Comments on: “Flat Rate” HVAC & Plumbing Companies http://www.protechhvac.com/flat-rate-hvac-plumbing-companies/ Simple to Sophisticated. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:51:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Flat Rate Pricing Beware | ASKBOYD | HVAC Specialist | Heating & Air Conditioning Advice http://www.protechhvac.com/flat-rate-hvac-plumbing-companies/#comment-95 Flat Rate Pricing Beware | ASKBOYD | HVAC Specialist | Heating & Air Conditioning Advice Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:32:10 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/flat-rate-hvac-plumbing-companies/#comment-95 [...] Below is a reprint of John’s article.  Please make sure and visit John’s blog. [...] […] Below is a reprint of John’s article.  Please make sure and visit John’s blog. […]

]]> By: Boyd http://www.protechhvac.com/flat-rate-hvac-plumbing-companies/#comment-88 Boyd Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:29:06 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/flat-rate-hvac-plumbing-companies/#comment-88 John, I loved this article. At some point I would like to discuss using your article on my website, with whatever back-links you want. Your article on Flat Rate cuts right through the meat of the subject. I posted an article on www.askboyd.com that was actually a conversation taken from HVAC-TALK explaining how a homeowner had been charged about $500 for 6# of R-22. The final point was that this equated to about $400 an hour. I have a son who just became a nuerologist and he doesn't make that kind of money. It's crazy. I have a similar background to you, except I came from wholesale distribution and have colected horror stories about less then honest HVAC contractors for years. It is frustrating when you are one of the good guys and then you see the scum with the big flashy ad in the paper or yellow pages taking advantage of homeowners who are in a crisis. Not unlike yourself, there was a day not too long ago that I just snapped, and had to let it all out. I am going to write an article/review for www.askboyd.com complementing your site for it's dead on advice and integrity. Thanks again for what you do. John, I loved this article. At some point I would like to discuss using your article on my website, with whatever back-links you want. Your article on Flat Rate cuts right through the meat of the subject. I posted an article on http://www.askboyd.com that was actually a conversation taken from HVAC-TALK explaining how a homeowner had been charged about $500 for 6# of R-22. The final point was that this equated to about $400 an hour. I have a son who just became a nuerologist and he doesn’t make that kind of money. It’s crazy.

I have a similar background to you, except I came from wholesale distribution and have colected horror stories about less then honest HVAC contractors for years. It is frustrating when you are one of the good guys and then you see the scum with the big flashy ad in the paper or yellow pages taking advantage of homeowners who are in a crisis. Not unlike yourself, there was a day not too long ago that I just snapped, and had to let it all out.

I am going to write an article/review for http://www.askboyd.com complementing your site for it’s dead on advice and integrity.

Thanks again for what you do.

]]> By: ProTech http://www.protechhvac.com/flat-rate-hvac-plumbing-companies/#comment-43 ProTech Sun, 11 May 2008 21:39:47 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/flat-rate-hvac-plumbing-companies/#comment-43 Dear CBPH Owner, Thank you for posting a comment on my blog. Your question is a good one, and I would say, in short, you should charge your normal hourly rate for all time associated with a service call, as well as include it in your estimates, period. As I say on my blog about flat rate, the time you spend traveling to your customer is not time that you are spending on yourself, thus you must charge them for it. If they complain, then you have not convinced them (or yourself, or both) that you are worth it. The business that we are in is the "time business", and you just happen to be able to fix plumbing and hvac equipment while you are expending time - time getting there and back, and time there - so that you can provide your customer with some comfort and peace of mind, which is why you need to market yourself a bit better...that is, if you feel you shouldn't be charging them for "travel costs". Remember, you are not doing your business for practice then someday charge more. There is no practice once you've decided to go into business - this is the main act! Start charging for all of your time, commencing with the very next call, or estimate, and be prepared to sell yourself, not defend yourself. Time should be an asset for you, not a liability! Time = $. Spray paint that on your dashboard, but don't speed, as that costs $. If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to answer them, anytime! Peace and good fortune to you. John Rocheleau 603-817-2754 Dear CBPH Owner,

Thank you for posting a comment on my blog. Your question is a good one, and I would say, in short, you should charge your normal hourly rate for all time associated with a service call, as well as include it in your estimates, period. As I say on my blog about flat rate, the time you spend traveling to your customer is not time that you are spending on yourself, thus you must charge them for it. If they complain, then you have not convinced them (or yourself, or both) that you are worth it. The business that we are in is the “time business”, and you just happen to be able to fix plumbing and hvac equipment while you are expending time - time getting there and back, and time there - so that you can provide your customer with some comfort and peace of mind, which is why you need to market yourself a bit better…that is, if you feel you shouldn’t be charging them for “travel costs”. Remember, you are not doing your business for practice then someday charge more. There is no practice once you’ve decided to go into business - this is the main act! Start charging for all of your time, commencing with the very next call, or estimate, and be prepared to sell yourself, not defend yourself. Time should be an asset for you, not a liability! Time = $. Spray paint that on your dashboard, but don’t speed, as that costs $.

If you have any more questions, I’d be happy to answer them, anytime!

Peace and good fortune to you.

John Rocheleau
603-817-2754

]]> By: Bill Hatter http://www.protechhvac.com/flat-rate-hvac-plumbing-companies/#comment-42 Bill Hatter Sat, 10 May 2008 17:32:54 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/flat-rate-hvac-plumbing-companies/#comment-42 Flat rate stinks but what do we do to cover cost to and from jobs Flat rate stinks but what do we do to cover cost to and from jobs

]]>