She Started a Niche Business in Her Basement with $10,000. Now It Does $113 Million in Sales
Colette Bell and her husband Andy started a handyman business in their Denver basement in 1998 with $10,000, targeting small home projects that larger contractors ignored. The business, initially called Handyman Matters, grew rapidly and was franchised in 2001. In 2019, Ace Hardware acquired the company, rebranding it as Ace Handyman Services. Colette now serves as vice president of franchise development, overseeing expansion from 119 territories at acquisition to 383 by April 2026. The company reported over $113 million in total sales in 2025, with 12% year-over-year growth. Key success factors included setting exact appointment times, professional appearance, proactive customer service, and protected franchise territories based on ZIP codes.
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