Minimum Job Charge Playbook — 1‑Page SOP

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

• Example (2‑person crew): $2,400 RCD ÷ 4 stops = $600 minimum.
• Example (1‑tech truck): $1,200 RPTD ÷ 5 stops ≈ $240 minimum.
• How to pick “stops”: pull last 60 days by truck (exclude installs). In season, sense‑check against 4–5 homes/tech/day. Round your minimum up to the nearest $10–$25.
• Set [MIN_AMOUNT] and note if it includes first [Y] minutes on site (e.g., 45–60 min).

Name it exactly: “Minimum Job Charge.” Add clear description: “Covers trip + first [Y] min on site. Credited toward approved repair.” Mark non‑discountable. Tax status per state rules. Use a unique code (e.g., MIN‑CHG).

ST: Pricebook > Services > +Add Service.

• Code: MIN‑CHG; Category: Fees/Trip/Minimum; Price: $[MIN_AMOUNT]; Non‑discountable: On; Taxable: per state.
• Train: CSRs/techs add MIN‑CHG to every qualifying ticket or auto‑add via call reasons/workflows.
• Reporting: Accounting/Reports > Invoice Item Detail with Pricebook Information; filter by Code = MIN‑CHG to see adoption and revenue.

Jobber: Settings > Products & Services > + Add Item.

• Name: Minimum Job Charge; Price: $[MIN_AMOUNT]; Category: Fees; Taxable: per rules.
• Usage: Add to quotes/jobs/invoices when minimum applies.
• Reporting: Insights > Reports > Products & Services; filter for “Minimum Job Charge.” Also watch Average Job Size trend.

HCP: Price Book > Services > + New Service (Fixed Price).

• Name: Minimum Job Charge; Price: $[MIN_AMOUNT]; Description includes credit language.
• Usage: Add to estimates/jobs so revenue books on the ticket.
• Reporting: Reports > Jobs/Revenue; drill into line‑item details. Track Average Job Size after launch.

SM: Control Panel > Services > select/create service.

• Set Base Duration and Base Price to $[MIN_AMOUNT]; enable/show “minimum charge” on proposals.
• Parts nuance: mark applicable parts “Exclude from Minimum” when appropriate.
• Reporting: export proposals/invoices by service to see minimum usage/revenue.

Copy to use (paste on ‘Rates/Policies’ and booking confirmations):

• “We have a minimum job charge of $[MIN_AMOUNT]. It covers the trip and the first [Y] minutes on site. If additional work is needed, we show pricing before we start and credit the minimum toward your repair.” Add the same line to your online booking notes.

CSR script (≈30 sec): “We can help with that. Before we book, we do have a minimum job charge of $[MIN_AMOUNT]. That covers the trip and the first [Y] minutes on site. If the work is bigger, we quote before we start so there are no surprises. Does that work for you?” If pushback: “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/hot water/power]. If it’s a quick fix, you’re just at the minimum. If it’s more, we show pricing first.” If yes: “Great — I’ll text the visit details. You’ll see the minimum on the confirmation; it’s credited toward the job.” SMS (≤320 chars): “Appt confirmed for [DATE/TIME]. Our minimum job charge is $[MIN_AMOUNT], which covers trip + first [Y] min on site and is credited toward your repair. Reply YES to confirm or call/text [SHOP #] with questions.”

• Create a call reason/tag: MINIMUM REQUIRED.
• ST: tie call reason to auto‑add MIN‑CHG on job creation (or prompt CSR).
• Jobber/HCP/SM: add a booking checklist item “Add Minimum Job Charge if applicable.”
• Post a one‑line reminder at the top of the dispatch board for 2 weeks: “Minimum on all single‑issue trips unless exception code.”

Approved exception reasons and where to log:

• Warranty/Recall/Callback — no minimum. Reason code: WARRANTY/CALLBACK.
• Active Membership Benefit — credit or waive per plan. Reason: MEMBERSHIP CREDIT.
• Route Bundle (HOA/PM multi‑stop same site) — single minimum per site/visit. Reason: ROUTE BUNDLE.
• Safety/Hardship (heat/no‑heat, critical water/power) — manager approval required. Reason: SAFETY/HARDSHIP. Record the code on the job (custom field, tag, or reason).

Setup today: note your baseline week (pre‑policy) metrics: % of jobs below proposed minimum, Average Ticket, Revenue per Truck/Crew Day (RPTD/RCD), Callback Rate. Track for 14 days by truck:

• Columns: Date | Truck | Jobs | MIN‑CHG Applied? (Y/N) | Exception Code | Avg Ticket | RPTD/RCD | Callbacks (%). Targets: cut sub‑minimum jobs by 80%+, lift Average Ticket 10–20%, raise RPTD 5–15% with no callback increase. Where to pull:
• ST: Invoice Item Detail w/ Pricebook Info (filter MIN‑CHG), plus daily revenue by truck.
• Jobber: Products & Services (MIN‑CHG revenue) + Average Job Size.
• HCP: Reports (line‑item + Average Job Size).
• SM: export by service; compare Avg Job and daily revenue.

Ask: Did we hit targets without hurting close rate? If inbound softened, re‑run the math with updated expected stops (seasonal) or add an off‑peak variant (e.g., diagnostic credit with repair). Keep the item, the script, and the reporting — tune the dollar, not the habit.

“If we need $[RCD_TARGET] per crew day and we run [STOPS] stops, what’s our minimum — and is it in both the pricebook and the CSR script on every qualifying job?” Assign one follow‑up and recheck next Monday.