What Should You Think About Before Quitting Your Day Job?
Building a contractor business while you are still working full time is tough, but it can be done if you are clear about your goals.
The first step is to be honest with yourself about how many hours you can commit each week, especially during evenings and weekends without burning out.
You also want to avoid putting your current income at risk too early; a steady paycheck gives you room to make mistakes and learn as you build your business on the side.
Many successful painters, roofers, landscapers, and handymen started this way, growing a side hustle until they had enough customers or leads to go full time.
Talk with your family before you start, since growing your business will take time away from home, at least in the early months.
Set honest expectations with those close to you and make a plan for how you will juggle your job and your new business.
Keep in mind that slow, steady growth is safer and usually more profitable in the long run.
How Can You Get Customers Without Spending a Fortune?
Every contractor fears dumping time and money into marketing that does not bring in paying jobs.
The good news is you do not need a fancy website, business cards from big print shops, or expensive door-to-door flyers to get started.
The basics work best when you are just getting off the ground.
- Claim and fill out a Google Business Profile with accurate info, your service area, and photos of your work.
- Ask your first few customers for reviews and photos to post on your business profile.
- Tell your friends, family, and past coworkers what you do now, and ask if they know anybody who needs your services.
- Join local Facebook groups, Nextdoor, or neighborhood apps and share before-and-after photos of your projects.
- Choose a business name you can use across email, social, and web, so people remember you when they need work done.
Setting up a simple, honest website with a clear phone number and service area is key, but you do not need to pay thousands for it.
At Good Stuart, we give contractors a website, search engine setup, and ongoing support – and you only pay for qualified leads, not traffic or sales pitches.
This lets you focus on getting more work while we take care of your online presence and making sure customers can find you.
If you are ready to get your business online the right way, you can get started now using our fast and friendly onboarding process.
What Are the Most Common First Steps for New Contractor Businesses?
It can feel overwhelming to think about business setup, but you do not need to know it all to get started.
Start small and handle the basics one at a time so you do not get stuck before you even land your first job.
- Register a simple business entity like an LLC or sole proprietorship using state websites or tools like LegalZoom or ZenBusiness (usually under 300 dollars).
- Get an EIN for free at the IRS website, which you will need for taxes and a separate bank account.
- Open a business checking account at a local bank – having separate finances keeps taxes cleaner and helps build trust with customers.
- Check local license and insurance needs for your trade; getting general liability insurance is cheap peace of mind (usually 50-100 dollars a month for most trades).
- Design a simple logo using Canva or Fiverr (50 dollars or less) so you look professional from the start, even before you pay for van wraps or uniforms.
All these steps take less than a week if you schedule blocks of time around your job.
Set up a notebook or Google Doc to track what you have finished and what steps come next so you do not have to remember it all in your head.
Why Is a Simple Website and Google Business Profile So Important?
Most homeowners and business owners use Google first before they pick a painter, landscaper, roofer, or handyman.
If you do not show up in the search results, you are invisible to the customers who matter most.
A well-done Google Business Profile and a simple, clear website show real people that you are locally trusted and ready to work.
You do not need to pay for a 10-page website or fancy features – it is much more important that customers can see your services, photos of your work, reviews from real clients, and your contact info.
A website built with Good Stuart means you get found when customers search for your trade in your area – and you only pay when we deliver real leads, not for fancy design or empty stats.
This saves you thousands compared to traditional agencies or buying expensive directory listings on Angi or HomeAdvisor.
Your site is yours, your leads are yours, and you never pay for anything that does not get your phone ringing.
How Do You Manage a Growing Volume of Work Without Losing Quality?
When your evenings and weekends fill up with estimates and jobs, it is easy to get overwhelmed or let customer service slide.
Good, reliable work always leads to more jobs – but only if you can respond fast, finish on time, and communicate clearly with each customer.
Start by setting a simple system for tracking jobs, leads, and follow ups, using a notebook, Google Calendar, or a tool like Jobber if you want something more automated.
Use your phone to capture before-and-after photos and save contact info for every customer so you can re-market to them or ask for reviews later.
If you are double-booking yourself, it might be time to bring in a part time helper or subcontractor for busy weeks so you do not turn away paying work.
Prioritize jobs closest to home or those with the highest profit – do not run around town chasing small, spread-out gigs if you cannot give your best.
What Are the Key Tools and Supplies New Contractors Should Invest In?
It is tempting to overspend on gear, but focus first on safe, reliable tools that are essential for your specific trade.
Buy or upgrade as you go, and borrow or rent for rare specialty tasks instead of tying up cash.
- For painters: Brushes and rollers from Purdy or Wooster, a basic Werner ladder, and high-quality drop cloths (not thin plastic).
- For landscapers: Stihl or Husqvarna trimmers, a sturdy wheelbarrow, and a good pair of Felco pruners.
- For roofers: A reliable DeWalt cordless drill, a Hitachi nail gun, safety harnesses from Guardian, and a magnetic sweeper for cleanup.
- For handymen: A Milwaukee M18 cordless kit, quality socket and wrench sets by Craftsman, and a Rubbermaid tool tote.
- Safety gear: Nitrile gloves, OSHA-approved dust masks from 3M, safety glasses, and reliable knee pads.
Start with what you need most today, not what you might use years from now.
Buying name-brand, pro-level equipment usually pays off in fewer headaches and longer life – but check local Facebook Marketplace, pawn shops, or Habitat for Humanity ReStores for deals if your budget is tight.
How Do You Handle Estimates, Invoices, and Getting Paid?
Quick, honest communication is what most frustrated homeowners say is missing from the contractors they try to hire.
Return calls and texts the same day whenever possible, and always be upfront about your schedule and pricing.
For small jobs, an estimate can be as simple as a text message or an email confirming scope and price.
For larger work, use a free template from Google Docs or apps like Invoice Simple to make your orders look professional and keep records clean.
Accepting credit cards with Square or Venmo is affordable and saves you from waiting on checks or cash.
Detail your payment terms in writing, even for friends and family jobs, so both sides know what to expect and when payment is due.
Track who owes what, follow up once payment is late, and never let fear of chasing a check keep you from protecting your business.
What Can Make Your Side Business Stand Out Locally?
Most people hire a contractor not just for price, but because of trust, reputation, and simple professionalism.
Even one or two happy customers who post reviews and share your name to neighbors can change your business quickly.
Always do what you say you will do, show up when you promise, and fix problems fast, even if it costs you a little extra time or material.
Keep your van or truck clean with a magnet sign or decal made by Vistaprint or FastSigns – you do not need a full wrap when starting out, but it helps neighbors remember your business.
Create a habit of handing out a simple business card after every job – you can print these quickly at Staples or from Moo with your logo and contact info.
Reply promptly to review requests on Google and thank anyone who posts photos or feedback about your work.
If you use digital signatures or receipts, set up a free Google Voice phone number or Gmail account so your personal info stays private as your business grows.
How Can You Balance Your Full Time Job and a Growing Contractor Business?
Protecting your health, sanity, and reputation as your schedule fills up is non-negotiable for long-term success.
Avoid the burnout trap by blocking off personal time each week and communicating your working hours clearly to every new lead.
Work in short sprints: Schedule jobs for weekends and two or three weekday evenings at most, so you are not working 14 hour days week after week.
Plan ahead for busy seasons – spring and fall are booked up months ahead of time for many service businesses, so build in a waiting list and set honest expectations about timelines with each customer.
If you find yourself having to turn down work or missing family time, document how much you are making from your side jobs versus your pay from a full time job so you can decide when to switch over safely.
If you need to take on more leads to test the waters, the quickest way is usually a clear, professional site and Google profile – both of which you can launch quickly through our onboarding process without putting your savings or core job at risk.
How Do You Know When It Is the Right Time to Go Full Time?
The goal for many side business owners is to replace or exceed their steady paycheck before quitting their main job.
Track every dollar from side jobs for at least three to six months so you know if your income is regular enough to support your needs and savings goals.
It is safer to wait until you have at least two or three months of work lined up ahead and a cushion of savings for slow weeks or surprise expenses.
If your phone is ringing regularly, you are turning down new jobs, or your side income equals most of your day job, that is usually a solid sign you are ready to make the switch.
Discuss your plans with anyone impacted by your decision, as the transition will affect your household and routines.
Leaving a job on good terms preserves relationships and gives you a safety net in case you want light part-time work during slow seasons in your new business.
What Can Go Wrong and How Do You Avoid Costly Mistakes?
Many new contractors underestimate taxes, insurance, or the real time commitment required to handle both jobs well.
Set aside at least 20 percent of each payment for taxes and keep receipts for everything, no matter how small, to avoid ugly surprises at tax time.
Stay current on insurance and licensing, as a single uncovered accident can wipe out months or years of hard work.
Do not hire friends or helpers without setting clear pay and expectations – even a simple contract or text agreement saves headaches later.
Never overpromise on deadlines or quality just to land a job, especially when your schedule is tight with full-time work.
If you ever fall behind, call the customer immediately, be honest about the issue, and set a new realistic timeline so trust is not lost.
Remember that one unhappy customer who posts a bad review can undo a lot of hustle, so always fix problems fast and never ghost anyone who paid you.
Ask for feedback often so you can keep improving how you run things before you scale up.
What Steps Can You Take Right Now To Get Started?
If you are not ready for a huge leap, start with small, practical steps you can finish this week.
- Choose and register your business name, check for domain and social media availability, and get a basic logo going through Canva or Fiverr.
- Set up a Google Business Profile and start asking for reviews from friends, family, or early clients.
- Take good photos of any work you have done, even informally, and save them for your website and marketing.
- Open a dedicated business bank account to easily track expenses and deposits, no matter how small your side jobs are at first.
- Tell people you trust about your new business, and ask them to keep an ear open for anyone needing your trade.
- Bookmark resources like the IRS EIN portal and your state licensing board, and start a list of your next steps in a notebook or note app.
- If you know you want customers from the web but do not want to risk cash on complicated marketing, check out our simple onboarding process to get your business listed online and found by real customers fast.
Progress is better than perfection; most contractors who succeed started with a rough site, a few tools, and a willingness to learn as they went.
Your nights and weekends will not build your business for you if you keep waiting, so pick a task and get it done today—even a small step makes a difference.