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Flat-Rate Price Builder

Price one task at a time for your flat-rate price book, starting from what the job really costs you.

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Price: Replace dual run capacitor
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Exact price
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Your cost
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Gross profit
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Effective rate per labor hour
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How it works

Cost = hours × true labor cost + parts + extras · Price = cost ÷ (1 − margin), rounded up to the next $5

Margin is figured on the selling price, so a 60% margin means 60% of the ticket is gross profit after labor, parts and per-job extras. The effective rate per labor hour shows what the task really bills per hour once parts are taken out, a quick check against your market.

Finding your true labor cost

  • Add a tech's yearly wages, payroll taxes, workers' comp, benefits and training.
  • Add the truck (payment, fuel, insurance, maintenance) and a fair share of office overhead.
  • Divide by billable hours, not hours paid. Drive time, shop time and callbacks aren't billable.

Building the price book

  • Use average times from your own job history where you can, not best-case times.
  • Re-price when parts, wages or fuel move. Many shops review the book twice a year.
  • See flat rate vs. time and materials for the pros and cons, and tech pay plans if you pay techs on flat rate.
Prices set. Now fill the schedule.

90 Leads, which publishes HVAC Cheat Sheet, helps HVAC contractors book more of the jobs they want with Google, ads and call tracking.

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Estimates for planning only, not financial or tax advice. Found a problem with this tool? Tell us.