- Handyman: small, one-trade fixes like drywall patches, sticking doors, shelves, and caulking. Typically 60–125 an hour.
- General contractor: anything that needs a permit, touches the structure, or involves more than one trade. Often adds 10%–20% of project cost for management.
- Washington has no handyman license. Both must register with L&I and carry a bond ($15,000 specialty or $30,000 general) plus liability insurance.
- Plumbing and electrical need separate licenses, whoever you hire.
- Verify before you hire at ProtectMyHome.net or 1-800-647-0982. It takes about five minutes.
- You don’t always have to choose. Lake’s General Contracting is both a handyman service and a registered general contractor, so one team can take your list from small fixes to permitted projects under one contract.
Most homeowners treat this as an either/or choice, but many repair lists include both kinds of work. This guide explains where the line sits, what Washington requires of each, and when hiring one company that does both is the simplest option
What Does a Handyman Do?
A handyman takes care of small repairs and odd jobs. The work usually takes hours, not weeks, involves one trade at a time, and doesn’t change how the house is built.
Common handyman jobs
Typical handyman services include:
- Patching holes and cracks in drywall
- Hanging mirrors, shelves, curtain rods, and TV mounts
- Fixing doors that stick, sag, or won’t latch
- Recaulking tubs, showers, and windows
- Replacing weather stripping, cabinet hardware and damaged trim
- Installing grab bars and small safety upgrades
- Small carpentry, like a loose stair rail or a broken fence board
These jobs are usually quick and affordable. HomeAdvisor’s handyman pricing data puts most projects between $165 and $615, with an average of about $390.
Lake’s General Contracting takes on this kind of work every week, from a single repair to a full list grouped into one visit. For ongoing upkeep, see our home maintenance and repair services
Limits of handyman work in Washington State
Washington has no separate “handyman license.” Anyone paid to repair or improve a home must register as a contractor with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). A handyman is no exception.
Registration doesn’t cover every trade. Electrical work requires an electrical contractor license, and plumbing requires a plumbing contractor registration and certified plumbers. So a handyman with only a basic registration can’t legally add a circuit, move a drain, or replace a water heater. Work that needs a building permit, like replacing windows or changing framing, usually goes beyond a handyman’s lane too. That’s the advantage of hiring a handyman who is also a registered general contractor: when a small job turns into permit-level work, it doesn’t have to change hands.
What Does a General Contractor Do?
A general contractor (GC) runs the whole project. They may do some of the work themselves, but their main job is making sure everything gets done right, in the right order, and to code.
Project management, permits, and subcontractors
A GC prices the job, pulls permits, schedules inspections, and brings in the trades. An electrician, a plumber, a tile setter, and a drywall crew can all be on one project. Under Washington rules, a general contractor can hire subcontractors across specialties. A specialty contractor can only work in its registered specialty and cannot hire subcontractors, according to L&I’s registration rules. For you, a GC means one contract and one person to call.
Remodels, additions, and structural work
GCs handle the bigger work: a bathroom remodel or repair, a kitchen upgrade, additions, decks, patio construction, and rebuilding after water damage. If the job moves walls, changes framing, or reroutes plumbing, it belongs with a GC. Lake’s General Contracting handles this side of the work too, as a registered general contractor serving Clark and Cowlitz Counties.
Handyman vs. General Contractor: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Handyman | General contractor |
| Typical jobs | Small repairs, one trade at a time | Remodels, structural and multi-trade work |
| Permits | Rarely needed for the work itself | Pulls and manages permits and inspections |
| Other trades | Usually works alone | Hires and coordinates licensed trades |
| Washington registration | Required (L&I) | Required (L&I) |
| Required bond | $15,000 if registered as specialty, $30,000 if general | $30,000 |
| Typical pricing | 60–125 per hour, or a flat rate | Often 10%–20% of project cost |
Scope of work: the one-sentence test
If the job needs a permit, more than one trade, or changes to the structure, call a general contractor. If it’s a fix you can describe in one sentence, “the bathroom door won’t latch,” a handyman is usually the right fit.
Licensing, bonding and insurance
Both must register with L&I. A registered general contractor carries a $30,000 bond and a specialty contractor a $15,000 bond. Those amounts took effect July 1, 2024, more than doubling the old levels of $12,000 and $6,000. Both also need general liability insurance of at least $200,000 in public liability and $50,000 in property damage, or $250,000 combined. That insurance is what responds if the contractor’s work damages your home.
Cost and pricing structure
Handymen often charge by the hour, about $60 to $125 plus materials, according to HomeAdvisor.
General contractors commonly add 10% to 20% of the total project cost for overhead and management, on top of labor and materials. On a $20,000 bathroom remodel, a 15% fee is $3,000. That fee covers permits, scheduling, and keeping the trades on track. Paying it to patch one hole makes no sense. Skipping it on a remodel can cost more in failed inspections and redone work.
Washington Contractor Rules Homeowners Should Know
How to verify a contractor’s registration with L&I
It takes about five minutes:
1. Ask for the company’s exact business name and L&I registration number.
2. Look it up with L&I’s free Verify tool at ProtectMyHome.net, or call 1-800-647-0982.
3. Check that the registration is active and the bond and insurance are current.
4. Check workers’ comp coverage and look for violations or lawsuits against the bond.
5. For electrical or plumbing work, confirm the separate trade license too.
Risks of hiring an unregistered contractor
L&I is blunt about it: unregistered contractors carry no bond or insurance to protect consumers. If the job goes wrong, there’s no bond to file a claim against.
Low bids are often the hook. L&I warns that unregistered contractors can underbid legitimate firms by misclassifying workers to dodge workers’ comp premiums and unemployment taxes. Those savings disappear fast if someone gets hurt on your property or the work has to be redone.
Handyman and General Contractor in One: Lake’s General Contracting
Real repair lists rarely fit one box. The drywall patch sits next to a leaking shower valve. The sticking door turns out to be a framing issue. Hiring two companies means two schedules, two bills, and two people pointing at each other.
Lake’s General Contracting is both. We’re a registered general contractor in Washington, and we also take on everyday handyman jobs. The same team that fixes a sticking door or patches drywall also handles full remodels and repairs. If a small fix turns into a bigger job, it stays with us: same crew, same contact, one contract.
Handyman jobs we handle
• Home maintenance and repair: drywall, doors, trim, caulking, and weather stripping
• Handyman services: shelves, TV mounts, grab bars, and small carpentry
• Appliance installation
• Power washing
• Fence installation
General contracting projects we handle
• Bathroom remodels, repairs and upgrades
• Kitchen upgrades
• Deck restoration and carport and deck covers
• Patio construction
• Flooring installation and cabinet installation
• Water damage repair
One team makes the biggest difference with:
• Home inspection correction lists. A buyer’s inspector often flags a mix of small fixes and permit-level work, usually on a closing deadline.
• Pre-sale punch lists. Touch-ups, trim, doors, and flooring before the house goes on the market.
• Accessibility upgrades. Grab bars and handrails alongside bigger changes like ramps or a reworked bathroom.
• Water damage. A small stain that becomes subfloor or framing repair once the wall or floor is opened.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Home Repair Contractor
Before you sign with any home repair contractor, ask:
- What is your L&I registration number?
- Are you registered as a general or specialty contractor?
- Who will do any electrical or plumbing work, and are they licensed?
- Who pulls the permits?
- Can I get a written quote with materials, labor, timeline, and payment schedule?
- Do you charge by the hour, a flat rate, or a percentage?
- Who is my main contact during the job?
- What warranty do you offer on your labor?
Be wary of a contractor who asks you to pull the permit yourself for work they are doing. The name on the permit is the one responsible for the work passing inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a handyman need to be licensed in Washington State?
Yes. Washington doesn’t issue a handyman license, but anyone paid for construction or repair work must register with L&I as a contractor. That includes a bond and liability insurance.
Can a handyman do plumbing or electrical work?
Only with the right extra license. Electrical work needs an electrical contractor license, and plumbing needs a plumbing contractor registration with certified plumbers. Basic contractor registration covers neither.
Is a handyman cheaper than a general contractor?
For small jobs, usually yes. Handymen charge about $60 to $125 an hour, and most jobs land between $165 and $615. For multi-trade or permitted work, a general contractor’s fee often pays for itself in fewer mistakes and passed inspections.
Which home projects need a building permit in Clark County?
In unincorporated Clark County, permits are required for re-roofing, replacing windows or siding, installing plumbing fixtures like water heaters, toilets, and sinks, and for additions and most remodels. Painting, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work don’t need one. Electrical permits come from L&I. Inside city limits in Ridgefield, Battle Ground, La Center, or Vancouver, check with your city’s building department.
How do I check if a contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured in Washington?
Use L&I’s free Verify tool at ProtectMyHome.net or call 1-800-647-0982. The result shows registration status, bond, insurance, workers’ comp coverage, and any violations.
Get One Team for Your Whole Repair List
Lake’s General Contracting is a licensed, bonded, and insured general contractor based in La Center, serving homes across Clark and Cowlitz Counties, including Ridgefield, Battle Ground, and Woodland since 2018. Send us your list, big or small, and we’ll tell you straight what each job needs.
Have a list of repairs? Request a free quote for your repair list.