Plumbing Bids
I just started a plumbing business and I get the concept of bidding but somehow always end up under estimating. I even doubled my last bid and still somehow ended up an impactful amount of hours over. I don't know if I visualize my objective wrong or I'm really that much slower than I anticipate (If that makes sense). The materials I buy are marked price + 30% and hourly is pretty straightforward, I charge from the moment I leave the office to the moment I return. Change orders are a weak point for me and I know the consequences of doing free labor. Is there any special courses to perfect bidding?Do Electrical Contractors Understand Costs ?
I’m not talking about materials and labor. I’m talking about the real costs, not just the bare minimum ... the hidden stuff that slowly eats away at your margin while you’re out chasing the next job. After spending the last few months traveling with contractors across the country, I keep seeing the same problem: Everyone talks about revenue or price like it means anything So here I created another visual... A Blueprint to Understanding Cost — Because I’m tired of watching good contractors work hard and still stay broke. This is everything that goes into the number before you even think about profit. What do you guys think?HELP Too Many Electricians Google Prices — Not Enough Understand Margins
The last 6 months in our masterclass, we been talking with contractors throughout the USA- and one thing has shocked me personally about Electrical Contractors... Most electricians aren’t building pricing based on math, they’re just guessing. This is a shock to me because so many of us worked our A$$ off to apply and take the state exam. Yet, we fall back to asking Facebook or Googling “how much to charge for [x].” Another thing I saw was many copying what the other guy charges without knowing if he’s even profitable, or the fact their competitors have a different overhead. Am I the only one going crazy here? I built this visual as a blueprint for the trades. If you wire jobs with code compliance, you should price them with the same level of attention. What do you all think?
Recurring Revenue
We are looking to implement more recurring revenue services into our electrical business. Our customers are mostly residential on-off work. We have serval recurring customers but needs some ideas to market to draw in more monthly or annual services. Has anyone had any luck in the residential side of recurring services? If so what are some that have best benefited you?
Seeking Advice: Building a Pricing Strategy and Ideal Customer Avatar for MTAC Plumbing
Hi Everyone, This is Markus from MTAC Plumbing, based in Kitchener, Ontario. After 2.5 years in business, I’m reaching out to fellow plumbing companies for advice and insights. As a relatively new business, we’ve been saying "yes" to all types of customers and work. We’ve worked with small general contractors on home renovations, direct service calls with homeowners, small commercial fit-outs, reworks, and even a few custom new construction homes. One challenge I’m facing is narrowing down my ideal customer avatar. Without that focus, I’ve struggled to create a solid pricing strategy and price book tailored to specific types of work. I’ve consumed a lot of content—coaching programs, podcasts, and even paid for some trades business coaching—but I’m constantly torn between different approaches. Should I stick to flat rate/lump sum pricing, or go with time and materials transparency? Overhead recovery is another area I need to lock down, along with deciding whether to lean into truck/service charges or a higher hourly rate with minimum-hour strategies. Currently, my price book in Jobber feels clunky and difficult to use. It’s challenging to organize by service types (e.g., Service, Renovation, Commercial), and there’s no way to create subfolders, making navigation harder. From my experience, homeowners in my area often see flat-rate pricing as a dealbreaker. I’ve trained our admin to explain that a plumber needs to assess the job on-site because of plumbing’s many variables. For common issues, I’m considering building out flat-rate pricing for simplicity, but most clients still want an upfront range or at least a disclosed hourly rate before scheduling. I’m looking for advice from this community: How do you structure your pricing and organize your price books? Do you use flat rate, lump sum, or time and materials strategies, and how do they work for you? What’s the best way to build confidence and efficiency in pricing to ramp up billables while keeping processes streamlined? I appreciate any insights or feedback! Best regards, Markus MTAC PlumbingReoccurring Electrical Service Plan
Hey guys, I've been thinking of offering something along the lines of this to my clients. Has anyone done this successfully and are there any tips that you would recommend when offering this type of thing? One thing that's been holding me back is that sometimes I just don't think electrical really needs much maintenance but there has been a few things that I've seen recently that made me think differently. I saw companies were cleaning people's bathroom fans, they were changing smoke detector batteries. This is the kind of thing that's probably needed. Below is just me chatting with chat gpt to flush out the idea. "The Electrical Club" is a fantastic concept! It creates a sense of exclusivity and community while providing valuable recurring services to your clients. The "Welcome to the Club!" messaging is engaging and makes homeowners feel like they're part of something beneficial and proactive. Suggested Services for "The Electrical Club": Annual Safety Inspection Check outlets, switches, and wiring for wear and tear. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Inspect and test GFCI outlets. Panel Maintenance Tighten connections in the electrical panel. Ensure breakers and fuses are functioning properly. Clean out any dust or debris from the panel. Lighting Upgrades Clean or replace light fixtures and bulbs (including hard-to-reach areas). Inspect and update outdoor security lighting. Offer LED upgrades for energy efficiency. Surge Protection Maintenance Inspect and test whole-home surge protectors. Recommend upgrades if needed. Energy Efficiency Consultation Assess energy usage and suggest improvements. Install smart home devices like smart thermostats, dimmers, or timers. Seasonal Services Inspect and prepare outdoor outlets and circuits for winter. Ensure holiday lighting circuits are safe and functional. Check and service AC or heater wiring in the relevant season. Emergency Priority Service Offer members priority scheduling for emergency repairs. Provide a dedicated hotline or contact for members. Discounted Services Provide a discount on additional services, installations, or repairs. Exclusive Member Perks Quarterly newsletters with tips and updates. Annual energy audit. Special offers on new tech or home upgrades. How It Could Work: Membership Tiers: Offer different plans (e.g., Basic, Plus, Premium) based on frequency or range of services. Subscription Model: Monthly or annual membership fees for convenience. Bundled Services: Include a certain number of hours for small fixes as part of the plan. This could help you build long-term relationships with clients while ensuring their homes are safe and up-to-date! Would you like help drafting a membership brochure or subscription model?
