service fees

[CBL]

Hi, I do alot of troubleshooting and service calls for for a proprty management co. in So Cal., I get calls on what I consider maintenance calls, Like I get to a property and change out (2) 70 HPS lamps or on a troublshooting call for an apt with no power in bathroom and find a GFCI tripped or??? I've got 1/2 travel time and a 2 min repair..I'm in So Cal so I know this will vary depending on location but was curious what people are charging for this?? Like so much for a service fee and a 1 or 2 hour min... I send invoices on some of these jobs and seems like I've got way to much time into a $50.00 job... any advice on how to handle this???:-? Thanks, JB

 

[growler]

I send invoices on some of these jobs and seems like I've got way to much time into a $50.00 job... any advice on how to handle this?


Bill as any other commercial service call. The smallest amount I will bill for is $172.50. If it's over 15 miles I add travel & Admin. and that another $32.50. For a total of $205.00.

Once you really start to "Bill" these people some of them will not use your services but other will and that's all that matters. I would rather do one $200 dollar job than four $50 dollar jobs. At $50 I'm just paying for gas ( there is no reason to even show up ). :smile:

Addendum: If you waste time with customers that don't pay then you don't have time to concentrate on those that do.

 

[brian john]

Typically I get 4 hours for my time, with some latitude depending on customer.

For my men it varies but minimum is usually 3 hours. This will include travel during normal busiiness hours on weekends a 4 hour minimum.

 

[mdshunk]

I send invoices on some of these jobs and seems like I've got way to much time into a $50.00 job...

That's sort of the way service calls work out. You'll get used to it. I was at a place this morning for 2-1/2 hours and used $13.00 in material.

I don't know much about SoCal traffic, but in my area I charge a higher rate for the first hour to cover getting me there, and it drops to the regular rate for each additional hour. I round to the nearest hour, so if I was there one hour and 15 minutes, it's 2 hours. Your other option is to go flat rate for your service work, and don't worry about how much time or materials you have wrapped up in it. You just look up "change 1000 watt Metal Halide lamp, reduced jacket, 12-18 feet off grade" in your price book (for instance), and that's what you charge.