning services today remain in high demand in this area of business. The average cost of a cleaning service can reach two thousand rubles or more. If there are enough such orders per month, you can earn up to 30,000 rubles. In addition, services related to industrial mountaineering are gaining momentum in popularity, and if you have equipment, you can get good additional income by providing the service of insulating the external surface of walls, restoring roofs and balconies, etc.
The main expense item will be the purchase of tools. Usually, at the start of a business, a master has a basic set; with an increase in income, he has the opportunity to purchase a better quality tool and expand the range of services provided, provided he has the necessary skills.
In the video: Investments in the husband’s project for an hour
What services can you provide to your clients, working from home and on the road, provided you have a certain set of skills and abilities.
- Small household repair work.
- Turnkey renovation of an apartment, house or office.
- Finishing work in apartments (cosmetic repairs).
- Plumbing services, plumbing installation, leak elimination.
- Electrical work and installation of electrical appliances.
- Furniture assembly and repair.
- Installation and repair of entrance and interior doors.
- Laying tiles.
- Welding work.
- Painting works.
- Plastering works.
- Carpenter services.
- Construction.
- Opening, including emergency, of locks and doors.
- Design and calculations.
- Interior design from scratch.
And a whole range of other services related to repair and construction.
Finding clients and paying for labor
Why are such services needed?
Now the pace of modern city life does not always allow people to spend time on minor household repairs. Increasingly, repair services began to be turned to special companies. However, it is not always convenient to call a company; psychologically it is easier and cheaper to find a person “with hands on”. If there is no such person among your acquaintances and friends or you don’t want to call him, then the “husband for an hour” comes to the rescue.
It is advisable to start the business in large cities, where the pace of life is faster and the population has more financial opportunities. It is not very promising in small towns, since the population is accustomed to dealing with everyday issues on their own.
In the future, the business can be developed: for example, by opening a repair shop or assembling a construction team. Summarizing the above, we get a profitable business that can be opened from scratch and over time turned into a serious enterprise engaged in construction and repair work.
Where to begin?
In order to open your own business in this area, you need to draw up a business plan for the “husband for an hour” service. Calculate economic indicators, assess your capabilities, study the competitive market.
After the business plan is ready, you need to register a legal entity and select a legal form. The most suitable option would be an individual entrepreneur with a simplified taxation and reporting system; if the company develops, it will be possible to subsequently register an LLC.
The next step before opening a company will be the choice of services provided. Typically, a representative of the “Husband for an Hour” company provides the following services:
- Connecting and setting up household appliances;
- Assembly of furniture and other interior elements;
- Installation of cornices, chandeliers;
- Setting up satellite dishes;
- Mortise locks;
- Equipment and electrical repair;
- Minor household repairs.
As we see, nothing supernatural is offered in the services provided, however, you can make good money on them.
What skills are needed
Anyone who has certain skills can succeed in this business:
- ability to repair and repair
— plumbers, electricians, provide minor repair services;
- communication skills
. The better you communicate with your customers, the easier it is for you to gain understanding and complete the order as required. This also increases the chance of word of mouth - for this business this is the best advertising;
- working with a computer and social networks
to maintain a customer base and post advertisements for services on the Internet;
- ability to plan
to correctly distribute work throughout the day;
- basic logistics skills
to think through the route and optimize fuel costs.
Staff
You can start providing minor household assistance services yourself, but if you want to open your own business, you need to hire experienced staff.
Firstly, you need a person who will take calls - a dispatcher. Of course, at the first stage you can do this yourself, but as the company develops it will be problematic. The salary of a dispatcher ranges from 15 to 20 thousand rubles.
Additional craftsmen will also be needed to provide services to the company. The number of craftsmen will directly depend on the number of orders; in the first stages, 2-3 people are enough. The master's salary consists of a small salary and a percentage of the work performed; on average, the master receives 20-25 thousand rubles.
On average, a master receives 20-25 thousand rubles.
In order for the organization to constantly be replenished with the necessary equipment, a supplier is needed, but at low speeds you can do this yourself. Because the employee must receive at least 17 thousand rubles.
To keep tax records and submit declarations to the pension fund, the insurance fund will need an accountant. The best solution would be to hire an outsourced accountant who will receive 10 thousand rubles monthly.
If you have craftsmen, you need to think about purchasing uniforms; this will allow your organization to be more respectable in the eyes of clients and will serve as additional advertising.
Pros and cons of business
At the initial stage, it is imperative to weigh the pros and cons. Assess your opportunities and risks.
| ADVANTAGES | FLAWS |
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The benefits promise simple and profitable business. But in order to achieve the expected results, it is necessary to competently plan all stages of the project.
Where to start a business: first steps to success
Once you have decided on the niche in which you are going to work, you need to draw up at least a rough business plan, which will include the following information:
- Characteristics of the strengths and weaknesses of the chosen niche in your region.
- Approximate forecast of demand for the service and profit volume.
- Level of initial investment, purchase of equipment for a business, costs of registering a business, office/warehouse rental.
- Marketing strategy, calculation of prices for services.
- Organizational structure of the enterprise.
- Financial plan (forecast of income and expenses, cash flow).
In the video: Husband's business idea for an hour
To avoid problems with the tax inspectorate, you need to legally register your activity or take a different route: indicate in the ad not the phrase “provision of services” and their list, but for example: “drilling holes in walls, hanging cornices, curtains and shelves.” Other types of services can be discussed verbally over the phone or at the place of order, or indicated on business cards that can be left with clients.
To be able to earn more, you can provide consulting and training services for some types of work, including launching seminars and webinars online in real time or recorded. On the company's website, you need to fill out a quick application form for clients who do not want to personally communicate with the manager by phone. And a clickable link to the full price list and list of services.
You can try to recruit a group of beginners who want to learn how to do repairs themselves. When completing an order at a client’s home, you can agree with him that you are ready to teach the client or one of his family members to do such work for a piecework fee. You can charge the same amount for the training service as for doing the actual work. If you are asked to both do the work and teach, we double the amount.
Competitors and target audience
Competitors.
At the start, you need to study the local market for household services. It is important to understand whether the niche is free and assess the level of competition. To determine the approximate number of operating “husband for an hour” agencies, turn to the Internet: services like “Avito” will help, where you can see advertisements that are relevant to your city. Find out the cost of your competitors' services, the services and prices they offer.
It is also worth considering competition with large construction companies or individual teams. Many entrepreneurs see this as a serious problem, but in reality, construction companies usually do not undertake too minor repair or installation work. Therefore, you will only have to compete with other companies that provide.
The target audience.
When analyzing the sales market, it is necessary to pay attention to studying the target audience. The following data will be useful to you: the composition of the population in the area and the level of income in order to correctly formulate the price for services. Create a portrait of your potential customer. As practice shows, different categories of the population turn to such services:
- pensioners
– they usually order simple types of work and have a limited budget;
- single women
– they need small services. Usually they order a small amount of work and become regular customers;
- men with a busy schedule and good income.
This category places increased demands on the quality of work. They rarely call, but usually orders involve a large amount of work, and the master can count on tips.
- young married couples
who do not want to spend time on minor household repairs, do not have the necessary equipment, or simply do not know how to perform certain types of work.
Thus, the target audience is quite diverse. And it is important for an entrepreneur to take into account all the interests and capabilities of each category. Then orders will be constant.
How much can you earn
The first year, or rather the first winter season, was my starting year, and I didn’t expect too much money.
First season
However, the numbers turned out to be as follows:
- December - $42 net profit;
- January - $450 income, of which $83 was spent on parts and consumables;
- February - $537 income, of which $75 was allocated for materials.
During the seasonal months of my day job, I did not work as a “husband for an hour” personally. But in order not to stop the business and not lose clients, my brother worked during these months, and all the income went to him. I, on the other hand, received purely symbolic amounts as interest.
Second season earnings
In the second winter, the customer base was already quite extensive and we were doing business together: me and my brother.
The income structure was as follows:
- December - my $680 net profit, $130 invested in consumables;
- January - $436 net profit;
- February - $800 net profit;
- March - $800 income, of which $160 was invested in consumables;
- April - $860 net profit.
In March and April we were hired in a resort village to work on houses, bases and cottages:
- March - $1,230 profit;
- April - $1,500 profit.
Purchasing materials
All consumables, materials, spare parts and parts were purchased at wholesale construction markets and bases. The cost of some parts was already included in the cost of the work. For example, rubber gaskets for a faucet cost $1, based on this, plumbing work ranged from $3-4.
During the period of work at sea, all the material was purchased for us by the owners of the bases and lodges, but the price for the work was higher than in the city.
Business registration
To legally conduct commercial activities, you need to register your business. You can choose the form of individual entrepreneur or LLC. The difference is that if you are the only owner of a business, you should register it as an individual entrepreneur. If there is a second founder, you will have to register an LLC.
In most cases, an individual entrepreneur is chosen for this business. This allows you to significantly simplify accounting and simplify taxation conditions. Registration of individual entrepreneurs is standard. Choose a simplified taxation system or UTII (if this option is available in your region). When registering, you must indicate activity codes in accordance with OKVED 2. Business provides a wide range of services, so when registering it is better to indicate all possible codes so as not to change the documents in the future:
- 43.21 — Electrical installation work;
- 43.22 - Carrying out sanitary work, installation of heating systems and air conditioning systems;
- 43.32 - Carpentry and carpentry work;
- 31.09 — Production of other furniture.
No special permits are needed to open a business. Also in some regions of Russia in 2020 you can register as self-employed.
How “masters for an hour” deceive
There are thematic chats on Telegram and WhatsApp, where operators place orders. They can be taken with a commission of 30–50%. I don't like this approach.
What one of the schemes looks like: a company advertises. They have a staff of employees who carry out the work. But if the volume of orders is more than they can handle, they begin to attract people from outside. The problem is that the company that sends such a “master” to the client has never seen him in person and has no idea about the professional skills of the performer, not to mention the fact that the person may turn out to be inadequate. And the client will not be able to do anything if this master cannot cope with the work; no one is responsible for him, although companies claim the opposite. The maximum is that the customer will be able to call the company, where they will only apologize to him.
I recently encountered this myself. I needed to have my laptop repaired. I found an advertisement at the entrance: “Private master. Computer Repair. I work only in your area." It was the latter that captivated me. I called, described the problem, and invited. I asked in advance about the cost of the work. I was told that the departure was free, the work was estimated at 1000 rubles, and it had to be completed in an hour.
As a result, the master was 20 minutes late without warning. He didn’t knock on my front door or ring the bell, but immediately started opening it as if he were going to his own home. Okay, I’m a guy, but there are a lot of lonely girls who would simply be scared of this. This worker ended up diagnosing my computer instead of fixing two keys. After the so-called “diagnosis,” I was given a price tag of 6,500 rubles. I refused his services. Despite this, he began to demand from me a fee for his services in the amount of 1000 rubles. I called the number indicated on the business card, but the conversation quickly turned to obscenities. “Figure it out yourself,” I managed to hear before they hung up on the other end. Unfortunately, there are many such companies on the service market. According to my subjective assessment, they are 40–50% of the advertising that you see on the porches or on the Internet.
Range of services and pricing policy
The next step is to determine the list of services that you will provide. To eliminate competition from large construction companies, focus on minor household repairs. Focus on the qualifications of the craftsmen - it is better to create a small list of services, but do everything efficiently, than to try to embrace the immensity.
include:
- faucet repair;
- installation of plumbing;
- cleaning and replacing siphons, eliminating leaks;
- connection of washing machines and dishwashers;
- replacement and repair of locks;
- assembly and installation of furniture;
- replacement of sockets, chandeliers, switches, doorbells, wiring;
- connection of washing machines and dishwashers;
- installation of satellite dishes and antennas;
- other minor repairs.
This list can be expanded depending on the skills of the craftsmen and the needs of clients.
The most popular services are: installation of plumbing, connecting washing machines, furniture installation, plumbing repairs, installation of electrical equipment.
They do not bring very much income, but with proper organization, an entrepreneur can increase his profit. You can add popular items to the list of services: removal of construction waste, repair of household appliances, installation of doors, replacement of locks, installation of lighting fixtures, loader services, etc.
Having decided on the list of services, make a price list. Find out what prices your competitors are offering and lower yours a little. At the initial stage, this will attract customers. But you shouldn’t make prices too low - otherwise you will work at a loss. Set a price that can recoup your costs.
When creating a price list, set tariffs that are clear to customers:
- fixed cost for a certain type of work;
- hourly cost for complex work that takes an indefinite amount of time;
- The cost of a call is usually 30% of the hourly cost of work.
To avoid financial problems, work exclusively on prepayment.
Payment for services
The price for providing “husband for an hour” services varies depending on the size of the city and the quality of the services provided. Of course, the cost of setting up household appliances and installing an interior door will vary.
The cost of the specialist’s services depends on the urgency and complexity of the order.
Also, in addition to payment for the work, you can charge money for the call, this will cover the cost of travel to the client. After all, some services can cost only 100-200 rubles, which will only cover the road. The cost of a call is usually 150-250 rubles. However, at the first stage it is better to eliminate calling fees in order to compete with existing firms.
Buying tools
The set of necessary tools depends on the services you plan to provide to clients. You will definitely need high-quality tools for electrical and plumbing work: a drill, a screwdriver, a set of screwdrivers and wrenches, a hammer drill, etc. You should also purchase protective clothing and consumables. The cost of tools will be about 100 thousand rubles - this is if you buy everything from scratch.
You can’t do without a car to quickly come to the customer, transport equipment, and, if necessary, quickly go to a hardware store (for consumables or missing tools).
If your budget allows, purchase a household vacuum cleaner - it will help you perform all technical work with virtually no dust. This is a very important point that will become your competitive advantage.
Initial costs: purchasing tools
A master for an hour is a business with small investments. The bulk of the invested funds will be spent on tools. You should have a business man’s “suitcase”, which includes:
- A set of tools with all types of screwdrivers, pliers, a chisel, a set of open-end wrenches, and a chisel. The price range is large and depends on the set’s configuration, the average cost is 5,000 rubles.
- Electric drill and set of drills - 3000 rubles.
- Hammers of different sizes (2-3 pcs.) - 1500 rubles.
- Small angle grinder - 2000 rubles.
- Goggles, gloves for protection and a respirator - 700 rubles.
- Tool box - 1000 rubles.
- Various washers, screws, nails, self-tapping screws, etc. - 500-1000 rubles.
In total, this set will cost you 14-15 thousand. But most likely, the cost of tools will be much less: if you constantly deal with minor repairs, then half of the list is probably in your closet. Therefore, we recommend that you do not waste time and start taking orders, purchasing new equipment with the proceeds. It’s also worth paying attention to the workwear you’ll wear when visiting clients: you can have it custom-made or simply put your company’s logo on a regular plain shirt or T-shirt. Do not forget about advertising a new business, because it is as a result of it that the first orders appear, and therefore, it is the engine of income upward. Adding up all the expenses, not counting the costs of registering an individual entrepreneur and tax contributions, we get an amount of about 20 thousand rubles.
Selecting a room
“Husband for an hour” is an on-site service that does not require an office. At most, you will need to allocate a small room to store all the necessary tools. But if you plan to do business yourself, then you can store your tools at home.
In the future, expanding the range of services and staff, you can think about renting premises. For example, if you plan to repair large household appliances, you will need a working area of about 30 sq.m. Choose a premises in a densely populated residential area - and the rent will be cheaper, you will gain a client base faster, and you will be able to save on fuel costs.
What kind of breakdowns does my husband fix in an hour?
Since “Husband for an Hour” is an almost universal specialist, he can solve many issues.
Furniture
Quite often, troubles such as furniture breaking, sofa legs falling off, something creaking somewhere, and so on. Dealing with the repairs yourself is not so easy. But don’t throw away an entire chair if it’s left without one armrest! In such a situation, you should call the “Husband for an Hour” master, who will easily complete the work given to him.
Appliances
Sometimes household appliances break down, without which it is simply impossible to imagine modern life. Refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens and other appliances break down. “Husband for an Hour” will help you cope with all these troubles.
Electrics
Wiring problems can be quite dangerous for home occupants. When faced with them, you need to immediately turn to specialists. “Husband for an hour” will respond to a call in the shortest possible time and immediately take on the repair work.
Plumbing
Is the toilet flank acting up, a faucet leaking, or a pipe bursting? There is no point in delaying the solution of such problems. “Husband for an hour” will arrive at the address specified by the client and complete the task assigned to him as quickly and easily as possible.
As you can see, it can be in demand in many types of work, which is very convenient for some customers, since it is not necessary to involve a separate specialist for each problem. But, as in all areas of service, a generalist may face competition from other specialists.
The main competitors are a few organizations and individual craftsmen who work exclusively for themselves.
Selection of assistants
The number of employees depends on the list of services and the scale of activity. Typically, such a business is opened by those who plan to fulfill orders themselves. At first, you can cope with everything alone - fulfilling orders, maintaining accounting and customer base. Over time, when the number of orders increases, you will have to either increase the bill for services or hire employees.
When expanding your business, you may need:
- dispatcher for receiving and distributing orders;
- masters for fulfilling orders (with a personal car and, preferably, tools);
- accountant (you can hire an outsourcing employee).
As for remuneration, it is more profitable for craftsmen to establish a “salary +% of orders” system. This will motivate employees to do fast and high-quality work.
To advertise the services of the “husband for an hour” company, you can use almost all types of advertising, from newspaper ads to the Internet. The printed version of the advertisement will reach an adult audience that has not mastered the World Wide Web. The ad can be placed in the “Services” section. Distributing leaflets and business cards also brings good returns and helps build a customer base. You can print and place an advertisement with a contact phone number on the entrances of houses and notice boards near public transport stops.
The most advanced way to advertise a company can be a company business card website with a detailed list of services. A good website will not only inform people, but will also help collect applications for work.
Features of the service
The “husband for an hour” business has a number of features that need to be taken into account when planning:
- You should not expect high income from business. Services are cheap, the volume of orders to complete is limited by the productivity of the master;
- speed of response to calls and quality of work are prerequisites for business success;
- if you hire employees, ensure a good percentage of orders, otherwise there is a risk that they will start poaching customers.
Positive and negative aspects of business in the field of providing household repair services “husband for an hour”
Negative aspects of the “husband for an hour” business
- Diversity of orders. Therefore, if a master works alone, he cannot take on all the available orders. Of course, experience in different areas is acquired very quickly, but not everyone can acquire new skills so quickly.
- There is no constant flow of orders.
- This type of business is not suitable for all men.
- The target audience will have a heterogeneous level of income - both wealthy citizens and those who have a small income use the services of husbands for an hour.
- To start a business, you may need a car to transport large, heavy tools. The costs of operating a car and purchasing fuel and lubricants may not be recouped.
Advantages of the “husband for an hour” business
- Small start-up costs for starting a business, provided that the startup has personal transport and a certain set of professional tools.
- Providing a husband's service for an hour can be a way to earn extra money for companies involved in cargo transportation, electrical equipment, plumbing, home and apartment renovation, heating installation and many other areas that use the manual labor of wide-profile specialists.
How to promote your services
The key to the success of any business is customers. Therefore, it is very important to ensure a constant flow of customers. In order for a company to break even and make a profit, it is necessary to actively promote services on the market.
You need to start an advertising campaign even before the opening. The faster you have regular customers, the faster you will recoup your initial investment.
You can promote your services in the following ways:
- post information on notice boards in residential areas (at bus stops, notice boards);
- place advertisements in elevators of residential buildings;
- distribute promotional material through mailboxes;
- advertisements on the Internet - on Avito, local forums, social networks, groups of residential complexes, etc.;
- advertising in construction stores;
- newspaper advertisements;
The listed promotion methods do not require significant costs and are most effective for household services.
How much does it take to invest in the implementation of the “husband for an hour” business idea?
Before you start work, you need to spend a certain amount of money on equipment, business advertising, work clothes, etc.
Tools
It’s up to you to purchase the necessary equipment or use what you already have. But if you still decide to stock up on new tools, here is the main list and the average cost of each item:
- Set of tools (full set of screwdrivers, pliers, chisel, set of open-end wrenches, chisel) - 4,000 rubles
- Electric drill and set of drills – 3,000 rubles
- Two or three hammers of different sizes – 1,000 rubles
- Grinder (small) – 2,000 rubles
- Respirator, protective gloves and goggles – 500 rubles
- Tool box – 1,000 rubles
- Consumables (a large number of different washers, staples, nails, screws, self-tapping screws, etc.) – 500 rubles
Separately, it is worth paying attention to workwear, which can be sewn to order and a logo with the name of your company can be applied to the workwear. The cost of tailoring varies within 1,500 rubles.
Do not neglect good advertising, because the number of your customers depends on it. Use regular tear-off ads, advertise in newspapers and on local websites. You can promote your services through social networks and large online message boards.
Order high-quality business cards and leave them with each client. The cost of one business card starts from two rubles. By making 300 business cards to begin with, you will spend about 600 rubles.
In addition to the costs of equipment and advertising, you need to consider travel costs. It’s good if you have your own car - this will allow you to provide assistance to the client who has contacted you as soon as possible.
In addition, you can use your personal car for advertising purposes by sticking the inscription “Husband for an hour” on the rear window. Inexpensive repair services" with a phone number.
When calculating the money that is expected to be spent on advertising, you can settle on an amount of 2,500 thousand rubles. This will include advertisements in print media (2-3 publications per month), ordering business cards, paper and ink for printing, as well as gasoline costs for posting and distributing leaflets.
Total costs
Adding up all expenses, we get 16,000 rubles. This amount is average, but you can focus on it when drawing up a “husband for an hour” business plan. Here you need to add the costs of registering an individual entrepreneur and taxes.
Business income amount
- You must determine the cost of repair work yourself. Create a price list for standard services, such as furniture assembly, electrical outlet repairs, rewiring, etc.
- For special types of work that require a lot of time and labor, it is best to set an hourly rate. For example, the installation of a regular bathroom faucet may be paid according to the established tariff. And replacing the electrical wiring in the house will require additional time, since you will have to look for everything you need in stores and do the calculations. Therefore, in this case, it would be best to apply hourly wages.
- Determine the payment for a “false” call, when the service was not needed for some reason, but you spent time and money on travel.
Example. If the average cost of one hour of work is 300-500 rubles, then for an 8-hour working day you can earn about 2,400-4,000 rubles. With a sufficient number of orders, your average monthly earnings minus weekends will be 40,000-80,000 rubles.
Remember, the number of your potential clients is equal to the number of advertisements and flyers you have posted. Therefore, do not neglect “paper” advertising.
How much does it cost to start a business from scratch?
Before starting a business, work out a financial plan, taking into account one-time costs and ongoing expenses. If for some reason you don’t have your own tool, you will need to invest 100-150 thousand rubles in the business. This will be enough to buy everything you need, fill out documents and run advertising.
But the starting capital may vary depending on the size of the business. The more services your company will provide, the more employees you plan to hire, the more money you need to have to start with. If you plan to immediately open a company with 2-3 craftsmen, then the costs of opening will double.
If you plan to do business independently and within the legal framework, then with a large flow of orders, monthly expenses will not exceed 40 thousand rubles:
- transportation costs – 15 thousand rubles;
- advertising – 5 thousand rubles;
- consumables – 5 thousand rubles;
- taxes and other expenses - 15 thousand rubles.
Business plan
A traditional business plan contains all stages of an enterprise’s operation: from registering a business to spending profits. All key points must be reflected in the business plan. By following the outline, you will be able to adapt the recommendations given to a specific situation and get a first approximation of your own business plan.
Video: how to write a business plan
Business registration
The most common forms of business registration in Russia are individual entrepreneurs and LLCs. Registering a business takes a maximum of three working days, but registering an LLC will require more money than registering an individual entrepreneur.
The cost of opening an individual entrepreneur consists only of paying a registration fee of 800 rubles, and to open an LLC you need to pay 4,000 rubles as a registration fee, and then deposit at least 10,000 rubles into the company’s account as authorized capital.
In addition, many businessmen engage professional lawyers to draw up the charter documents of an LLC; this procedure is also not free. Significant differences between individual entrepreneurs and LLCs include the fact that an individual entrepreneur is liable for the debts of the enterprise with all his property, while an LLC risks only its authorized capital.
Video: how to choose between individual entrepreneur and LLC
Search for premises
It is best to open an office of a company providing small household services to the population in close proximity to potential customers, that is, in densely populated residential areas of the city. For work, a space of 40–50 square meters is enough, in which you can organize a small warehouse for storing tools and equipment, an area for receiving clients, as well as workspaces for office specialists. In addition, it is necessary to allocate a small room for the craftsmen to eat and rest in between executions of orders.
Make sure that all necessary communications (sewage, water supply, electricity, heating, telephone and Internet) function properly in the rented premises. Agree with the landlord about the possibility of attaching a bright and noticeable advertising sign above the entrance, even in the dark, indicating contact information and operating hours. This will help future clients know about you.
Video: how to choose business premises
What skills do you need to have?
If you plan to work alone at the initial stage, you will need skills in carrying out minor repairs. For further business management, knowledge in marketing and advertising, the ability to analyze data and operate with numbers will be useful; an entrepreneurial spirit is also useful, allowing you not to lose composure in difficult situations. Any necessary skills are acquired in the process of work, the main thing is that there is a desire and ability to learn.
Video: how the master from the “Husband for an Hour” service works
Range of services provided
The list of services can be anything. It all depends on your inclinations and skills, as well as on the abilities of the hired employees. As a rule, companies working in the “husband for an hour” format provide the following services:
- connection of lighting devices;
- installation of locks on entrance and interior doors;
- installation of curtain rods and chandeliers;
- installation and repair of plumbing, eliminating blockages and leaks;
- installation of hot and cold water and electricity meters;
- assembly and rearrangement of furniture in the apartment;
- furniture repair;
- electrical repairs, including installation of electrical wiring, repair of sockets, installation of automatic machines;
- any minor household repairs.
Some companies also provide minor cosmetic repair services.
Regularly analyze which services are in demand by the population and enter them into your price list. Depending on where the bulk of clients are located, the list of services provided may vary. Thus, residents of new buildings who are just moving into apartments will need help in assembling furniture, installing lighting fixtures and inserting locks into doors, and residents of houses built in the 70s of the 20th century will more often repair plumbing and order minor household repairs.
Required tools and equipment
To ensure work, you will need two types of equipment: office and production. The equipment necessary to ensure the operation of the office includes office furniture and office equipment.
Table: office equipment and office equipment for organizing the work of a company for minor household repairs
| Equipment | Cost, rub. | Quantity | Total, rub. |
| Computer | 30 000 | 3 | 90 000 |
| MFP (printer, scanner, copier) | 10 000 | 1 | 10 000 |
| Telephone | 1 500 | 3 | 4 500 |
| Table | 1 500 | 5 | 7 500 |
| Chair | 1 000 | 10 | 10 000 |
| Document rack | 1 500 | 2 | 3 000 |
| Tool rack | 1 500 | 2 | 3 000 |
| Sofa | 4 000 | 2 | 8 000 |
| Wardrobes for personal belongings of employees and for changing clothes | 2 000 | 6 | 12 000 |
| Total | 148 000 |
The list of production equipment used by the master directly when performing work at the customer’s site varies depending on the type of services provided.
Table: tools required for work based on 6 craftsmen
| Equipment | Cost, rub. | Quantity | Total, rub. |
| Workwear set | 9 000 | 6 | 54 000 |
| Hammer | 30 000 | 4 | 120 000 |
| Drill | 8 000 | 4 | 32 000 |
| Screwdriver | 3 000 | 6 | 18 000 |
| Electric jigsaw | 5 000 | 4 | 20 000 |
| Construction hair dryer | 10 000 | 3 | 30 000 |
| Fraser | 8 000 | 2 | 16 000 |
| Bulgarian | 8 000 | 2 | 16 000 |
| Glue gun | 3 000 | 6 | 18 000 |
| Tools in the set (screwdrivers, wrenches, hammers, self-tapping screws, screws, etc.) | 10 000 | 6 | 60 000 |
| Total | 384 000 |
The number of tools of each type can be changed depending on the number of craftsmen on staff, as well as on how in demand a particular device is in the work. All workwear is quickly made to order for a specific employee, so there is no point in purchasing uniforms in advance.
Photo gallery: sets of hand tools for the work of a master
The cost of power tools can be quite hefty, but you should not skimp on the quality of this equipment. For the service sector, it is necessary to purchase a professional tool. Meanwhile, you can buy used office furniture and office equipment in good condition.
Video: the difference between household and professional power tools
If your budget allows, it is also useful to purchase a vehicle for delivering a technician with tools to the site.
Recruitment
You will need to organize accounting for your company. Today there are various ways to solve this problem:
- Hire a visiting accountant. This person will come to your office 1-2 times a week in order to pay salaries to employees, pay taxes, prepare reports and perform other necessary work.
- Hire a remote accountant. He will appear in the office extremely rarely and only in exceptional situations. The specialist will perform the main work from home, that is, remotely. Many entrepreneurs prefer this method, since it does not require the cost of creating another workplace. All communications in this format of work are carried out via telephone and the Internet.
- An entrepreneur can maintain accounting records independently using specialized software. The accounting software market today offers a large amount of software that allows a businessman to solve any accounting and taxation issues without resorting to the help of a third-party specialist.
- Some businessmen prefer to enter into an agreement for accounting services with specialized firms.
You can hire an advertising and marketing specialist to find clients. This person will work with advertising channels, evaluate the effectiveness of current advertising and look for additional ways to promote services.
A useful employee will be an administrator-dispatcher who will receive incoming calls and requests from clients, and then distribute orders among foremen and monitor their execution. The main staff includes craftsmen who go directly to the client to complete the order. They can go on call alone or together, depending on the type of work performed.
To ensure order when storing tools used in work, you will need to hire a storekeeper. The cleanliness of the office premises can be ensured by a cleaning lady invited 1-2 times a week. The purchasing and supply manager will ensure that craftsmen have enough tools and supplies for the job. If you use company vehicles to deliver employees to the customer, you will also need a driver.
Table: staffing table for a small household repair company
| Job title | Salary, rub. | Number of staff units | Total, rub. |
| Accountant | 20 000 | 1 | 20 000 |
| Marketing and Advertising Specialist | 30 000 | 1 | 30 000 |
| Dispatcher-administrator | 20 000 | 2 | 40 000 |
| Master | 15,000 + percentage of the cost of work performed | 6 | 90,000 + percentage of the cost of work performed |
| Purchasing and Supply Manager | 25 000 | 1 | 25 000 |
| Cleaning woman | 10 000 | 1 | 10 000 |
| Driver | 20 000 | 2 | 40 000 |
| Total | 255 000 |
The table shows approximate salaries of specialists for St. Petersburg. In other cities and regions, salary rates may differ. In addition, some specialists may receive piecework or hourly wages. For example, a dispatcher-administrator can be paid for his shift, but a marketing and advertising specialist can be hired only to implement large projects, for example, to launch a new advertising campaign or to hold an event. Depending on the desires, capabilities and skills of the business owner at the initial stage of enterprise development, he can perform some of the work independently. This will also save some money on employee salaries.
To search for employees, it is recommended to use specialized sites (for example, avito.ru, hh.ru) or newspapers with free advertisements. You can also contact the regional office of the state employment service for help.
When interviewing candidates, pay attention to their integrity, absence of bad habits, family and social status. As a test case during an interview, you can consider several conflict situations in communication with the customer and invite the candidate to find a solution. Based on the applicant’s reaction, you will understand how friendly and conflict-free this person is, and whether he fits your selection criteria. Be sure to ask for references from past jobs. This approach will allow you to insure against the occurrence of undesirable situations in the future.
Video: how to conduct an interview correctly
Advertising and customer acquisition
The experience of many companies suggests that the most effective channel for advertising and attracting new customers is word of mouth. The most effective advertising comes from satisfied customers, but before they appear in sufficient numbers, the business owner will have to take care of advertising. The specificity of this type of activity is such that you are unlikely to be able to form a decent pool of first customers only from among your friends.
Many companies use traditional advertising channels:
- publications in regional newspapers, which are distributed free of charge to citizens’ mailboxes;
- crawl advertising on local TV channels;
- posting notices on notice boards at entrances and in elevators of residential buildings;
- distribution of information leaflets to mailboxes.
Modern promotion methods include using your own website and online advertising. The website must include contact information, indicate operating hours, a list of services provided and a price list. If you have the necessary skills, you can develop a website yourself using specialized designers (for example, ru.wix.com or mozello.ru). The cost of website templates can vary from zero to several tens of thousands of rubles. You don’t have to waste time learning web layout and immediately turn to a web studio or freelance webmaster for website development. In this case, the costs of creating a website will increase, but you can spend the free time on something else.
Video: how to make a website yourself
Contextual advertising in search engines, as well as targeted advertising in social networks, are interesting and promising. Modern technologies allow you to set the settings of advertising campaigns in such a way that your ad will be seen by exactly those people who are most interested in it. When setting up advertising, you can choose not only the gender, age and city of residence of potential customers, but even the names of specific streets and house numbers, as well as the time the ad was displayed and other significant factors.
You can also learn how to set up such advertising yourself. If you are not ready to spend time on this, it is recommended to seek the services of a freelance targetologist or a specialized advertising agency. An effective advertising budget is determined experimentally. As a rule, after the first month of active campaigns, it becomes clear how much money it makes sense to spend on a specific advertising channel.
Video: promoting a company on social networks
Don't skimp on making uniforms for your employees. Thanks to this identification mark, clients will be able to easily identify your specialists and distinguish them from representatives of competing companies. The uniform usually consists of overalls, a jacket, and several T-shirts. Some companies also provide employees with shoes and a change of clothes for winter and summer.
Work clothes must be of high quality and very comfortable to wear, otherwise workers will simply ignore them. Work suits must be branded. The company logo can be placed on a T-shirt, the front of overalls, or on the back of a jacket so that it is readable and identifiable. Some companies also place their logos on headgear, such as caps and hard hats. If opportunities allow, you can also brand the tool case.
Photo gallery: uniform for employees
Regardless of what advertising methods you use, you need to regularly analyze their effectiveness. It is likely that spending on some type of advertising will turn out to be inappropriate, and you will be able to optimize your budget by redirecting funds in another direction. If your company employs a marketing specialist, all these chores can be placed on his shoulders.
Calculation of income and expenses
Here is an approximate list of expenses for supporting a business providing small household services to the population.
Table: costs of running a business “Husband for an hour” in St. Petersburg
| Expense item | Budget, rub. | A comment |
| Rent of premises with an area of 40 sq. m. | 30 000 | monthly |
| Making a sign | 25 000 | one-time |
| Communal payments | 15 000 | monthly |
| Employee salaries | 120 000 | monthly |
| Deductions for taxes and contributions | 70 000 | monthly |
| Marketing budget | 20 000 | monthly |
| Purchasing office furniture | 70 000 | one-time |
| Purchase of office equipment | 80 000 | one-time |
| Purchase of work tools and consumables | 300 000 | one-time |
| Production of branded uniforms | 60 000 | one-time |
| Purchase of vehicles | 400 000 | one-time |
| Unexpected expenses | 120 000 | as needed |
| Total | 1 310 000 |
The amount of starting investment directly depends on the number of hired employees, the size and cost of the rented premises, and the amount of equipment purchased at a time. These costs will differ in different regions of the country and even in different areas of the same city. In addition, your business plan may involve the work of one or two craftsmen on a strictly limited list of services, for the provision of which even the most minimal equipment is sufficient.
The cost of services also varies within one city and from region to region. Pricing policies may vary. In some cases, it is appropriate to set a price for performing a specific type of work; sometimes it is advisable to charge an hourly rate. It is problematic to unambiguously assess the profitability of this type of business: much depends on the cost of the services provided and the number of clients. On average, such companies can earn from 150,000 to 500,000 rubles monthly. Full payback for your business can occur in just a few months if you plan your work correctly and manage to attract a sufficient flow of clients.
Video: how to start a business in the field of providing household services
How much can you earn from providing household services?
Let's move on to the most pleasant calculations - income planning. Keep in mind that this type of work is quite budget-friendly. Therefore, you most likely will not be able to earn large sums. But with a good client base, you can count on stable income.
The table shows an approximate calculation of income and profitability. These figures are average - actual amounts may vary depending on the structure of orders, the speed of work of the craftsmen and the level of local prices. For example, in Moscow they pay 500-1000 rubles just for calling a master, and the daily income of one master can be 10 thousand rubles. But for other cities it is too expensive.
The calculations in the table are given based on the following conditions: work schedule 5x2, daily workload of the master 80% and approximate revenue of 4,000 rubles per day.
Profitability calculation
| Average cost per service | 800 rub. |
| Number of orders (services performed) | 5 |
| Master's revenue per day | 4000 rub. |
| Revenue for the month (22 working days) | 88,000 rub. |
| Monthly expenses | 40,000 rub. |
| Net profit for the month | 48,000 rub. |
| Profitability of work | 55% |
| Payback period of investments | 3-6 months |
Achieving such financial results is possible if you think through your competitive advantages and quickly build a customer base.
Calculation of income and expenses
Before starting a business, work out a financial plan for the company, taking into account one-time costs and fixed expenses. Calculate your planned income and net profit. If the resulting figure suits you, feel free to start business. Below are approximate costs for a company that will employ two foremen and a dispatcher. Accounting is carried out outsourced.
Table: initial costs
| Type of expenses | Amount, rub. |
| Company registration | 800–4000 |
| Equipment for two masters | 180000 |
| Dispatcher's salary fund for the first month | 9000 |
| The wage fund of two masters for the first month | 30000–60000 |
| Payment for accounting firm services for the first month | 3000–5000 |
| Office rental | 6000 |
| Consumables | 2000 |
| Advertising campaign (printing leaflets, placing advertisements, work of promoters) | 20000 |
| TOTAL: | 250800–286000 |
Table: regular costs
| Type of expenses | Amount, rub. |
| Dispatcher salary | 9000 |
| Salary of two craftsmen | 30000–60000 |
| Payment for services of an accounting firm | 3000–5000 |
| Office rental | 6000 |
| Communications, fuels and lubricants, internet | 5500 |
| Consumables | 2000 |
| 5000 | |
| Advertising campaign (printing leaflets, placing advertisements, work of promoters) | 20000 |
| TOTAL: | 80500–112500 |
Income, project profitability and payback periods
The calculation of income is given under the condition of a 5x2 work schedule, a daily 80% workload of craftsmen and an estimated revenue for each of 2000 rubles per day.
Table: checking the profitability of the project
| Average cost per service | 800 rub. |
| Number of services provided per day by one specialist | 5 services |
| Revenue from the services of two masters per day | 8000 rub. |
| Revenue from the services of two masters per month | 176,000 rub. |
| Net profit per month | 63500 rub. |
| Net profit per year | 762,000 rub. |
| Payback period | 4–5 months |
The tables show average income - actual figures may differ depending on the number of clients and the speed of work of the company’s specialists.
The wider the range of services provided, the faster the company will break even.
