Why do handymen charge so much?

Why handymen charge so much, with rates of 50 to 125 dollars per hour or 300 to 800 dollars per day, can seem high compared to hourly wage, but charges reflect business costs, skills, and risks beyond just labor. Handymen charge to cover overhead including liability insurance, vehicle, fuel, tools, equipment, licensing fees, and marketing to get jobs, which can be 20 to 30 percent of revenue. They charge for expertise, as skilled handyman has years of experience in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and can solve problems quickly that would take homeowner hours, and they invest in training. They charge for travel time between jobs, often unpaid, and for time spent estimating jobs. Independent handymen also pay self-employment tax, health insurance, and retirement, which employees do not, adding 30 percent to costs. They charge for warranty, as they may need to return to fix issues at no charge. Demand for reliable handyman is high, and supply low, so market rates high, especially in large cities like Seattle with high cost of living. Also, small jobs have minimum charge to cover travel. So rates that seem high actually cover business costs and provide fair income after expenses, with net profit often 40 to 60 percent of gross.