Multi-trade scope
Also known as: jack-of-all-trades, general repair scope
Service offering across several trades within a single visit (e.g., plumbing + electrical + carpentry). Common in handyman work and small-scale renovation services.
Multi-trade scope describes work that spans multiple traditional trade categories within a single project or visit. The handyman business model is built around this — the appeal to customers is consolidation (one service provider for diverse small jobs) rather than coordinating multiple specialized contractors.
The operational implications are significant. A multi-trade operation needs: tools and parts inventory across multiple trades, knowledge breadth across each (handyman skill is wider but typically shallower than specialist skill), pricing methodology that handles diverse work types in a single quote, and licensing strategies that respect each trade's threshold.
For multi-trade operations, the common patterns: specialize in residential repair-grade work (avoid commercial code-compliant installations), define a clear scope of work taken on (and a clear list of work referred out — major HVAC, electrical panel upgrades, sewer-line work), and develop relationships with specialist contractors for referral or subcontracting arrangements. Many handyman businesses develop into more specialized contractors over time as scope clarifies.