Pricing a repair on the fly is one of the hardest parts of the job. If you’re too high, you lose the work. If you’re too low, you’re basically paying the customer to let you work on their house.
If you just pick a number that feels right or base it on past jobs, you can miss costs or not account for inflation and cost increases. Here’s how to break it down so you actually make a profit. I’m using a plumbing repair as an example here, but the math is the same whether you're fixing a leak, wiring a subpanel, or quoting a kitchen backsplash.
Look past the immediate leak
When you get called for a dripping sink, don’t just look at the sink. Check the shut-off valves and the supply lines. Look for corrosion on the drain pipe.
- Why it matters: It saves you a second trip later.
- The upside: It’s an easy upsell that actually helps the customer stay dry.
Match the materials
Check what’s already in the house. If they have copper and you need to transition to PEX, make sure you have the right fittings on the truck. Don't forget to add a markup to your materials. This isn’t just an extra charge, it covers the non-billable time you spent driving to the supply house, your business overhead, the gas in your tank, and any warranty liability if the parts fail. Your mark up may be 20-30% or can be >100% depending on your desired profit margins. If you’re winning most of your bids, your mark ups are probably too low.
Estimate your time (honestly)
A "one-hour job" usually takes two. You have to account for unloading tools, draining lines, the actual repair, cleanup, and the time it takes to write the invoice.
How re:Quoted helps
~80% of customers accept the first quote they get. If you or your crew are standing on the jobsite, showing a customer a quote immediately dramatically increases the chance they’ll accept it. If you wait until you get home later, you’ve probably already lost the job. Plus, writing these quotes after a 10-hour day is brutal. With re:Quoted, you can just tap the microphone on your phone while you’re standing in the kitchen. Say something like, "Replace kitchen faucet, replace two shut-off valves, ½ inch Pex A in the wall."
The app builds a professional estimate with your markups and labor rates already figured in. You can show the customer before you even leave the driveway.
Want to stop doing paperwork at 9:00 PM?
Try re:Quoted free todayCommon Questions About Service Pricing
- Does this pricing work for electrical or HVAC repairs too?Yes. Whether you’re swapping a circuit breaker or fixing an A/C capacitor, the math stays the same. You have to account for your drive time, the cost of the part (plus markup), and a labor rate that actually covers your insurance and truck overhead.
- Should I charge a flat rate or hourly for service calls?Most small shops find that a "flat rate" is easier for the customer to understand, but you should base that flat rate on your hourly needs. If a repair usually takes you 90 minutes, price it for two hours to give yourself a safety net.
- How do I handle "small" jobs that aren't worth the drive? Many pros use a minimum service fee or a trip charge. This ensures that even if a repair only takes ten minutes, you aren't losing money on gas and opportunity cost.
Want to know how other plumbers are using AI?
Check out our blog on AI for Automation.