--- title: Turning a 20-Year Passion for Timber into a Top-Rated Handyman Business description: Discover how Paul Mongelli Services grew from a woodworking hobby into a trusted handyman business with quality work and repeat clients. image: https://23226544.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23226544/Paul%20Mongelli%20Services.jpg --- [![CompanyLogo-White-4](https://23226544.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23226544/CompanyLogo-White-4.png) ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/news) - [Home ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/news) - [Service Costs ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/pricing) - [Client Stories ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/client-stories) - [Business Success ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success) - [Success Stories ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success) - [Feature Updates ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/feature-updates) - [Business Awards ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-awards) - [Industry Insights ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/industry-insights) - [Industry Buzz ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/industry-insights) - [Media Highlights ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/press-coverage) [List Your Business ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/list-your-business?action=index&controller=site) Handyman # Turning a 20-Year Passion for Timber into a Top-Rated Handyman Business Discover how Paul Mongelli Services grew from a woodworking hobby into a trusted handyman business with quality work and repeat clients. [ Mari Julian ](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success/author/marie-julian) Jul 16, 2026 [Handyman](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success/tag/handyman) [Tradie Stories](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success/tag/tradie-stories) ### Share this article [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success/turning-a-20-year-passion-for-timber-into-a-top-rated-handyman-business&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success/turning-a-20-year-passion-for-timber-into-a-top-rated-handyman-business&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success/turning-a-20-year-passion-for-timber-into-a-top-rated-handyman-business&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success/turning-a-20-year-passion-for-timber-into-a-top-rated-handyman-business&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) ### Subscribe ![](https://23226544.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23226544/Paul%20Mongelli%20Services.jpg) Paul Mongelli spent twenty years making furniture and working with timber in his spare time before it became his job. "It was a hobby of mine for 20 years, then after a redundancy, I turned it full-time," he says. Now he runs [Paul Mongelli Services](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/profile/216674-paulmongelli-services), taking on handyman work across a range of jobs, still guided by the same eye for timber and craftsmanship he had as a hobbyist. Most of his clients find him through word of mouth or his website, and he puts that down to one thing: doing the job properly. "Ensure quality of work, that customers are happy," is how he sums up his approach to keeping clients coming back. [ServiceSeeking](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au?utm_campaign=content&utm_medium=news&utm_source=business_success&utm_content=article) has become part of how he keeps busy. "It fills the voids in the week," he says. One booking in particular changed the shape of his business, a small job that turned into an ongoing relationship. "I was introduced to a customer for a small job, after which I was retained for much bigger ones," he says. What he values most about the platform is how upfront everything is. "Total open communication from the beginning," he says. Day-to-day, Paul keeps things simple. His PC and phone are about all the tech he needs. When his van ran out of room for his tools, he rented a small storage space and turned part of it into a workshop, where he stored the extra gear. January tends to be his slowest month. He drives for Uber to fill the gap until work picks back up and says getting through the tougher stretches comes down to patience and persistence. That patience, persistence, and honest work show up in how he handles the jobs themselves; one in particular has stayed with him. A customer called him, expecting to need a whole new set of stairs built. Paul had a look and found only minor repairs were needed, saving her thousands of dollars. He measures success by sales and profit, and over the next five years, hopes to grow the business enough to bring on a partner or hire someone full-time. He describes his outlook as "carefully optimistic." One lesson from experience sticks with him: "Be very careful in quoting jobs, and ensure you can do the work." His advice to anyone starting out is to get properly qualified across as many areas as possible, something he says he wishes he'd known earlier on. Outside of work, he plans his holidays well in advance and tries to keep weekends free of jobs, a habit that's kept him going after years in the trade. [![Join Now and Grow!-png](https://23226544.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/23226544/hubfs/Join%20Now%20and%20Grow!-png.png?width=956&height=226&name=Join%20Now%20and%20Grow!-png.png)](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/list-your-business?utm_campaign=content&utm_medium=news&utm_source=business_success&utm_content=banner)   ## Similar posts Smart Home ### [5 Top Smart Home Trends and What Tradies Should Offer](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success/5-top-smart-home-trends-and-what-tradies-should-offer) Here's what's trending in smart homes right now, what homeowners want, and how tradies can position themselves to win more work in 2026. Anna Alonzo Jan 19, 2026 Roofing ### [Roofers in Winter: What Jobs Are Still Worth Taking?](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success/roofers-in-winter-what-jobs-are-still-worth-taking) Wondering if there’s work for roofers in winter? Here’s what jobs are worth taking and how to stay busy through the colder months. Mari Julian Jun 3, 2025 Business Success ### [10 Things Homeowners Look for When Hiring Tradies Online](https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/business-success/10-things-homeowners-look-for-when-hiring-tradies-online) Here's a breakdown of what homeowners are looking for when scrolling through quotes—and how you can position yourself to win more work. 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