5 Indispensable Business Lessons From Mounting 100 TVs

Mounting TVs can be a lucrative service for any handyman. It has a high perceived value relative to install time, so you can easily make $100-$200 per hour. It’s a great, low-risk way for a new customer to test your services, allowing you to quickly build your client base. And it’s just a low-stress, enjoyable job. That’s why I’ve invested time to promote and specialize in this service. And in this article and podcast episode, I’m going to share five business lessons I’ve learned after mounting well over 100 TVs. And by the way, these lessons apply to any home service. Listen to the podcast version of this article, which includes extra content. Listen right here or on your favorite podcast app! HS049 – 5 Indispensable Business Lessons From Mounting 100 TVs How I Started Mounting TVs I mounted my first TV in 2012 for a middle-aged woman who found me on Craigslist. I was surprised by the request when she called since I’d never mounted a TV before. So when she asked how much it would cost, I blurted out the first number that came to my head. “Seventy-five dollars,” I said with fake confidence. To my surprise, she agreed, and I scheduled the job for later that day. When I knocked at her door, I was anxious (and probably awkward) because I wasn’t sure what to expect. To make it even worse, she sat on the couch, watching my every move as I fumbled with the instructions. It took me well over an hour (about twice as long as it should have), but I completed the project, and she paid me with a smile. At first, I figured this was a fluke job because it was so easy, and I didn’t think many people would pay for this service. I was wrong. A couple of weeks later, I signed up for Service Magic (now called HomeAdvisor) and started paying for leads. I received my first lead to hang a TV shortly after signing up. I quickly jumped on the lead and told the customer it would cost $100 (again, just a number I pulled out of thin air on the spot). The customer said yes, and I put it on my schedule. Later that day (my schedule was wide open), I arrived at this wealthy attorney’s estate and immediately realized the job was over my head. The TV was a gigantic 80″ monster. I couldn’t put this thing on the wall by myself. But I was already there, so I went to work anyway. Once the bracket was attached to the wall, I asked the customer to help me lift the TV to place it on the wall. I felt very unprofessional, but she didn’t seem bothered. Again, she paid me with a smile and hired me for many more projects over the coming years. Again, I felt like this service wasn’t something I could consistently offer. First, I didn’t think many people would need it, and second, I figured that few customers would tol