Picking between two Dallas handyman shops with real reviews is a fair problem to have. The Smart Fix Handyman and Hank’s Handyman Service both run actual employees, both carry insurance, and both have a long track record in the metro. The right pick depends on the size of your job, the warranty you want behind it, and how much you care about who walks through your door.
I’m Chance. I run The Smart Fix in Dallas, so I have skin in this game. I’ve also spent years in real estate inspections and on the fire side, which means I’ve seen what happens when a small fix gets handed to the wrong person. This is my honest read on how the two shops line up.
The Short Version
Hank’s Handyman Service is a 4.8-star shop based out of Garland that’s good at quick, single-task visits. They bill by the hour with no minimum, charge a small dispatch fee, and run a tight residential menu.
The Smart Fix runs W-2 crews out of Dallas and Fort Worth, carries $1 million in liability plus workers comp, and backs every job with a one-year labor guarantee. We charge a $95 job minimum and $145 per hour. We shine on bigger punch lists, multi-trade days, and remodels.
If your fix is one hour or less, Hank’s is a fine call. If your day is two hours, two rooms, and three tasks, that’s where we earn our rate.
Side by Side: The Smart Fix vs Hank’s Handyman
| Factor | The Smart Fix Handyman | Hank’s Handyman Service |
|---|---|---|
| Years in Business | 10+ years across DFW and Houston | Since 2019 |
| Google Rating | 4.9 stars, 300+ five-star reviews | 4.8 stars, 1,400+ reviews |
| Crew Type | W-2 employees only | W-2 team members |
| Service Area | Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston (3 offices) | Dallas metro from Garland HQ |
| Hourly Rate | $145 per hour | Hourly, no published rate |
| Minimum | $95 job minimum | No minimum; $69 dispatch fee, waived if same-day |
| Insurance | $1M liability plus workers comp | Licensed and insured |
| Warranty | 1-year labor guarantee, in writing | Satisfaction-based, no published term |
| Free Quote | Same-day virtual assessment, usually within 30 minutes | Free estimates within 48 hours |
| Best Fit | Bigger punch lists, remodels, multi-trade days | Single-task visits, one-hour fixes |
Where Hank’s Handyman Service Might Be the Better Fit
Hank’s hourly model with no minimum is a real edge for small jobs. If you have one IKEA dresser to assemble, one shelf to hang, or one faucet to swap, you don’t need a shop with a $95 floor. You need someone who can show up, knock it out in 45 minutes, and leave.
Hank’s also has more raw review volume on Google than we do. That kind of count usually means a high run rate of small jobs and a lot of happy one-time customers. If sheer review count gives you confidence, that’s a fair signal.
Their team is W-2, background-checked, and drug-tested. That’s the same standard we hold. So on the trust question, you’re not trading much by picking Hank’s for a small task.
I’d point you to Hank’s if:
- Your job is one task, under one hour
- You want hourly billing with no minimum
- You are east of downtown and want a Garland-based shop close by
- You do not need a written one-year labor guarantee
Where The Smart Fix Tends to Win
Our model is built for the bigger day. When you have a punch list that mixes drywall, a door that won’t latch, a leaky valve, and a TV that needs mounting, we send a tech who can handle all four. One visit. One invoice. One person accountable.
I tell our guys in training that the worst thing we can do is leave a customer with a half-finished list. So we plan for the full day and price for the full day. That’s why we set a $95 job minimum. It keeps us from over-promising on tiny visits and lets us load the truck for the bigger ones.
W-2 Employees and a Written One-Year Guarantee
Every Smart Fix tech is a W-2 employee. Not a 1099 sub. Not a guy we know from a job two years back. If something we fixed fails inside a year, we come back and make it right at no charge. Hank’s is also a W-2 shop, which I respect. The difference is the written one-year labor guarantee. Ours is on paper. We have not seen Hank’s publish a specific labor warranty term.
$1 Million Liability Insurance Plus Workers Comp
We carry one million in liability coverage and workers comp on every job. If a tech slips on your stairs, that’s our problem, not yours. Both shops say they’re insured. Ours is specific to the dollar.
Three Texas Offices, Same Standards
We run out of Haslet (Fort Worth), Dallas on Estate Lane, and Spring (Houston area). Same training. Same checklists. Same pricing. Hank’s runs from Garland and serves the Dallas metro. If you have rental properties spread between Dallas and Houston, that matters. If you only ever need work at one Dallas house, it doesn’t.
Free Virtual Assessments
We do a free same-day virtual assessment over video, usually within 30 minutes of you calling. You walk the phone around the job, the tech sees what you’re working with, and you get a real number. No truck roll for a quote you didn’t want.
How Pricing Actually Plays Out
Hourly handyman pricing in Dallas runs from $50 to $125 an hour at the low end and up to $145 at our end. The cheapest hour isn’t always the cheapest job. A $75-an-hour tech who takes three hours to do what our tech does in 90 minutes costs you more.
When I worked real estate, I’d walk through houses where the previous owner picked the cheapest handyman in town. Three years later, the drywall patches were cracked, the trim was off-center, and the new owner was paying us to redo it. The math on cheap handyman work catches up.
For a real one-hour visit, Hank’s hourly with no minimum will likely come in cheaper. For a three-hour, three-task day, we tend to land close on total price and ahead on warranty. For a bathroom or kitchen remodel, it’s not really a fair comparison. That’s our menu, not theirs.
What to Ask Before You Book Either Shop
- Will a W-2 employee or a subcontractor walk through my door?
- What’s the written labor warranty, and how long does it run?
- What’s the job minimum and the hourly rate?
- Can I see a Certificate of Insurance before work starts?
- What does the quote include? Materials, hauling, and cleanup, or just labor?
Both shops should answer all five without flinching. If either one dodges, that’s your sign.
A Note on Methodology
This comparison uses public information from both companies’ websites, Google review counts as of May 2026, and standard handyman pricing data for Dallas. I’m the owner of The Smart Fix, so my view is biased toward our model. I tried to keep the table factual and the recommendation honest. If Hank’s fits your job better, book Hank’s. The goal is a fix that holds, not a sale.
For a wider look at the local options, see our guide to the best handyman services in Dallas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which handyman is cheaper in Dallas, The Smart Fix or Hank’s?
For a single one-hour task, Hank’s hourly billing with no minimum will usually come in cheaper. For a multi-task day or a job that needs more than one trade, The Smart Fix often lands close on total price because we plan the day around your full punch list and back the work with a one-year labor guarantee.
Are both companies licensed and insured in Texas?
Yes. Texas does not require a specific handyman license, but both shops carry liability insurance. The Smart Fix carries $1 million in liability coverage plus workers comp on every job. Hank’s lists themselves as licensed and insured. Ask either shop for a Certificate of Insurance before work begins.
Do both shops use W-2 employees or subcontractors?
Both use W-2 employees. The Smart Fix only sends W-2 technicians who go through company training and background checks. Hank’s also runs a W-2 team, background-checked and drug-tested. Neither shop uses random 1099 subs.
What is the warranty on each company’s work?
The Smart Fix offers a one-year labor guarantee in writing. If a job we did fails inside 12 months, we come back and fix it free. Hank’s offers satisfaction-based service but does not publish a specific labor warranty term. Ask before you book if a written warranty matters to you.
Which shop is better for a kitchen or bathroom remodel?
The Smart Fix handles full kitchen and bathroom remodels, with crews that can pull a project across drywall, tile, plumbing, and electrical. Hank’s menu is built around smaller repair and install tasks. For a remodel, The Smart Fix is the better match.
Bottom Line
Hank’s Handyman Service is a real Dallas option for small, single-task visits. The Smart Fix is built for the bigger day, the multi-task punch list, and the remodel. Both shops will treat your house better than the average Craigslist handyman. Pick the one whose model fits the size of your job.
If you want this checked or handled, reach out through thesmartfixhandyman.com.
Chance | The Smart Fix
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