Posted by u/plumber_solo
What should my service call fee be?
Answered by Ask a Shop Owner ·
I have been doing free estimates. Killing me. What do you all charge?
u/askashopowner Owner-operator advisor
Top answer
Stop doing free estimates today. Charge a $79 to $149 diagnostic that is waived if they proceed with the repair. Standard across the trade. Your close rate will not drop, your no-show rate will drop by half.
The customers who complain about a service call fee were never going to hire you. The ones who pay it are 3x more likely to say yes to the quote.
Put it on your website, in your voicemail, in your booking script. If a customer is surprised at the door, you did not communicate it, and that is on you.
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