Set call-out pricing with confidence
Consistent call-out charges protect margin and reduce pricing guesswork. This calculator combines labour, travel, mileage, and overhead into a suggested fee you can adapt to your business.
Teams using job management software can apply these pricing rules across estimates, bookings, and invoices to stay consistent.
Pricing Strategy
How to calculate a fair call-out fee
A call-out fee covers the cost of getting a tradesperson to a customer's location. It ensures you don't lose money on travel time, vehicle wear and tear, and administrative overhead before the job even begins.
- 1 Factor in travel time and mileage to cover fuel and vehicle maintenance.
- 2 Include a portion of your hourly labour rate for the time spent travelling.
- 3 Add a margin to cover administrative overhead and ensure profitability.
- 4 Consider charging a premium for emergency or out-of-hours call-outs.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions about call-out fees
Should I charge a call-out fee? + -
Yes, charging a call-out fee is standard practice in many trades. It protects your business from losing money on travel and initial diagnostics, especially if the customer decides not to proceed with the work.
What is the difference between a call-out fee and an hourly rate? + -
A call-out fee covers the cost of getting to the job and often includes the first hour (or part of an hour) of work. An hourly rate is charged for the time spent actually performing the work after the initial call-out period.
How do I handle emergency call-outs? + -
Emergency or out-of-hours call-outs typically incur a higher fee to compensate for the inconvenience and urgency. You might charge a flat premium or a multiplier (e.g., 1.5x or 2x) on your standard call-out fee.
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