The Worker's Corner
Resources for Local Pros
Straight-up, practical help for building your business in East Tennessee — no fluff, no upsell. Because we're on your side whether or not you've earned us a dime yet.
Heads up: this is general orientation, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change — always confirm licensing with the official state board and talk to a local CPA about your taxes.
📋 Getting Licensed in Tennessee
Some trades need a state license; plenty don't. A few rules of thumb for East TN pros:
- Trades like electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, and larger contracting projects (over a set dollar threshold), generally require a state license.
- Many services — cleaning, lawn care, hauling, pet care, tutoring, handyman work under the threshold — often don't require a state trade license, though local business registration may still apply.
- Your city or county may have its own business-license or permit rules on top of the state's.
Start at tn.gov and search your specific trade, or look up the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance and the Board for Licensing Contractors for the current requirements and thresholds.
Before you bid: if a job needs a license, confirm the current requirement with the official board first. Being properly licensed is also one of the strongest trust signals you can show a customer.
💵 Pricing Your Work (Without Racing to the Bottom)
The fastest way to burn out is to underprice. A simple way to think about it:
- Know your true costs — materials, gas, tools, insurance, phone, wear and tear. That's your floor before you've paid yourself a cent.
- Pay yourself a real hourly rate on top of costs. You're running a business, not doing favors.
- Check what local pros charge for similar work in your area — aim to be fair, not the cheapest. The cheapest quote attracts the worst customers.
- Quote clearly and in writing — scope, price, and what's not included. Clear quotes prevent most disputes before they start.
Remember: on Gigzys you keep 100% — no commission skimmed off your price. Price for a real living, because all of it is yours.
🧾 1099 Taxes Without the Headache
When you work for yourself, taxes aren't withheld for you — so plan ahead:
- Set aside roughly 25–30% of what you earn for taxes as it comes in, in a separate account, so tax time isn't a gut-punch.
- Pay quarterly estimated taxes to the IRS if you'll owe — it avoids penalties and a giant April bill.
- Track every business expense — mileage, tools, supplies, part of your phone. Deductions lower what you owe. Keep receipts.
- Consider a separate business bank account and an EIN (free from the IRS) to keep things clean.
Good news for TN pros: Tennessee has no state income tax on your work earnings — but you still owe federal income and self-employment tax.
Not tax advice: everyone's situation is different. A short session with a local CPA usually pays for itself. This is just to help you plan.
⭐ Getting Your First Customers
Reputation is everything in local work. Here's how to build it fast on Gigzys:
- Fill out your whole profile — photos of real work, a specific bio (city, specialty, years), and a rate range. Complete profiles get far more contacts.
- Share your reputation page everywhere — it's yours. Put the link on your truck, business cards, Facebook, and your Instagram bio. (Find it on your dashboard.)
- Ask happy customers for a review the moment a job goes well. A handful of real reviews changes everything for a new pro.
- Respond fast. The first pro to reply usually gets the job. Turn on notifications.
Your page, your reputation: the reviews and history you build on Gigzys are yours to show anywhere — we're not here to hold them hostage.
🧮 What a Lead Actually Costs You
If you advertise on a pay-per-lead site, put your own figures into the calculator and see what a year of it costs against a flat monthly listing. Includes what the FTC found about HomeAdvisor, with links to the orders themselves.
Run your numbers →