FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Hosting, requirements, the license, the product and what is known in version 1.
Hosting and installation
Handyman Booking OS by OsDot™ installs on hosting you choose. Tested on MySQL 8.4, MariaDB 11.4 and MariaDB 11.8 with PHP 8.3 and 8.4. MySQL 8.0 needs 8.0.19 or later.
Hosting: It was installed through its browser installer on a Hostinger shared hosting account with PHP 8.3 and MariaDB 11.8. This release was tested on MySQL 8.4, MariaDB 11.4 and MariaDB 11.8.
Standard hosting requirements
- Needed
- PHP 8.3 or 8.4, with intl, mbstring, pdo_mysql, openssl, sodium, curl, json, ctype, fileinfo and gd
- PHP
max_execution_time: at least 120 seconds during installation - MySQL 8.4, or MySQL 8.0.19 or later; or MariaDB 11.4 or 11.8. Other MariaDB versions were not tested with this release
- An empty database and a database user for it
- HTTPS, and URL rewriting (
.htaccess) - One scheduled task (cron) every minute, with your host's PHP by its full path (for example
/opt/alt/php83/usr/bin/phpon Hostinger), then the full path ofbin/cake.phpandschedule run; a second, daily, for the licence confirmation (license renew) - A server that can verify HTTPS certificates (a current CA store), for the licence check and the payment providers
Which databases are supported?
MySQL 8.4, MySQL 8.0.19 or later, MariaDB 11.4 or 11.8. This release was tested on MySQL 8.4, MariaDB 11.4 and MariaDB 11.8.
Does it run on shared hosting?
Yes. It was installed through its browser installer on a Hostinger shared hosting account with PHP 8.3 and MariaDB 11.8.
What does the scheduled task look like?
One line every minute: your host's PHP by its full path, then the full path of bin/cake.php, then schedule run. The installer's last page shows the rest of the line.
Is this handyman software self-hosted?
Yes. Buy & Own gives you the full source to install on your own hosting, or we install it for you (Installation, $37).
Is it a SaaS or a shared cloud service?
No. Each installation is its own separate copy with its own database, never a shared multi-tenant service.
Can I install it myself?
Yes: a browser installer checks your server before it installs anything.
Licenses and editions
How much does it cost?
A one-time price per edition: $67, $127 or $499. Buy & Own has no monthly fee; your payment, text message and AI provider costs are your own.
What happens after a year?
Your license is perpetual with normal updates; Priority Support is a separate yearly subscription.
Which edition do I need?
See the editions: one installation, up to five, or reselling under your own brand.
Can I resell it?
With the Reseller / White-Label edition, under its license.
The product
Can I try it first?
Yes. Try it first: a live demo with one sign-in each for the owner, a worker and a customer, and an Android demo app. See the Demo page.
Is it a marketplace app?
No. It's for one business and its own workers: no outside providers and no commissions.
Do I need different software for quotes, scheduling and invoicing?
No. Estimates, scheduling and invoices are in the one product.
Can handyman software handle estimates, invoices and payments?
Yes. Send versioned estimates, invoices with your business's name, numbering and tax lines, and online payments through PayPal, Stripe and Razorpay on your own accounts.
Can customers approve estimates online?
Yes: they approve a specific version, and added work needs their approval before it is done.
Can customers book and pay online?
Yes. They book on your website or in the app, and pay deposits or a part of the balance online where you take online payments.
Do my workers need a separate app?
No. One app for your customers and your workers; each signs in to their own role.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The owner panel works at phone width, and your workers use the app.
Is it suitable for a solo handyman?
Yes. The owner can take jobs too, and it also fits a small team.
Do you take a commission on my payments?
No. Payments go through your own accounts.
Do text messages cost extra?
Text messages go through your own SMS provider account; you pay your provider directly.
Does it track my workers' location?
No. There is no GPS or live tracking. Workers can tell a customer they are on the way, with the arrival time they pick; that is a switch in your settings, off until you turn it on.
Is there an AI helper?
An optional AI writing helper on your own Claude key: off by default, and you review every draft.
Which date and number formats does it use?
Version 1 shows dates, times and amounts in US English format, with the 12-hour clock.
Which currencies?
Works in the currency you choose — USD by default; checkout only offers a payment provider that accepts it.
Is it accessible?
Designed to meet WCAG 2.2 AA.
What is not included?
Route planning; GPS or live tracking; crews or fleets; multi-location or franchises; van stock or parts tracked on jobs; calendar or accounting-software sync; payroll; offline mode; WhatsApp. See field service software for a small handyman business.
What is known in version 1.0?
Known in version 1: the slideshow and the worker's screens use a few fixed colours that do not follow your colour changes. Known in version 1.0: the app may ask you to sign in again when you reopen it after a while. A fix is planned for the next version.
Support and documentation
What does support include?
The documentation and the published fixes come with every edition. Priority Support ($97 a year, optional and never required) gives you priority answers from OsDot for one year: installation questions, configuration and problems in the product as shipped. Not included: custom development, hosting, and the third-party accounts you connect.
Where is the documentation?
Another question?
OsDot Solutions answers questions about Handyman Booking OS by OsDot™ before you buy.