What is a contractor?

A contractor is someone who runs their own business and sells their services to others. They are often highly-trained people who have worked for big companies in the past, but decided to break off and make their own schedule. Contractors communicate directly with clients to arrange agreed upon pricing, project details, and a timeframe for getting the job done.

What types of projects can contractors do?

You can hire a contractor to help with almost anything you can think of when it comes to fixing or remodeling a home or office. Some areas of expertise might include repairing home appliances, painting, building a deck, carpentry, laying a foundation, yard maintenance, tiling, installing windows, and much more. Anything that is needed for home maintenance and requires specific knowledge can be taken care of by a contractor.

Why should I hire a contractor online?

The real question is where are you going to hire a contractor if it isn't online? If you want to get in touch with someone who might give you a better deal than a big company, the best way is to use a service that has a big list of available professionals. This way you can read reviews from other customers, see their pricing, get familiar with their background, and ensure they pass a background check before deciding if you want to hire them or not.

Do I get to choose the contractor that I hire?

Depending on the service you use, you'll either be matched with the best candidate for the job you are requesting or be given a list of people you can contact. Regardless of how the process works, you always have the final say in who you hire. If you're automatically matched with someone and you don't feel like they're a good fit, you can reject the match and be paired with a different contractor. In addition, you can always request the service pro you want if there is someone you've liked working with before!

Do contractors use their own equipment?

Yes! Since you're hiring someone who is an expert in their field of work, they have all of the essential tools to complete the project. The only exception would be if you're wanting tile installed or a new window or door, you'll need to buy those beforehand. You're purchasing a service from the service pro, not a product.

What is the cost of finding a contractor?

Most sites that connect individuals with contractors are completely free! The platforms make money by charging service professionals a fee for leads they receive in exchange for letting them be part of their network. The only thing you'll need to worry about paying for is the actual cost of services once you've found someone to come do a job for you.

How long does it take to get a contractor to my home to start working?

You can usually have a contractor to your home in just a few days after booking them. Most of the time you can view a calendar of available dates and times from the site you use. You'll select the hours you want someone to come work to make sure that you're home when they arrive! This also helps the system narrow down the available professionals in your area.

Is it safe to have a contractor in my home?

As long as you use a highly-rated company that matches you with your contractor, you shouldn't have to worry about whether or not you're getting a good service pro. Most of the time, contractors are vetted with background checks, license verifications, and the standing of their company before being available to work in someone's home. As long as you do your own research about the company you're using and their processes before hiring someone from their site, you don't need to worry!

Ace Handyman Services Review for January 2026

Item: Ace Handyman Services Review
Rating: 4
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Thursday, January 22nd We evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

2026 Contractor Service Reviews

Where can you find the best contractors online? There's something special about being a homeowner and being able to transform the place you reside into exactly what you want. Remodeling can be magical for those who enjoy changing the look of a space or repurposing it for something different. Other home improvements aren't as much fun as necessary, such as replacing a leaky roof or a toilet. But they all have one thing in common - the need for someone who knows what they're doing.

4.0

VERY GOOD

Very Good

Ace Handyman Services

Free quotes from locally owned independent franchises
Will use your materials to save money (if you choose)
One-year craftsmanship guarantee
Trustworthy backing of established Ace Hardware
In business since 1998

VERY GOOD

4.0

On the Ace Handyman Services website

Ace Handyman Services (formerly Handyman Matters) is a network of locally owned and operated franchise businesses offering home improvement and maintenance services for over 1,162 projects. Entrepreneur magazine's Best of the Best of 2025 gave top honors to Ace Handyman Services, which has been in business since 1998.

Find your local franchise first

Enter your ZIP code to see if there is an Ace Handyman Services franchise in your area, and you'll be directed to one near you. The page not only provides a button to click for an estimate, but it also lists the phone number of the independently owned and operated business nearest you. There are reviews and a listed range of services available. Each listing will give a bit about the local franchise, such as how long they've been in business, photos of completed projects, accreditations, and customer reviews. If you choose to click for an estimate, you'll need to provide your contact information and planned project details to receive a free estimate. While each local franchise handles their own scheduling, the Ace Handyman Services website claims to provide "a seamless booking experience that fits your schedule."

Why choose Ace

Aside from the obvious name recognition, Ace Handyman Services offers to listen and solve your problem, respect you and your home as their own, and deliver on-the-way text notifications. They use only their background-checked reliable, uniformed professionals who are bonded and insured. Ace's "Like It's Our Home" promise even lists what that specifically means to them, including not smoking on your premises, wearing booties or removing shoes, over-communicating, and not requiring advance deposits for small or medium jobs.

No mark-up for supplies

Interestingly, Ace Handyman Services works on a time-and-materials pricing system, only charging for what they actually do. They will advise you on materials to buy and even help you make the shopping list if you want so you don't have to pay for marked-up supplies or for them to take the time to do the shopping. The downside is that they will not give you an exact price quote upfront, instead providing an approximate cost and timeframe. Also look at the bottom of your Ace Handyman Services location's page for a coupon to print which can save you money on the services you use.

No other options

With the Ace Handyman Services website, you only receive one local contractor, if there is one in your area. There is nothing to compare, so if you plan to get more than one quote for your home project - which most wise homeowners will do - you will have to contact other companies elsewhere.

Give them your list

The Ace Handyman Services are available to get those honey-do lists done with their special four-hour or eight-hour packages if desired. Their multi-skilled handmen are employees, not subcontractors. Not only can they do big projects, they can get all of your small ones done. There are also other "package" options, including pet doors, accent walls, TV mounting, and kitchen backsplash.

Website bonuses

The Ace Handyman Services website offers some free resources for homeowners. A checklist for selling your home, another for contractors, and home tips and tricks can make it easier to navigate home improvements.

Craftsmanship guaranteed

While individual franchise pages noted there was a guarantee, we noticed they were listed differently depending on the Ace Handyman Services location. However, on the main page, it says that they provide a one-year craftsmanship guarantee on their work (and on supplies if they purchase them for you). With the backing of Ace's trusted name, the company boasts they offer trustworthy service from "helpful folks" with a fully insured, professional local team to serve you.

Look at local page reviews

Individual franchise locations are reviewed on their own across online review platforms as well as rated and accredited (or not) by the BBB separately. We looked at different locations and noticed that some were accredited with high rankings while others weren't and had low grades. Some reviews mention friendly and knowledgeable workers at a reasonable cost, while others complain of bad experiences. Each location's Ace profile page lists reviews, so be sure to read those, as well as doing a location search on Yelp, Google, or Trustpilot when available.

Ace is still the place to find a helpful handyman

Ace Hardware's trusted name in the industry for over a century lends credibility to this service of individual companies adhering to the overall franchise standards. We like their unique method of not charging for supplies you could buy yourself and only charging for the time the project takes them. All together, this earns Ace Handyman Services a spot on our list of recommended contractor referral services.

On the Ace Handyman Services website

Continued from above...

Where Can You Find the Best Contractors Online?

There's something special about being a homeowner and being able to transform the place you reside into exactly what you want. Remodeling can be magical for those who enjoy changing the look of a space or repurposing it for something different. Other home improvements aren't as much fun as necessary, such as replacing a leaky roof or a toilet. But they all have one thing in common - the need for someone who knows what they're doing.

Most people who know their DIY limitations seek professionals when a job is too big for them to handle or they lack the skills necessary to complete it properly. At that point, they look for a contractor to do the work. But how do you find someone who is both qualified and trustworthy to do a job?

That's where contractor platforms come in. Whether you're seeking a handyman or a skilled electrician, these online services exist to connect homeowners to professionals, typically for no cost to the homeowner. Looking online for a contractor has replaced scanning newspaper advertisements in recent years. Yet not all referral services are created equal.

Because there are so many platforms promising to match you with the right expert, it helps to understand how they work behind the scenes. Some services simply maintain large directories of professionals and leave most of the vetting to you, while others pre-screen contractors for licensing, insurance, and customer satisfaction. The more you know about a platform's process, the easier it becomes to feel confident that the person you hire will show up, communicate clearly, and finish the project the way you expect.

Homeowners also appreciate the convenience these platforms bring to the early stages of a project. Instead of making dozens of phone calls, you can submit a brief description of the work you need and let contractors reach out to you. Many services even allow you to compare quotes, read verified reviews, and see photos of past jobs in one place. This takes much of the uncertainty out of choosing the right professional and helps you move forward with a project feeling far more prepared.

There are many factors to consider when comparing these services. Here are the top factors to consider when you check out places to find a contractor or other qualified help for work on your home:

Search functionality. How easy is this platform to navigate? Are you able to search profiles for yourself or do you need to wait to be matched by their algorithm? How much personal data must you provide before they'll give you contact information?
What the platform does and doesn't do for you. This one can make quite a difference when you're seeking help for your home. Some contractor referral platforms screen and vet the listings they recommend, standing behind their pros and even guaranteeing the work done. Others are simply an online directory of pros who are paying for leads with no verified qualifications. These sites will tell you to do your own checking on their licensing and references, making more work for you.
Cost. These online platforms don't usually have a cost, and work estimates are typically free. Other considerations regarding cost include if you're able to see project costs clearly or if it's more difficult to navigate what a project is going to set you back. Are you able to easily compare services and cost estimates in one place or will results be spread out in multiple emails and on scraps of paper all over your desk?
Reputation. Finally, what is the reputation of the referrals given out from this platform? Are customers complaining or pleased? How does the company fare with the Better Business Bureau? Are they looking out for homeowners and contractors or just in business to make a buck where they can?

At Top Consumer Reviews, we want to help you find the right person to take care of your home projects, so we've reviewed and ranked the best sites to find contractors for hire. Our hope is that this information leads you to the perfect person to complete your home projects so you can sit back and enjoy your living space once again.

Ace Handyman Services Review: Contractor Services

2026 Contractor Service Reviews

Ace Handyman Services

Where Can You Find the Best Contractors Online?

Contractor Service FAQ