Should I charge for travel time?
Short answer
Bake it into your minimum or add a clearly stated trip fee. Don't pretend travel is free. You're paying for it whether the customer is or not.
Two clean options
Either a service minimum that covers the round trip plus the smallest meaningful job, or a flat trip fee added to every quote, credited back if they book over a threshold.
Stop apologizing
Plumbers, vets, mobile mechanics, all charge for travel. So can you. State it up front and most customers don't blink. The ones who do weren't going to be profitable.
Ask your version of this question
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