r/plumbing

Plumbing shop owners and lead techs on jobs, pricing, and staffing.

• Posted by u/plumber_solo

  What should my service call fee be?

  I have been doing free estimates. Killing me. What do you all charge?

• Posted by u/converting_shop

  Switching from T&M to flat rate. Where do I start?

  Been time and materials 12 years. Losing money to fast techs. Ready to switch. Overwhelmed by the flat rate books.

• Posted by u/hiring_headache

  Where do you find good plumbers to hire?

  Posted on Indeed for 6 months. Nothing. What works?

• Posted by u/callback_frustration

  How should I handle warranty callbacks?

  Getting more callbacks than I like. Some are on us, some are the customer. Losing money either way.

• Posted by u/plumbing_owner_pnw

  How do I raise labor rates without losing customers?

  At $145/hr, everyone in town is $175+. Been afraid to raise. How?

• Posted by u/second_gen_plumber

  Flat rate or hourly? What are you all running?

  Dad ran hourly for 40 years. I want to switch to flat rate. Worth the hassle?

• Posted by u/no_drains_no_gains

  Should I add drain cleaning to my service plumbing business?

  Turning down 5+ drain calls a week. Machine is $8k. Worth it?

• Posted by u/solo_plumber_ready

  How do I hire my first apprentice?

  Ready to bring on a green helper. What do I pay and how do I not get burned?

• Posted by u/camera_curious

  What should I charge for a sewer camera inspection?

  Just bought a camera. Not sure how to price it as a standalone service or bundled with drain cleaning.