The Service Operator

Stop Driving for $89 Jobs: Set a Minimum and Stick to It

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Stop Driving for $89 Jobs: Set a Minimum and Stick to It
The Problem: Low-Ticket Jobs Are Killing Your Crew Day

During peak season (May-July), every crew slot matters. When you send a tech 35 minutes across town for an $89 thermostat battery while an $1,100 compressor replacement sits on the board, you're not just losing $151 on that slot—you're losing the bigger job to a competitor who can get there same day.

The Math:

  • Target: $1,200 revenue per truck per day
  • Expected stops: 5 per day
  • Minimum floor: $1,200 ÷ 5 = $240

    • One bad dispatch per truck per day across three trucks = $450/day lost. Over a five-day week, that's $2,250 left on the table.

    The Solution: Set a Minimum Job Charge
    Step 1: Calculate Your Minimum

    Formula: Target Revenue per Truck Day ÷ Expected Billable Stops = Minimum Ticket Floor

    Examples:

    • Single-tech trucks: $1,200 target ÷ 5 stops = $240 minimum
    • Two-person crews: $2,400 target ÷ 4 stops = $600 minimum

      • Data to pull: Last 60 days by truck, excluding installs. Use EverRest Group's benchmark of 4-5 billable homes per tech per day as a sense-check.

      Step 2: Configure Your CRM Pricebook

      ServiceTitan:

      • Create new service in Pricebook: "Minimum Job Charge"
      • Set unique code, mark non-discountable
      • Track via Invoice Item Detail report filtered by code

        • Jobber:

        • Settings > Products & Services > Add Item
        • Set fixed price, track via Products & Services Report

          • Housecall Pro:

          • Price Book > Add Service (fixed price)
          • Track via Reporting tab, line-item details

            • ServiceMinder:

            • Built-in minimum charge setting at service level
            • Shows on proposals automatically, can exclude parts
              • Step 3: CSR Script (Under 30 seconds)

              Initial script:

              "We can help with that. Before we book, we do have a minimum job charge of $240. That covers the trip and the first 45 minutes on site. If the work is bigger, we quote before we start so there are no surprises. Does that work for you?"

              If they push back:

              "Totally understand. We use this during busy season so we don't tie up a crew on 15-minute fixes while other customers are without AC. If it's a quick fix, you're just at the minimum. If it's more, we show pricing first."

              SMS confirmation:

              "Appointment confirmed for Tuesday at 10. Our minimum job charge is $240, which covers the trip and the first 45 minutes on site. It's credited toward your repair. Reply YES to confirm."

              Step 4: Exceptions (Log with reason codes)
              • Warranty/callbacks: No minimum
              • Membership customers: Credit/waive per plan rules
              • Multi-stop routes: One minimum per site visit
              • Safety/hardship cases: Manager approval required
                • This Is Already Normal

                Real contractors publishing minimums:

                • RMP Home Services (Boulder): $125 minimum including trip + 1 hour
                • Cerney Plumbing (Nebraska): 1-hour minimum at $125/hour
                • Perfect Flush PDX: $75 dispatch fee + 1-hour minimum
                • CoolAC (Albuquerque): $80 minimum on small repairs
                  • 2-Week Measurement Plan

                  Baseline (pre-policy):

                  • % of jobs below proposed minimum
                  • Average ticket
                  • Revenue per truck day
                  • Callback rate

                    • Track daily by truck:

                    • Same metrics plus "Minimum applied?" (Y/N) and "Exception code"

                      • Targets:

                      • Sub-minimum jobs drop 80%+
                      • Average ticket lifts 10-20%
                      • Revenue per truck day increases 5-15%
                      • Callbacks stay flat
                        • Key Resources
                        • MaidCentral: Revenue per technician per day as core KPI
                        • EverRest Group: 4-5 billable homes per tech per day benchmark
                        • PHCPPros: Editorial guidance on minimum service calls
                        • CRM Help Docs: ServiceTitan, Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceMinder setup guides
                          • Your Monday Morning Question

                          If you need $1,200 per truck per day and you're running 5 stops—what's your minimum? And is that number in your pricebook and your CSR's script right now?

                          Download the complete Minimum Job Charge Playbook with math worksheets, CSR scripts, and CRM setup steps at theserviceoperator.com/resources

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                          The Service OperatorBy Mike, Chris