Whether it’s repairing dripping taps, unblocking drains or mowing the lawn, building maintenance franchises do the jobs growing numbers of people lack the time, skills, physical health or even inclination to do themselves.

Sector overview

• Typical services include drainage, plumbing, lawn care, property repair and care and chimney sweeping
• Serve domestic or commercial markets – and often both
• Growth propelled by time-poor, ageing population and DIY-averse millennials
• Van-based, but as a franchisee, you typically recruit, manage and coordinate your fleet rather than going out on the road yourself
• As service franchises they require no stock, lowering investment level and overheads and increasing margins

The multibillion-pound handyman sector is flourishing thanks to several trends.

First, there’s a generational decline in DIY skills. Second, an ageing population means growing numbers of people lack the strength and mobility to perform many home maintenance tasks themselves.

Third, long working hours and the growth in two-income families generates business from busy professionals and exhausted parents.

Then there are those who would simply rather pay someone to unblock their drains or mow their lawns to preserve their precious leisure time.

But it’s not just about saving customers from menial, physically demanding tasks. Many jobs, like plumbing, often demand professional skills. And anyone can mow a lawn of course, but lawn care franchises also provide treatments like scarifying, aerating and weed and feeds.