Start your own home service business.
Licensing, insurance, vehicle costs, and pricing for your market. Whether you're starting a cleaning service, landscaping company, handyman business, or HVAC operation, BossWorks gives you a step-by-step plan.
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The licensing rules change by trade and by city.
Some trades need state licenses. Others need city permits. Some need both. And the insurance requirements, bonding, and vehicle rules are different for each one.
“I don't know if I need a license or a permit or both.”
A cleaning business might only need a general business license. A handyman in California needs a contractor's license above a certain dollar amount. A plumber needs a state license almost everywhere. Getting it wrong means fines.
“I have no idea how to price this.”
Pricing a home service means accounting for labor, materials, drive time, vehicle costs, insurance overhead, and what competitors charge in your area. Most new operators either price too low or too high.
“The insurance and bonding requirements are confusing.”
General liability, commercial auto, workers' comp if you hire anyone, surety bonds for certain trades. The type and amount depends on your trade, state, and whether you're working on residential or commercial properties.
Know what your trade requires in your city.
Licensing, permits, insurance, bonding, vehicle registration, and business setup — in the right order for your trade and location.
The requirements stack up fast. Your plan lays it all out in sequence for your trade and your city, with deadlines, costs, and dependencies so nothing stalls your first job.
Know your costs and what to charge in your market.
Your plan calculates startup costs, tracks spending, and models when your jobs cover your overhead.
Vehicle costs, tools, insurance premiums, marketing, fuel. BossWorks totals your costs and projects how many jobs per month you need to break even at your target pricing.
Find funding for equipment, vehicles, or expansion.
Grants, microloans, and small business programs matched to your profile, your trade, and where you're based.
Home service businesses often need upfront capital for vehicles, tools, and equipment. SBA microloans, state grants, and programs for veterans, women, and minority business owners can help.
Licensing, pricing, insurance. Ask and get back to work.
Six AI assistants that know your trade, your city, and your business setup.
“Do I need a contractor's license for handyman work in my state?” “What should I charge for a 2,000 sq ft house cleaning in my area?” Ask the Legal, Finance, or Strategy assistant and get an answer specific to your trade.
Already running a home service business?
Whether you're adding a trade, hiring your first employee, or expanding to a new service area, BossWorks can help.
Add a trade or service.
Going from cleaning to handyman, or adding a specialty like pressure washing, may require new licenses, new insurance, and updated pricing.
Hire your first employee.
Bringing someone on means workers' comp insurance, payroll tax, and potentially new licensing. Know what your state requires before the first hire.
Expand to a new service area.
Different city or county can mean different license requirements, different permit fees, and different pricing.
Your complete home services plan.
Every task, every cost, every requirement for your business type and city.
- Business registration and trade-specific licensing
- General liability and commercial auto insurance
- Surety bond (if required for your trade)
- Vehicle and equipment cost estimates
- Pricing framework for your market
- Startup and ongoing cost tracking with budget alerts
- Funding matches for your profile
- Every task in one place
Your plan is built for your trade, your city, and the specific licensing and insurance requirements that home service businesses face. Not a generic template.
Everything you need to know.
Yes. Whether you're starting a cleaning service, landscaping company, handyman business, HVAC operation, or painting company, your plan is built around your trade and your city.
It depends on your trade and state. General contractors, electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians are licensed at the state level in most US states, with specific exam and experience requirements. Handyman services, cleaning, lawn care, and landscaping typically require only a business licence in most states. BossWorks identifies the specific licences required for your trade in your state.
General liability insurance is essential — it covers property damage and bodily injury claims from work performed at client homes. If you have employees, workers' compensation is required in most states. Vehicles used for work need commercial auto insurance (personal auto policies typically don't cover business use). A tools and equipment rider covers your gear if it's stolen or damaged. BossWorks includes full insurance requirements in your plan.
Most home services businesses use one of three models: hourly rate, flat-rate per job, or unit pricing. Flat-rate pricing is preferred by most clients and is more profitable once you're efficient. Your price must cover labour, materials, overhead (insurance, vehicle, tools), and your target profit margin. BossWorks builds a pricing model based on your market and service type.
Subcontractors offer flexibility and lower overhead — you only pay when you have work. Employees give you more control over quality and scheduling but add payroll taxes, workers' comp, and benefits obligations. Misclassifying employees as contractors is a significant IRS risk. BossWorks explains the legal distinction and helps you choose the right model for your growth stage.
The most effective early channels are neighbourhood apps like Nextdoor, Google Business Profile (which drives local search visibility), yard signs at job sites, and referral incentives for happy clients. For trades work, Angi, Thumbtack, and HomeAdvisor generate leads quickly but charge per lead. BossWorks builds a client acquisition plan specific to your trade and local market.
It depends on your trade and your state. Some trades require a state license almost everywhere. Others typically don't. Your plan tells you exactly what's required for your trade.
Yes. Your plan reflects your specific city's requirements: business license, trade permits, insurance minimums, and any zoning restrictions.
ChatGPT gives you a wall of text. BossWorks gives you a structured plan specific to your trade and city, tracks your progress, and updates as your business grows.
BossWorks is free during beta. No credit card required.