industry standards

[bichon88]

Hi everyone, need some help here. I'm starting a new hvac business in my area and would like to know the standard rules as far as how the customer is charged. Do I charge the customer the hourly rate from the time the service tech leaves the office until the time the service tech returns and does his paperwork. Or, do I just charge the customer for the amount of time the service tech spends at the job site only. I have called around to different places and no one will give me a direct answer. I guess they think I'm fishing for information.

[FL.HVAC]

The only time I charge a customer from my door back to my door is when it's and emergency call after hours. Otherwise I just charge a flat rate service call which covers about an hour and letting the customer know what the problem is.

[bichon88]

The only reason I'm asking is one local hvac place here in PA told me that it is industry standard to charge the hourly rate from the time the service tech leaves until the time the service tech returns and does his/her paperwork. I personally don't think the customers are going to go for that, after all, why should the customer pay for the service tech to do paper work. The paperwork is required by the employer not the customer. Correct?

[craig1]

Why would a tech come back to the office to do paperwork. That should be done onsite. In fact why would a tech be coming back to the office at all. How would they have enough time to complete any service calls.

[kamersoutdoor]

If you've been in the industry any good amount of time you should be able to answer this yourself! Bill like previous employers had you bill.

[rmuntz]

It's just like going potty...the jobs not finished 'til the paperwork is done !

[indy2000]

Why wouldn't the customer pay for the paperwork to be completed?