Hiring GuidesHandyman or general contractor
How to tell whether your project is a punch list, a single trade job or a coordinated build, and what each type of professional is set up to handle.
By Elijah Canfield, Founder, Hire Best Pros · Updated August 26, 2026
Elijah Canfield is the founder of Hire Best Pros. He writes and edits the site's consumer guides, with a focus on how home service and moving projects are priced, scoped and compared.
A handyman is the right call for small, self contained tasks that need no permit and no coordination between trades. A specialty trade contractor fits when the whole job is one trade. A general contractor earns their fee when the project involves several trades, a permit, structural work or a schedule that has to be sequenced.
Which one fits
| Project type | Usual fit |
|---|---|
| Small repairs, mounting, patching, hardware, assembly | Handyman |
| One trade, defined scope, such as a water heater or a room of flooring | Specialty trade contractor |
| Multiple trades, permits, structure or a fixed deadline | General contractor |
| Anything that changes layout, structure or systems | General contractor, often with design input |
What a general contractor is actually doing for the fee
- Sequencing trades so nobody is waiting on somebody else
- Pulling permits and managing inspections
- Carrying insurance that covers the whole site
- Handling material ordering and lead times
- Owning the problem when something goes wrong between trades
Not sure which your project needs?
Find help for your projectWhere people get this wrong
- Hiring a handyman for licensed trade work such as panel changes or gas connections
- Managing five separate trades yourself to save a coordination fee, then absorbing every delay
- Assuming a permit is not required, and finding out at resale
- Using a general contractor for a two hour job, which is expensive for both sides
Whichever you hire
Verify insurance directly, get the scope in writing, and keep payments tied to completed work. Our guide on hiring a remodeling contractor covers the full vetting process, and it applies in a lighter form to smaller jobs too.
Common questions
- Does a handyman need a license?
- It depends entirely on your state and municipality, and on the type and value of the work. Many places license contractors above a dollar threshold or for specific trades. Check your local requirements before hiring.