Short answer
A handyman business needs an app that sends a quote from the phone, takes a signature and invoices that same visit. Bolster does those three, and it keeps a template for the jobs you repeat so the next quote is not typed from scratch. Clients can pay online the same day.
"Bolster proposals are professional, had everything lined out, and the terms were great. It sets us apart from the slacks that are out there handwriting their proposals."
Save time, win more jobs, increase profit, and get paid faster with Bolster.
Get startedHandyman software needs to be fast. Most handyman jobs are small, varied and quoted on the spot, so the right tool lets you price a job from your phone, send a professional estimate the homeowner can approve online, put it on the schedule and collect payment when the work is done. Bolster does all of that in one app, and grows with you if you move into larger remodeling work.
Handyman pricing goes wrong in two directions: underpricing small jobs that eat half a day in travel and setup, and overpricing simple tasks because there is no consistent method. A simple structure fixes both.
Illustrative example: if your break-even cost is $55 an hour and you target a $90 billable rate, a ceiling fan replacement that typically takes 1.25 hours prices at about $113 in labour plus the trip charge and any parts with markup. Save that as a template and every future fan quote is two taps. These numbers are only an example; set your own rates for your market.
Build your common jobs once as assemblies with labour time, materials and markup. On site, open Bolster on your phone, add the tasks, and the estimate is priced. Pro and Premium plans add AutoCost for live regional material and labour prices if you price larger or less familiar work.
The estimate becomes a professional quote the homeowner can approve and sign online, with optional items they can add, such as replacing all the bathroom fixtures instead of one. Booked jobs flow into the schedule, and you request payment online through Bolster Payments when the work is done. The CRM pipeline keeps every lead, quote and repeat customer in one place.
Many contractors start as handymen and move into remodeling. Caylor Mangino of Mangino Home Improvements went from handyman jobs to quoting $300K+ projects and full custom homes in Bolster, cutting estimating time from 8 hours to 30 minutes. Because Bolster covers estimating, proposals, scheduling, budgets and payments, you do not need to switch software as the jobs get bigger. See our remodeling software page for what that looks like.
A clear estimate prevents most disputes before they start. It also looks more professional than a text message with a number in it, which helps you charge what the job is worth.
Handyman businesses grow on repeat work and referrals. Keep every customer, past job and quote in the Bolster CRM pipeline, so when a past client calls back you can see what you did last time and quote the next job from it in minutes. A professional quote and an easy online payment are part of what makes customers call you again.
Most handyman quotes are given standing in the client's kitchen. Bolster works on your phone and tablet, so you can add tasks, show the homeowner the price, take their signature and book the job before you leave. If they add "while you are here" tasks on the day, add them to the job and send the updated quote for approval, so the invoice matches what was agreed.
As jobs grow from repairs into bathroom refreshes, decks or basements, quoting by the hour stops working. Use assemblies that combine materials and labour for each part of the job, add upgrades the homeowner can choose, and collect a deposit and progress payments online. That is the same process larger remodelers use, and it is built into Bolster from day one.
Cash flow is the biggest pressure on a small handyman business. Send the invoice from Bolster as soon as the work is finished and the customer can pay online by card or bank transfer from their phone. Deposits on larger jobs are requested the same way when the quote is signed, so you are never paying for materials out of pocket while you wait. Every payment is matched to the job automatically and can sync to QuickBooks, so bookkeeping takes minutes instead of an evening at the end of the month. Fewer unpaid invoices and less admin means more of your week goes to billable work.
Book a demo and we will set up your most common handyman jobs as templates with you.
The best handyman software lets you quote quickly from your phone using saved templates, send professional estimates clients sign online, schedule the work and collect payment. Bolster covers all of that and scales if you move into larger remodeling projects.
Work out your break-even hourly cost, set a billable rate above it, use a minimum or trip charge for small jobs, flat-rate your common tasks from timed averages and mark up materials. Save those prices as templates so every quote is consistent.
Many use both: hourly for open-ended repairs where the scope is unclear, and flat rates for routine tasks they have timed many times. Flat rates are easier for homeowners to approve.
Yes. Bolster works on your phone and tablet for estimates, quotes, scheduling, invoices and online payments.
Yes. Bolster Payments lets customers pay by card or bank transfer online, in the US and Canada.
Yes. The same platform handles larger remodeling jobs with assemblies, interactive proposals, change orders, budgets and progress payments.
