The Mr. Handyman Franchise Is Looking For A Startup In Rhode Island

projo.com:

The franchised handyman service, which says it is the largest employer of handymen (and women) in the country, with more than 1,000 “technicians,” hopes to establish three franchises in Rhode Island over the next three years. The seven-year-old company, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., has 290 franchises around the country, including locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Todd Recknagel, president and CEO of Mr. Handyman, said the company is beginning its search for people interested in establishing Mr. Handyman franchises in the state. Although it’s possible that an existing New England franchise could expand into the state, Recknagle said he would prefer to find a Rhode Islander to establish the business. Average cost to open a Mr. Handyman franchise is $110,000. The company also gets a 7-percent cut of franchise sales. Recknagel estimated the Rhode Island franchises would each employ about four handymen (or women), not including the franchise owner.

Recknagel said the real estate slump actually helps Mr. Handyman franchises. Because people are not building new homes or funding major renovation projects, he said, they concentrate more on maintaining their existing property, which is where Mr. Handyman comes in. He said company sales are up 11 percent over the same period as last year.

“Demand is off the charts. Home maintenance, service and repair is a $40-billion [business] category,” he said. Recknagel said the company is designed to deal with all those to-do project lists that are taped onto so many refrigerators.