Small jobs, written down before the while-you're-here list grows
Handyman work is a list: fix the door, patch the wall, hang the shelves. Then, once you're there, a second list starts. Without a signature, that second list turns into a bill the customer didn't expect. SignMaster keeps both lists in writing, signed on your phone before you pick up the drill, and sends landlords and adult children their copy by link.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 3 min read
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What a handyman should get signed
- Work orderEach task, flat-rate or hourly, materials at cost or with your markup, and your trip or minimum charge. The work order form is a start.
- Time and materials with a capWhen you can't price it until you open it, an hourly rate and a not-to-exceed number the customer signs off on.
- Add-on approvalThe while-you're-here task, priced and signed before you start it, so the invoice matches what they agreed to.
- Service agreementYour standing terms for repeat customers, landlords and property managers. See the handyman service agreement.
- Punch list sign-offEach task ticked off on the last visit, and the customer's signature that the list is done.
- Seasonal maintenance planFilters, smoke detector batteries, caulk and gutters a few times a year, renewed each spring.
The while-you're-here problem
You came to rehang a door, and now they'd like the loose stair rail fixed and the bathroom fan replaced. Open your add-on template on the phone, type the tasks and prices, and let a calculated field add them to the original total you type in. Send it and choose Sign in person. The customer signs in a few seconds, and you start with a yes in writing. If the job ends up bigger than the cap you agreed, stop and send another approval before you go past it.
Know your license limit
Many states cap the size or kind of job you can take without a contractor's license, and some require a written contract for home improvement work over a set price. Check your state's licensing board before you quote, and put any notice it requires into your work order template.
Landlords, agents and family far away
A lot of handyman work is paid for by someone who isn't there. SignMaster sends them the paperwork wherever they are, and they sign from any phone or computer without an account.
- Landlords and property managers: send the make-ready work order between tenants by link. A manager who sends you work every week can sign one service agreement, then approve each job's work order.
- Real estate agents: pre-listing repairs and inspection repair lists often need the seller's signature from another city. Put the agent first in the signing order, then the seller.
- Adult children: when you work for an older homeowner, the son or daughter paying can sign by link, and the homeowner signs in person on your phone, in the same envelope.
For seasonal maintenance plans, turn the agreement into a public signing link on your website or a QR code on your truck. In spring, bulk send the renewal to last year's customers from one CSV, each with their own name and price filled in.
What it costs
Try it on Free: 3 envelopes a month for one person, enough to see it work on real jobs. Solo is $15 a month with unlimited envelopes and unlimited templates, which covers a one-person handyman business. If you add a helper who sends their own work orders, Crew is $49 a month for 5 people. New workspaces get 14 days of Crew free, no card. Compare plans.
What SignMaster doesn't do
- It doesn't price jobs or keep a materials list.
- It doesn't take payment or send invoices.
- It doesn't text customers. It emails the signing link, and you can copy it to text yourself.
- It doesn't tell you what your license allows. Your state board does.
Questions? Answers.
Do I need a contract for small handyman jobs?
A short signed work order settles scope and price, which is where most disputes start. Some states also require a written contract for home improvement work above a certain price, so check yours.
How do I handle extra tasks the customer adds on the day?
Send an add-on approval from a template with the tasks and prices, and have the customer sign on your phone before you start them. The original work order stays as it was.
Can a landlord approve work orders for several units?
Yes. Send each unit's work order by link, or have the landlord sign one service agreement and approve each job after that. Every signed copy lands in your account.
Can someone in another state sign for a parent's repair?
Yes. Add them as a signer and they sign from a link on any phone or computer. The parent can sign the same envelope in person on your phone.