I am thinking of starting a small business?
rudy2tute
I was diagnosed with a disease called ‘essential tremor‘ a few yrs ago and asked to retire. I am now 50 and want to go back to work. Whenever I mention the disability, the potential employers run for cover. So, I am thinking of starting a “handyman business”. Anybody have success stories they can pass along in this niche or any other for that matter.
Thanks for your time-
I have had essential tremor (ET) all my life. It is a condition that almost never causes one to retire. There are unlimited degrees of ET, however, if you feel you can start a handyman business it may suggest your ET is not severe.
In my lifetime (I am now 75) I never once mentioned ET to an employer or perspective employer. I never even brought it up to my doctors because I knew, for the most part, ET is not treatable.
In a social situation I can’t sit and hold a cup of coffee without holding it with both hands.
My ET is obvious to most people. However, I never bring it up nor do they.
You should not highlight your ET to an employer. I would not list it on an application or a health form. You will have no higher insurance claims than someone without ET because (for the most part)seeking treatment is a waste of time and a prescribed medication for ET may make the symptoms (as opposed to the condition) worse.
If you can screw a nut on to a bolt or hold and drink a glass of water without spilling it, forget you have ET and go on with your life and completely ignore the fact you have it.
Since you’ve never been in business before, I would strongly recommend that you talk to a business counselor before you do anything especially spend money. You have to determine whether you’ll start a web based business or one with a store front. I’d call the local office of SCORE (go to and input your zip code to find the chapter nearest you), the advice is FREE.
The counselor at SCORE will most likely advise you to write a business plan which is very good advice because it will force you to dig out all of the start up details and the costs of starting a handyman business and force you to also understand all of the aspects of this business including the customers you’ll concentrate on (your market ) and how you’ll go after them.
You’ll need to register the business with your state controller’s office and make sure that you have any city and county licenses if any are needed where you live. All of this will come out in a business plan.
Try this link : and read some of the articles especially the ones about a business plan and starting a business.
Good Luck