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Service call fee calculator
Small jobs lose money when the service call fee doesn't cover the drive, the admin and the first hour. Put in your numbers to find a fair one.
A service call fee covers getting to a job before any work starts. Add your hourly rate for the travel time and first part of an hour to your vehicle cost for the round trip, then round to a clear figure. It stops small jobs losing you money.
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Hear Sam answer as your businessHow it works
Service call fee = hourly rate × (travel + admin + time on site included) + miles × cost a mile
Worked example
At $95 an hour, 40 minutes' travel, 15 minutes' admin and the first 60 minutes on site are 115 minutes of your time. Add 16 miles at $0.70 and the service call fee is $194, then $95 an hour after that.
Don't know your cost a mile? Work it out with the vehicle cost per mile calculator.
Questions
Should I charge a service call fee?
If small jobs and quotes take up your day, yes. Say it clearly on the phone and on your website so there are no surprises.
Should the first hour be included?
Many customers prefer it: one clear price for most small repairs. Then charge in half-hours or hours after that.
What about evenings and weekends?
Charge more for out-of-hours work. Many businesses use one and a half or two times the standard rate.
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