How Ace Handyman Services Grew from $10,000 Basement Startup to $113 Million Revenue

Colette and Andy Bell launched their handyman business in Denver in 1998 after spotting a market gap: homeowners struggled to find reliable contractors willing to handle small projects. Large specialty companies, Bell explained, preferred selling full replacements rather than making individual repairs.

"We found that homeowners had a really hard time finding somebody professional and reliable for small projects," Colette told Entrepreneur. "That was the niche market we built this business to serve."

The business gained immediate traction. In its first year, the company achieved rapid growth that Bell characterized as taking "off like a rocket." The Bells pursued a franchise model beginning in 2001, with Andy serving as CEO and Colette in various leadership positions including board chairman.

By 2018, the business—operating as Handyman Matters—had achieved sufficient scale to attract Ace Hardware's attention. The hardware retailer acquired the company in 2019, integrating it into its service portfolio as Ace Handyman Services. The acquisition marked a significant milestone after two decades of organic expansion.

Following the acquisition, the Bell's roles shifted within the larger organizational structure. Andy assumed the CEO and president position for Ace Handyman Services, while Colette transitioned to vice president of franchise development, a role she has held since 2019. The company's revenue reached $113 million, reflecting sustained growth under the Ace Hardware umbrella.

The trajectory illustrates a conventional but effective playbook: identifying a specific customer pain point, building operational competence within that niche, franchising to achieve scale, and ultimately attracting acquisition interest from a larger platform player seeking to expand service offerings.