Handyman Connection Franchise Costs, Fees & FDD

Year Business Began: 1990

Franchising Since: 1991

Headquarters: Blue Ash, Ohio

Estimated Number of Units: 70

Franchise Description: Trident Investment Partners, Inc. d/b/a Handyman Connection is the franchisor. The franchisor offers franchises for the establishment and development of businesses providing (a) referral and other services to independent contractors; and (b) small to medium home repair services and light remodeling of a non-emergency nature, including plumbing, electrical, carpentry, dry wall, plastering, and painting services, among other services. The light repair and remodeling services provided by franchised businesses do not require heavy machinery and are usually not performed beyond a two-story elevation.
Training Overview: Franchisees and up to one additional trainee must attend and complete initial training to the franchisor’s satisfaction prior to opening. If franchisees are a partnership, corporation or limited liability company, the trainee must be a general partner, principal shareholder, or manager as appropriate. The initial training program covers all phases of operation including computer software training, sales presentation, advertising, banking and basic accounting, pricing, production management and recruiting of service providers. Initial training consists of up to five weeks of instruction. The franchisor may, but is not required to, offer additional training programs and/or refresher courses to franchisees, their managers, and/or their employees on a local, regional, or national level. The franchisor may require franchisees and their employees’ attendance at these programs and/or courses.

Territory Granted: Franchisees will operate their Handyman Connection franchised business from a single location within a territory approved by the franchisor and designated in the Franchise Agreement (the territory). The territory presently being offered is created using information purchased from the United States Postal Service (USPS) under the headline of “housing count.” The territory generally ranges from approximately 75,000 to 100,000 households, but the size of the territory being offered to franchisees may be smaller or larger. So long as franchisees are in substantial compliance with the terms of the Franchise Agreement as determined by the franchisor in its sole discretion, they will have the right to receive and service the new, residential leads located in the territory received through the lead generation internet platform or the centralized 1-800 phone number. The franchisee’s right to receive and service the new, residential leads located in the territory is dependent upon achieving the minimum performance criteria and paying the annual minimum royalty fee.

Obligations and Restrictions: The Handyman Connection business must be personally managed on a full-time basis by a person who has successfully completed the mandatory training program and who meets the franchisor’s then-current standards. Unless franchisees are given express written consent to the contrary, the individual signing the Franchise Agreement (or if a business entity, at least one of the individuals that sign the personal guaranty), must devote their full-time, maximum efforts to the franchised business. The manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business and will devote at least 40 hours per week to the supervision and conduct of the Handyman Connection business. Franchisees are prohibited from providing products and/or services the franchisor designates, including lead abatement, roofing, HVAC, and work that requires certain permits or licenses, unless they receive specific, written permission from the President of Handyman Connection. Franchisees must promptly obtain all required licenses, permits or otherwise. Franchisees must offer and sell all of the services that the franchisor requires and only the services that it authorizes for the system.

Term of Agreement and Renewal: The length of the initial franchise term is 10 years. Franchisees have the right to renew the franchise for one renewal additional 10 year term provided certain conditions are met, unless the franchisor provides 90 days’ advance written notice of its intent to not renew.

Financial Assistance: The franchisor does not offer direct or indirect financing. The franchisor does not guarantee a franchisee’s note, lease or other obligation.

Estimated Initial Investment

Name of Fee	Low	High
Initial Franchise Fee	$70,000	$70,000
Travel and Living Expenses while Training	$2,075	$4,700
Real Estate (leased)	$1,800	$4,800
Office Equipment	$1,100	$6,800
Lease & Utility Deposits	$850	$2,100
Insurance	$2,537	$7,664
Licenses and Permits	$215	$7,500
Grand Opening Marketing, Advertising and Promotion	$21,485	$64,700
Computer Hardware and Software	$1,425	$9,225
Proprietary Software License	$6,000	$12,000
Additional Funds – Working Capital (estimated for 3 months)	$3,235	$41,625
ESTIMATED TOTAL	$110,722	$231,114

 
Other Fees

Type of Fee	Amount
Royalty	6% of gross sales.
Minimum Royalty Fee	For the third through fifth calendar years (second through fourth calendar if the Franchise Agreement is signed in either January or February), the amount of minimum royalty is $13,500 per household group (HH Group) in the territory; for sixth through tenth calendar years (fifth through tenth calendar years if the franchise agreement is signed in either January or February), the amount of the minimum royalty is $21,000 per HH Group in the territory.
Technology Fees	$150 per user per month + 1% of gross sales.
Software Upgrade Fees	Varies.
Software License Fee	$200 to $300
Brand Development Fund (BDF) Contributions	2% of gross sales up to $3,000,000 of sales. The BDF contribution will be reduced to an amount equal to (i) 1.5% for annual gross sales between $3,000,000 & $5,000,000, and (ii) 1% for annual gross sales over $5,000,000.
Call Center Fees	Currently $350 per month. Additional charges for any minutes in excess of those included in the selected package (currently, $0.85 per minute over 100 minutes a month).
Monthly Phone Service Fee	Varies.
Monthly Texting Platform	Then-current fee charged by third party provider. Currently, $55 per month, per phone line.
Local Marketing (including Local Cooperative Fees, if applicable)	10% of gross sales during 1st year, 8% of gross sales for subsequent years.
Interest and Late Fees on Late Payments and/or Reports	Due on all amounts owed, not to exceed 1.5% per month. Also $100 per late report &/or payment.
Late Tax Returns	$100 per day.
Additional Training/Meeting Attendance	Varies, has ranged from $850 to $1,250.
Transfer/Sale	Currently $10,000.
Renewal Fee	The greater of either 15% of the then-current initial franchise fee, or $10,000, or $25,000 if the franchisee does not attend the entire Annual Conference in person each of the last three years of the term of the Franchise Agreement.
Indemnification	Amount of claim or judgment.
Payments Upon Early Termination	See FDD.
Non-Reporting Fee	$500 for each monthly profit and loss statement and $1,000 for each annual report not timely submitted.
Inspection Expenses	Actual expense.
Supplier Approval/Testing Costs	Costs of testing.
Annual Conference	$500 - $1,000 attendance fee per person.

The above information has been compiled from the FDD of Handyman Connection. Year of FDD: 2025.
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