The home improvement business encompasses so many areas there’s no way to describe it in just a few sentences — and that’s one of the best things about it. Any building, repairing, or renovation is included, and that can amount to hundreds of different categories.
It may sound intimidating, but for someone who’s looking to start a home improvement business, it’s great news: this business moves over 300 billion dollars a year for a reason.1
What You Should Consider Before Choosing
First, you have hundreds of different fields to choose from. Going with the higher demand businesses (like painting, gardening, remodeling, etc.) makes for a greater challenge to stand out and get noticed, but you can learn a lot from watching those who came before you and make good use of lead generation.
On the other hand, going for a more specific branch (like drapery studios, flood restoration, window screen repair, and many others) makes it a little easier to get hired — even as a subcontractor for bigger projects.
But those are the just the main differences. Many of these services can be operated from home, online, or even part-time, which greatly reduces the initial investment for a startup.
Furthermore, you might be looking either for a service you can do yourself, or a service you can hire a team to perform while you take a managing role.
And finally, there are also franchises for higher demand services, cutting short the initial investment you would have with branding, marketing, and location scouting.
Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it?
To sum up, these are the main variables you should have answered:
- What’s the initial investment cost?
- If I want to franchise, what are the options available?
- Can it be operated from home?
- Can it be operated part-time?
- Do I want my own team?
And where do you get all those answers for hundreds of services? Just keep on reading — we’ve made a list with all the information you need below.
Although many questions are answered with simple “yes” or “no”, don’t take it as necessarily positive and negative answers — perhaps you don’t care about having franchise opportunities or a certain service being home operable, so those “nos” shouldn’t bother you. It’s all about what you’re looking for.
Take your time to read the list and see what piques your interest, compare the pros and cons of each service, and soon you’ll come to a decision.
Home Improvement Services List
This information was collected from Entrepreneur2 in 2018 and from our own research. This data can vary greatly depending on your region and the current year. Also, the availability of franchises could change at any time.
To find a specific service quickly, type Ctrl + F (or Cmd + F) on your browser to enter search mode. Then simply type what you’re looking for and it will take you there!
Above-Ground Pools
Initial investment: High ($10k - $50k)
Home operation? No
Part-time? No
Franchises? No
Air Conditioning Service (Repair and Installation)
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Apartment Prep Service
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Appliance Repairs
Initial investment: High ($10k - $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Attic Rooms
Initial investment: High ($10k - $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? No
Franchises? No
Attic Ventilation And Insulation
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Basement Remodelling
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Bathtub Reglazing
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Blind Cleaning Service
Initial investment: High ($10k - $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Bug Screen Repair
Initial investment: High ($10k - $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Cabinet Door Replacements
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Cabinetmaking Service
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Carpet and Upholstery Service
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Carpet Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Carport Conversions
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Caulking and Flashing Service
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Cedar Shake Restoration
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? No
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Ceramic Tile Sales and Installation
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Chimney Repairs
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Closet Organizers
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? No
Franchises? Yes
Concrete Stamping
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Consignment Furniture Store
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Construction Project Management
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Custom Countertops
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Custom Doorsteps
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Custom Fireplace Mantels
Initial investment: High ($10k - $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Custom French Doors
Initial investment: Medium ($2k - $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Deck Building
Initial investment: High ($10k - $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? No
Franchises? No
Developer Home Sales
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? No
Franchises? Yes
Disaster Planning and Preparation Service
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Dog Run Sales and Installation
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Door Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Drainage Repairs
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Drapery Studio
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Driftwood and Log Furniture
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Drywall Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Exhaust Hood Cleaning
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Fabric Restoration
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Fence Panels
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Fence Repairs
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Fencing Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Fire and Flood Restoration
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Fireplace Installations
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Furniture Repairs and Finishing
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Furniture Steam Cleaning
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Futons
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? No
Part-time? No
Franchises? No
Garage Organizers
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Garage Workbenches
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Gazebos
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Glass Block Installations
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Glass Shop
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation?
No Part-time?
No Franchises? No
Greenhouses
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Gutter Cleaning
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Gutter Protection
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Handyman Service
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Handyperson
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Hardwood Floor Refinishing
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Hardwood Floor Sanding
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Hide-a-Beds
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? No
Franchises? No
Home Inspection
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Home Maintenance and Repair
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Home Renovation Classes
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? No
Part-time? No
Franchises? No
Home Storage Solutions
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Home Theater Rooms
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Hot Tub Installations
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
House Numbers On Curbs
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
House Painting
Initial investment: Low (less than 2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
House Preparation Service
Initial investment: High ($10k to 50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Illuminated House Numbers
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Intercom Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Interior and Exterior House Painting
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Interior Decorating Service
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Kitchen Facelift Service
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Laminate Floor Installations
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Lattice Manufacturing
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Locksmith
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Masonry Repairs
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Miniblind Cleaning Service
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Ministorage Center
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Mirror Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Mobile Screen Repair
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Molding Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Moving Service
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Odor Control Service
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Office Moving
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? No
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Online Building Plans
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Can be operated online.
Online Home Repair Advice
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Can be operated online.
Organization Service
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation?
Yes Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Patio Covers
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Paving Consultant
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Can be operated online.
Pest and Critter Control
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Pest Control
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Pool-Cleaning Service
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Porch Columns
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Power Tool Rentals
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Property Manager
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Refurbishing Antique Appliances
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Remodeling Project Management
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Renovation Service
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Residential Cleaning
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Residential Safety Consultant
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Residential Security Consultant
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Roof Installations
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Roof Repair
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Roof Repairs and Installation
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? No
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Roof Trusses
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? No
Part-time? No
Franchises? No
Safe Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? No
Part-time? No
Franchises? No
Sandblasting Service
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Satellite Dish Sales and Installation
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? No
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Security Lighting
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Siding Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Skylight Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Solar Tube Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Stair Lifts
Initial investment: Very High ($50k to $100k)
Home operation? No
Part-time? No
Franchises? No
Staircases
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? No
Part-time? No
Franchises? No
Storm Window Installations and Storage
Initial investment: High ($10k to $50k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? Yes
Stucco Repair Service
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Treehouse Kits
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Trim Carpenter
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Victorian Moldings
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Wallpapering Service
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Waterproofing Service
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Weather Vanes
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Window and Door Repair Service
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Window Boxes And Shutters
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Window Installations
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Window Shutters and Blinds
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Wood Moldings
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Wood Screen Door Manufacturing
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Wooden Sash Windows
Initial investment: Medium ($2k to $10k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
Zinc Strips and Moss Removal
Initial investment: Low (less than $2k)
Home operation? Yes
Part-time? Yes
Franchises? No
1Source: Statista. 2Source: Entrepreneur
What to Do Once You’ve Chosen Your Business
You’ve made up your mind, now it’s time to get to work, either by yourself or with your team!
But how do you find work?
In short, here’s what you can do:
Each of these links leads to articles about each subject so you can learn more about them in your own time. But we must stress the importance of getting quality leads when working with home improvement services.
And this is where signing up with homeyou can make a real difference:
By signing up, you can receive quality leads on a daily basis for the area you chose to attend. You’ll be put in touch with clients who are already looking for the services you provide. There’s no long contract commitment. You can pause or stop your account any time and adjust your budget.
On top of that, homeyou offers tools that make your job easier — you can receive leads on your smartphone via our contractor app. So even while out in the field, you’ll still know where your clients are and what they need.
The signup process is quick and simple — feel free to try it here.
If you have any doubts about the system or how the lead process works, let us know in the comments below or call support at 1-844-HOMEYOU.
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