Up Next: Tom Mills, HandyPro of W-NW Columbus

HandyPro featured in the Columbus Business First in an article titled, "Up Next: Tom Mills."The article is a Q&A for their “Up Next” section.  Tom answers questions such as how the business is going, the strengths and risks of the business, goals and plans, and a variety of other questions.

"Up Next Tom Mills"

By: KATY SMITH

Tom Mills

Owner | HandyPro of W-NW Columbus

Age: 66

Partner: Wife Laurie Mills

Business: Handyman services with a focus on home modifications to keep seniors and the disabled at home.

Location: Hilliard

Founded: Handy Pro was founded in 1997. Franchise purchased in 2010.

Employees: 5

2012 revenue: $300,000-$500,000

2013 projected revenue: $500,000-$750,000

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HandyPro modifies homes for aging residents

HandyPro in the Youngstown News in an article titled, "HandyPro modifies homes for aging residents." The article explains the work that Joe does with his HandyPro business and the increased need for senior home modifications due to the increasing senior population. The article goes into Joe's background with the Multiple Sclerosis Services and how he wanted to help seniors in the area from getting price-gouged by other companies. The article also explains that Joe's so busy he's looking to hire more employees.

HandyPro modifies homes for aging residents
By: JAMISON COCKLIN

CANFIELD | In less than two years, Joseph Chevraux has put 56,000 miles on his car traveling an area that encompasses Canton, Youngstown and Ashtabula, meeting with senior citizens who hope to make their homes more livable.

In April 2012, Chevraux resigned from his post as executive director of the Multiple Sclerosis Services Agency, a small nonprofit in Canfield.

The job wasn’t paying the bills, Chevraux said, adding he was devoting

more time to the HandyPro franchise he began in September 2011.

It’s no secret that the country’s population is aging , but it’s also giving rise to an industry from which Chevraux benefits.

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HandyPro in the Aurora Sentinel

HandyPro in the Aurora Sentinel in an article titled, "Former insurance vet says fitting homes with senior-friendly fixtures is a booming business." The article begins with details on the growing senior population, specifically in Colorado, then talks about Todd’s new HandyPro location serving the Denver area and includes information on the type of senior home modification projects they offer. The article then discusses how Todd came across HandyPro and includes quotes with Stacy about the booming senior care industry. The article discusses Todd’s background in the insurance industry, and how that impacted his decision to open a HandyPro. The article ends with some quotes from Keith about the work HandyPro does and the emerging senior care industry.

Former insurance vet says fitting homes with senior-friendly fixtures is a booming business

By: BRANDON JOHANSSON

AURORA | In just eight years, more than 1.3 million Coloradoans will be over the age of 60, the Colorado Commission on Aging predicts.

That would make the state’s 60 and older population in 2021 twice the current size of Denver.

And it means several thousand families in Colorado will be faced with a decision about whether to have an aging relative move to an assisted-living home, or make their current home more senior-friendly.

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HandyPro featured in the RiverDell Patch

HandyPro was recently featured in the RiverDell Patch in an article titled, "HandyPro Handyman Services Launching in River Dell."  The article starts by talking about Bill’s background as an entrepreneur starting with a paper route. Then, it talks about how he’s opening HandyPro in Oradell. Bill is quoted about how this type of business is needed for seniors in the area. The article gives a few more details about the business and ends with a quote about how Bill is excited to give back to his community.  Click here for the entire article or begin below.

HandyPro Handyman Services Launching in River Dell

By: Ann Piccirillo

Growing up the youngest of six children, Oradell resident Bill Harvey learned at an early age how to get things done. From his very first paper route delivering The Record, to mowing lawns, Bill had the spirit of an entrepreneur.

And in that entrepreneurial spirit, Harvey is branching out on his own and launching Handy Pro Handyman Services in Oradell, a business that focuses on the home maintenance and repair needs of seniors and those with special needs, as well as handyman needs for all residential and commercial dwellings.

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HandyPro in Akron Legal News

HandyPro was recently featured in Akron Legal News in an article titled, "Handypro makes homes safe for seniors." The article begins by explaining how Kevin and Beth Krakora decided on opening a HandyPro franchise after a career in financial services. The article then details the territory that Kevin and Beth’s HandyPro covers. Kevin is quoted about the senior home modifications that HandyPro offers and explains how the business is needed due to the growing senior population. The article closes by mentioning that Kevin and Beth’s business is steady and includes information to contact them.  For the entire click here or begin below.

Handypro makes homes safe for seniors

By: Richard Weiner

After a career in financial services, Kevin and Beth Krakora wanted a change.

The Fairlawn residents decided that, said Kevin, “after 30 years of corporate America, we wanted to try something different.” And, beyond that, the still-young couple wanted to create a business that made a positive impact on people’s lives.

The couple took about a year to look at numerous franchise possibilities, while Kevin worked as a consultant. In the end, they decided to go with the Handypro company, which started in 1996, and which has serviced over 20,000 residences and businesses in that time nationwide.

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Handyman Service Adds Mobile Technology to Its Tool Belt

Handyman Service Adds Mobile Technology to Its Tool Belt
By Michelle Gilbert

Specializing in home modifications for seniors, HandyPro, based in Plymouth, Mich., has 28
franchises that provide professional handyman services to residential and corporate
customers nationwide. As of recently, the handymen and women at HandyPro have added
another tool to their belt: 4G LTE tablets.

“The main reason I wanted to integrate mobile technology into our business was because I
saw it as an opportunity to streamline our operations and provide our customers with even
better service,” said Keith Paul, founding member of HandyPro International, LLC.
By enabling technicians to stay in the field longer, HandyPro has been able to focus on
providing its customers with innovative on-site solutions. Using a 3D modeling app installed
on their tablets called iDapt, technicians are able to take photos on the spot, modify the
images, and show customers before and after pictures of what home improvement projects
would look like.

The technology is also helping to make HandyPro more efficient. From processing work
orders and dispatching technicians to quoting jobs and sending invoices, HandyPro has
reduced its operating expenses and increased its productivity and profitability through its
expanded use of technology.

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It pays to be handy: Fix-it company builds its franchise numbers

HandyPro was published April 28, 2013 in Crain’s Detroit Business. The article discusses the booming growth of HandyPro that has taken place over the last year and a half, and how expansion plans are still in the fold. Keith discusses the demand for HandyPro and the process they are taking when looking for new franchisees. The article also discusses the history of HandyPro and the career path for Keith and Debra. To read the full article click here or read below.



It pays to be handy: Fix-it company builds its franchise numbers
By Sherri Welch

After growing slowly its first 18 years, HandyPro International LLC has more than doubled its U.S. franchisees to 30 over the past year and a half, and it's not done growing yet.

The Plymouth-based company expects to add at least another 10 franchisees this year and 25-30 each of the next five years to capitalize on rising demand for home renovations that enable the elderly and disabled to remain in their homes.

Franchise brokers have been referring a lot of people who are interested in opening a HandyPro Senior Modifications & Handyman Services franchise to HandyPro International CEO Keith Paul.

The demand has been so great that HandyPro, which employs seven at its corporate office and expects to add a few new franchise developments and support employees this year, stopped advertising franchise opportunities outside of brokers, Paul said.

"Our concern was we were growing too fast; we had to slow down to make sure we're doing it right," he said.

Paul expects HandyPro International to see $1.2 million in revenue this year, up from $962,000 last year. And he projects HandyPro Handyman Service Inc. franchises, which do business as HandyPro Senior Modifications & Handyman Services, to generate collective revenue of $5.1 million this year, up from $3.9 million in 2012.

Initial franchise fees are $9,500 plus a territory fee of $39,500 for the first franchise and a marketing startup fee of $1,500.


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