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What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026?

📖 2,663 words🗓️ Published Oct 3, 2026

Direct Answer

A plumbing company should charge service fees that are tangible and cost-justified — a trip/dispatch fee for the truck and tech time, an after-hours premium for nights and weekends, a permit-handling fee for the paperwork — never a hidden surcharge that customers feel ambushed by. The working formula is Service-Fee Revenue per Month = Σ (attach rate % × monthly jobs × fee price), and the margin it adds is Fee Revenue × fee margin (typically 85–95%, since most of these fees recover cost the company already covers in overhead). As a worked example, take a 4-truck shop running 520 jobs/month: a $79 trip/dispatch fee at a 95% attach rate = 520 × 0.95 × $79 = $39,026/mo; an $150 after-hours emergency premium at an 18% attach rate = 520 × 0.18 × $150 = $14,040/mo; and a $95 permit-handling fee at a 12% attach rate = 520 × 0.12 × $95 = $5,928/mo. Add a $45 materials/supply fee at a 60% attach rate (520 × 0.60 × $45 = $14,040/mo) and a $120 haul-away fee at an 8% attach rate (520 × 0.08 × $120 = $4,992/mo), and the stack is $78,026/mo in fee revenue at roughly a 90% margin = ~$70,223/mo of contribution margin — enough to fund a dispatcher, a CSR team, and a permit coordinator. The 2027 benchmark for healthy residential plumbers is a dispatch/trip fee of $59–$99 (often waived or credited if the job proceeds), an after-hours premium of 1.5×–2× the standard rate, and fee revenue equal to 10–18% of service revenue. The rule that keeps it honest: every fee maps to a cost the customer can see (a truck rolled, a permit pulled, debris hauled, a night call). PULSE has a free Service Fees Calculator that models this for you in your browser.

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The Top 10 Tools to Set and Collect Plumbing Service Fees

The right stack does three things: it adds the fee at dispatch or on the invoice, it enforces the after-hours and emergency premiums automatically, and it reports fee revenue separately so you can track contribution margin. Item #1 is the free PULSE planner; items 2–10 are the real field-service, payments, and accounting platforms that actually charge the fees.

1PULSE Service Fees Calculator 🏆 BEST OVERALL

What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 1

PULSE's free Service Fees Calculator runs this math in your browser in seconds — no login, no spreadsheet. You enter your monthly job count, then each candidate fee (trip/dispatch, after-hours, permit handling, materials/supply, haul-away), set an attach rate and a fee margin, and it returns total fee revenue, contribution margin, and the share of service revenue your fees represent. For a plumbing company, that means you can test "what if the dispatch fee moves from $69 to $79 at a 95% attach rate" before you change the script your CSRs read.

It is the default pick because it is free, instant, and built for exactly this question — sizing the fee, not running the dispatch board. Use it to design the fee schedule, then collect the fees in one of the field-service platforms below. It pairs naturally with PULSE's Gross Profit Calculator when you want to fold fee margin into a full job-level P&L.

2ServiceTitan

What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 2

ServiceTitan is the enterprise-grade field-service platform for plumbing, HVAC, and electrical contractors, and it is built to charge service fees at scale. You can attach a dispatch fee, after-hours premium, permit-handling fee, and materials charge through its pricebook, apply time-of-day pricing so nights and weekends auto-bill the premium, and require payment on completion in the field. Its Dispatch Pro and pricebook tools standardize the fee across every truck so no tech forgets it.

ServiceTitan pricing is quote-based and built for larger shops — commonly $300+/technician/month equivalent once fully configured, with implementation costs on top. It ranks #2 because for a multi-truck plumbing company, the automatic enforcement and granular fee reporting are unmatched: you can see dispatch-fee capture rate, after-hours mix, and fee revenue as a percent of revenue on one dashboard.

3Housecall Pro 💎 BEST VALUE

What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 3

Housecall Pro is the best-value paid platform for a small-to-mid plumbing company. Pricing runs roughly $59/month (Basic, one user), about $149/month (Essentials), and around $299/month (MAX) for a small team — a fraction of ServiceTitan for a 1–4 truck shop. It supports dispatch/trip fees, after-hours rates, materials line items, and permit fees, takes card and ACH payment in the field, and texts customers the invoice.

It ranks as the value leader because it delivers the fee controls a growing plumber actually needs — online booking, automatic estimates, payment on site, and clean reporting — without the enterprise price tag or long implementation. For an owner running a handful of trucks who wants real fee enforcement this week, Housecall Pro is the value pick.

4Jobber

What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 4

Jobber is a strong field-service platform for smaller home-service businesses, including plumbers. Pricing runs about $39/month (Core), $119/month (Connect), and $199/month (Grow) depending on team size and features. It supports service fees and surcharges as line items, lets you set per-visit or per-job charges, and collects payment on completion via Jobber Payments.

Jobber earns its spot for plumbers who want clean quoting and scheduling with straightforward fee line items. It is lighter on automatic time-of-day premium pricing than ServiceTitan, so after-hours fees are often added manually, but for a small shop the simplicity and price are attractive.

5Stripe Billing

What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 5

Stripe Billing is the engine for plumbers running service-plan memberships — the recurring "priority service / annual inspection" club that smooths revenue. Stripe's standard processing is about 2.9% + $0.30 per online transaction, with Stripe Billing adding a recurring layer (commonly 0.5–0.8% of recurring revenue on the paid tier). It does not dispatch trucks, so it sits behind your field-service tool or website.

For a plumbing company building a membership program (e.g., $19/month for priority dispatch and a waived trip fee), Stripe Billing handles the automated charge, failed-payment retries, and proration, turning one-off fees into predictable recurring contribution margin. It ranks for shops with a developer or agency wiring the membership flow.

6Square (Card Processing & Invoicing)

What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 6

Square matters to plumbers for two reasons: it is a cheap on-ramp for card processing and invoicing, and the card-processing pass-through is itself a legitimate fee to quantify. Square's rates run about 2.6% + $0.10 (in person) and 2.9% + $0.30 (online/invoiced), with free invoicing and no monthly minimum on the base tier. You can send an invoice with a trip fee, materials charge, and a transparent processing line built in.

Square ranks here for solo plumbers and brand-new shops who want to take card payment and itemize fees without committing to a full field-service suite. Its honesty on rates makes a processing fee defensible — you charge what the processor charges, with no markup.

7QuickBooks Online

What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 7

QuickBooks Online is where plumbing fee revenue gets categorized, reconciled, and reported so you can see contribution margin. Plans run about $35/month (Simple Start) up to $235/month (Advanced). By mapping each fee — dispatch, after-hours, permit, materials, haul-away — to its own income account, you can report fee revenue as a percent of service revenue and confirm you are inside the 10–18% benchmark.

QuickBooks is not where you charge the fee; it is where you prove it is working. Most field-service platforms (ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, Jobber) sync to QuickBooks, so the fee line items flow straight into your books for clean job costing.

8Clover

What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 8

Clover is a point-of-sale and payments system some plumbing shops use at a counter or in the truck for card processing and surcharge handling. Plans run roughly $14.95–$49.95+/month depending on the package, plus processing (often 2.3–2.6% + $0.10 in person). Clover can apply service fees and surcharges at the point of payment and integrates with various invoicing apps.

It earns a spot for plumbers who want flexible payment hardware — a countertop terminal at the shop plus mobile readers in trucks — and the option to apply a disclosed card surcharge where state rules allow. Its native field-service scheduling is weak, so it is best paired with a dispatch tool above.

9FieldEdge

What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 9

FieldEdge is a dedicated field-service management platform for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors. It supports flat-rate pricing, dispatch fees, after-hours rates, and materials markup, and offers strong QuickBooks integration plus a customer-history view techs see in the field. Pricing is quote-based and typically lands between Housecall Pro and ServiceTitan for a mid-size shop.

FieldEdge ranks for established plumbing companies that want flat-rate pricebook discipline and tight accounting sync without the full ServiceTitan footprint. Its strength is making the trip fee and premium rates consistent across every tech, which directly raises fee-capture rate.

10Workiz

What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 10

Workiz is a field-service and dispatch platform aimed at small-to-mid home-service businesses, including plumbers. Pricing runs roughly $45–$198/user/month across its tiers. It supports dispatch fees, custom service charges, and payment collection in the field, plus call tracking and online booking that help convert and bill more jobs.

It earns the final spot for plumbers who want affordable dispatch automation with built-in phone/call features. Like Jobber, its time-of-day premium handling is lighter than ServiceTitan, but for a small shop wanting better scheduling and consistent fee line items, Workiz is a credible option.

How to Choose

Match the platform to your truck count. Solo or 1–2 trucks: Housecall Pro, Jobber, or Square invoicing. Mid-size with flat-rate discipline: FieldEdge or Workiz. Multi-truck scaling shop: ServiceTitan.
Demand automatic time-of-day pricing. An after-hours premium that depends on a tech remembering to add it will leak revenue. ServiceTitan and FieldEdge enforce premium rates by schedule; lighter tools require a manual line item — fine for low after-hours volume.
Insist on separate fee reporting. You must see dispatch, after-hours, permit, materials, and haul-away revenue apart from labor, or you can't track the 10–18% benchmark. The field-service tool captures it; QuickBooks confirms it.
Keep every fee tangible. Tie each fee to a visible cost — a truck rolled (dispatch), a night call (after-hours), paperwork filed (permit), debris removed (haul-away). A fee the customer can explain is a fee they pay without a fight.
Decide your dispatch-fee policy up front. Many shops waive or credit the trip fee if the customer approves the repair. That converts the fee into a commitment device rather than a barrier, and it keeps capture rate high.
Plan the fee before you collect it. Use the Service Fees Calculator to size attach rates and margin first, then configure the fee in your field-service platform.

FAQ

What is a trip/dispatch fee and how much should it be? A trip/dispatch fee covers the cost of sending a truck and a technician to a customer’s location, including fuel, vehicle maintenance, and travel time. Most plumbing companies charge between $50 and $100 for this fee, with $79 being a common middle point. It is typically applied to 90–95% of service calls.

How do after-hours emergency premiums work? An after-hours premium is an extra charge for service calls made outside normal business hours, such as nights, weekends, or holidays. This fee usually ranges from $100 to $200, with $150 being typical, and it applies to about 15–20% of total monthly jobs. It compensates for the inconvenience and higher labor costs of off-hours work.

What is a permit-handling fee and why is it charged? A permit-handling fee covers the time and paperwork a plumber spends obtaining necessary permits from local authorities for certain jobs, like water heater replacements or major repipes. This fee typically runs between $75 and $125, and it is applied to roughly 10–15% of jobs that require permits. It ensures the company recovers administrative costs without surprising the customer.

What does a materials/supply fee include? A materials/supply fee covers small consumables used on the job, such as fittings, solder, tape, or sealants, that aren’t itemized separately. This fee generally ranges from $30 to $60 and is applied to about 50–70% of service calls. It simplifies billing and prevents nickel-and-diming customers for minor parts.

When is a haul-away fee charged? A haul-away fee is applied when the plumber removes and disposes of old equipment, like a water heater or toilet, from the property. This fee typically falls between $100 and $150 and is used on around 5–10% of jobs. It covers disposal costs and labor for handling heavy or bulky items.

What is the typical profit margin on service fees? Service fees generally have a profit margin of 85–95%, because they primarily recover costs the company already covers in overhead, like truck maintenance or permit processing. For example, a $79 trip fee might cost only $4–8 in direct expenses, leaving the rest as contribution margin. This high margin helps fund support staff like dispatchers and customer service reps.

Bottom Line

Service fees are the highest-margin revenue a plumbing company can add, but only when each fee is tangible — a dispatch fee for the truck, an after-hours premium for the night call, a permit fee for the paperwork, a haul-away fee for the debris. Use the free PULSE Service Fees Calculator (Best Overall) to size the fee schedule, then collect with Housecall Pro (Best Value) for a small shop or ServiceTitan for a multi-truck operation, and reconcile it all in QuickBooks to confirm you are inside the 10–18% benchmark. Done right, your fees fund the back office and keep every truck billable.

flowchart TD S["What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Co"] S --> N0["The Top 10 Tools to Set and Collect Pl"] N0 --> N1["1. PULSE Service Fees Calculator 🏆 BE"] N1 --> N2["2. ServiceTitan"] N2 --> N3["3. Housecall Pro 💎 BEST VALUE"]

flowchart LR C["What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Co"] C --> H0["9. FieldEdge"] C --> H1["10. Workiz"] C --> H2["How to Choose"] C --> H3["Bottom Line"]

Related on PULSE

Sources

ServiceTitan — Product, pricebook, and Dispatch Pro feature pages (servicetitan.com), 2026.
Housecall Pro — Pricing tiers (Basic / Essentials / MAX) and features (housecallpro.com), 2026.
Jobber — Plan pricing (Core / Connect / Grow) and payments features (getjobber.com), 2026.
Stripe — Billing and standard processing pricing (stripe.com/pricing), 2026.
Square — Invoicing and in-person/online processing rates (squareup.com), 2026.
Intuit QuickBooks Online — Plan pricing (quickbooks.intuit.com), 2026.
FieldEdge — Field-service management features and QuickBooks integration (fieldedge.com), 2026.
Workiz — Plan pricing and dispatch features (workiz.com), 2026.

Download:

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# What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge?

## Direct Answer

A plumbing company should charge service fees that are **tangible and cost-justified** — a trip/dispatch fee for the truck and tech time, an after-hours premium for nights and weekends, a permit-handling fee for the paperwork — never a hidden surcharge that customers feel ambushed by. The working formula is **Service-Fee Revenue per Month = Σ (attach rate % × monthly jobs × fee price)**, and the margin it adds is **Fee Revenue × fee margin (typically 85–95%, since most of these fees recover cost the company already covers in overhead)**. As a **worked example**, take a 4-truck shop running **520 jobs/month**: a **$79 trip/dispatch fee at a 95% attach rate** = 520 × 0.95 × $79 = **$39,026/mo**; an **$150 after-hours emergency premium at an 18% attach rate** = 520 × 0.18 × $150 = **$14,040/mo**; and a **$95 permit-handling fee at a 12% attach rate** = 520 × 0.12 × $95 = **$5,928/mo**. Add a **$45 materials/supply fee at a 60% attach rate** (520 × 0.60 × $45 = **$14,040/mo**) and a **$120 haul-away fee at an 8% attach rate** (520 × 0.08 × $120 = **$4,992/mo**), and the stack is **$78,026/mo in fee revenue** at roughly a **90% margin = ~$70,223/mo of contribution margin** — enough to fund a dispatcher, a CSR team, and a permit coordinator. The **2027 benchmark** for healthy residential plumbers is a **dispatch/trip fee of $59–$99** (often waived or credited if the job proceeds), an **after-hours premium of 1.5×–2× the standard rate**, and **fee revenue equal to 10–18% of service revenue**. The rule that keeps it honest: every fee maps to a cost the customer can see (a truck rolled, a permit pulled, debris hauled, a night call). PULSE has a free **[Service Fees Calculator](/tools/service-fees)** that models this for you in your browser.

## The Top 10 Tools to Set and Collect Plumbing Service Fees

```mermaid
flowchart TD
  S["What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Co"]
  S --> N0["The Top 10 Tools to Set and Collect Pl"]
  N0 --> N1["1. PULSE Service Fees Calculator 🏆 BE"]
  N1 --> N2["2. ServiceTitan"]
  N2 --> N3["3. Housecall Pro 💎 BEST VALUE"]
```


The right stack does three things: it **adds the fee at dispatch or on the invoice**, it **enforces the after-hours and emergency premiums automatically**, and it **reports fee revenue separately** so you can track contribution margin. Item #1 is the free PULSE planner; items 2–10 are the real field-service, payments, and accounting platforms that actually charge the fees.

## 1. PULSE Service Fees Calculator 🏆 BEST OVERALL

![What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 1](/assets/qa/q16133-b1.jpg)


```mermaid
flowchart LR
  C["What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Co"]
  C --> H0["9. FieldEdge"]
  C --> H1["10. Workiz"]
  C --> H2["How to Choose"]
  C --> H3["Bottom Line"]
```



PULSE's free **[Service Fees Calculator](/tools/service-fees)** runs this math in your browser in seconds — no login, no spreadsheet. You enter your monthly job count, then each candidate fee (trip/dispatch, after-hours, permit handling, materials/supply, haul-away), set an **attach rate** and a **fee margin**, and it returns total fee revenue, contribution margin, and the share of service revenue your fees represent. For a plumbing company, that means you can test "what if the dispatch fee moves from $69 to $79 at a 95% attach rate" before you change the script your CSRs read.

It is the default pick because it is **free, instant, and built for exactly this question** — sizing the fee, not running the dispatch board. Use it to design the fee schedule, then collect the fees in one of the field-service platforms below. It pairs naturally with PULSE's **[Gross Profit Calculator](/tools/gross-profit-calculator)** when you want to fold fee margin into a full job-level P&L.

## 2. ServiceTitan

![What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 2](/assets/qa/q16133-b2.jpg)



**ServiceTitan** is the enterprise-grade field-service platform for plumbing, HVAC, and electrical contractors, and it is built to charge service fees at scale. You can attach a **dispatch fee, after-hours premium, permit-handling fee, and materials charge** through its pricebook, apply **time-of-day pricing** so nights and weekends auto-bill the premium, and require **payment on completion** in the field. Its **Dispatch Pro** and pricebook tools standardize the fee across every truck so no tech forgets it.

ServiceTitan pricing is quote-based and built for larger shops — commonly **$300+/technician/month equivalent** once fully configured, with implementation costs on top. It ranks #2 because for a multi-truck plumbing company, the **automatic enforcement and granular fee reporting** are unmatched: you can see dispatch-fee capture rate, after-hours mix, and fee revenue as a percent of revenue on one dashboard.

## 3. Housecall Pro 💎 BEST VALUE

![What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 3](/assets/qa/q16133-b3.jpg)



**Housecall Pro** is the best-value paid platform for a small-to-mid plumbing company. Pricing runs roughly **$59/month (Basic, one user)**, about **$149/month (Essentials)**, and around **$299/month (MAX)** for a small team — a fraction of ServiceTitan for a 1–4 truck shop. It supports **dispatch/trip fees, after-hours rates, materials line items, and permit fees**, takes **card and ACH payment in the field**, and texts customers the invoice.

It ranks as the value leader because it delivers the fee controls a growing plumber actually needs — **online booking, automatic estimates, payment on site, and clean reporting** — without the enterprise price tag or long implementation. For an owner running a handful of trucks who wants real fee enforcement this week, Housecall Pro is the value pick.

## 4. Jobber

![What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 4](/assets/qa/q16133-b4.jpg)



**Jobber** is a strong field-service platform for smaller home-service businesses, including plumbers. Pricing runs about **$39/month (Core)**, **$119/month (Connect)**, and **$199/month (Grow)** depending on team size and features. It supports **service fees and surcharges as line items**, lets you set **per-visit or per-job charges**, and collects payment on completion via Jobber Payments.

Jobber earns its spot for plumbers who want **clean quoting and scheduling** with straightforward fee line items. It is lighter on automatic time-of-day premium pricing than ServiceTitan, so after-hours fees are often added manually, but for a small shop the simplicity and price are attractive.

## 5. Stripe Billing

![What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 5](/assets/qa/q16133-b5.jpg)



**Stripe Billing** is the engine for plumbers running **service-plan memberships** — the recurring "priority service / annual inspection" club that smooths revenue. Stripe's standard processing is about **2.9% + $0.30 per online transaction**, with Stripe Billing adding a recurring layer (commonly **0.5–0.8% of recurring revenue** on the paid tier). It does not dispatch trucks, so it sits behind your field-service tool or website.

For a plumbing company building a **membership program** (e.g., $19/month for priority dispatch and a waived trip fee), Stripe Billing handles the **automated charge, failed-payment retries, and proration**, turning one-off fees into predictable recurring contribution margin. It ranks for shops with a developer or agency wiring the membership flow.

## 6. Square (Card Processing & Invoicing)

![What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 6](/assets/qa/q16133-b6.jpg)



**Square** matters to plumbers for two reasons: it is a cheap on-ramp for **card processing and invoicing**, and the **card-processing pass-through** is itself a legitimate fee to quantify. Square's rates run about **2.6% + $0.10 (in person)** and **2.9% + $0.30 (online/invoiced)**, with free invoicing and no monthly minimum on the base tier. You can send an invoice with a **trip fee, materials charge, and a transparent processing line** built in.

Square ranks here for **solo plumbers and brand-new shops** who want to take card payment and itemize fees without committing to a full field-service suite. Its honesty on rates makes a processing fee defensible — you charge what the processor charges, with no markup.

## 7. QuickBooks Online

![What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 7](/assets/qa/q16133-b7.jpg)



**QuickBooks Online** is where plumbing fee revenue gets **categorized, reconciled, and reported** so you can see contribution margin. Plans run about **$35/month (Simple Start)** up to **$235/month (Advanced)**. By mapping each fee — dispatch, after-hours, permit, materials, haul-away — to its own income account, you can report **fee revenue as a percent of service revenue** and confirm you are inside the 10–18% benchmark.

QuickBooks is not where you charge the fee; it is where you prove it is working. Most field-service platforms (ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, Jobber) sync to QuickBooks, so the fee line items flow straight into your books for clean job costing.

## 8. Clover

![What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 8](/assets/qa/q16133-b8.jpg)



**Clover** is a point-of-sale and payments system some plumbing shops use at a counter or in the truck for **card processing and surcharge handling**. Plans run roughly **$14.95–$49.95+/month** depending on the package, plus processing (often **2.3–2.6% + $0.10** in person). Clover can apply **service fees and surcharges at the point of payment** and integrates with various invoicing apps.

It earns a spot for plumbers who want **flexible payment hardware** — a countertop terminal at the shop plus mobile readers in trucks — and the option to apply a disclosed card surcharge where state rules allow. Its native field-service scheduling is weak, so it is best paired with a dispatch tool above.

## 9. FieldEdge

![What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 9](/assets/qa/q16133-b9.jpg)



**FieldEdge** is a dedicated field-service management platform for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors. It supports **flat-rate pricing, dispatch fees, after-hours rates, and materials markup**, and offers strong **QuickBooks integration** plus a customer-history view techs see in the field. Pricing is quote-based and typically lands between Housecall Pro and ServiceTitan for a mid-size shop.

FieldEdge ranks for established plumbing companies that want **flat-rate pricebook discipline** and tight accounting sync without the full ServiceTitan footprint. Its strength is making the trip fee and premium rates consistent across every tech, which directly raises fee-capture rate.

## 10. Workiz

![What Service Fees Should a Plumbing Company Charge in 2026 — figure 10](/assets/qa/q16133-b10.jpg)



**Workiz** is a field-service and dispatch platform aimed at small-to-mid home-service businesses, including plumbers. Pricing runs roughly **$45–$198/user/month** across its tiers. It supports **dispatch fees, custom service charges, and payment collection in the field**, plus call tracking and online booking that help convert and bill more jobs.

It earns the final spot for plumbers who want **affordable dispatch automation** with built-in phone/call features. Like Jobber, its time-of-day premium handling is lighter than ServiceTitan, but for a small shop wanting better scheduling and consistent fee line items, Workiz is a credible option.

## How to Choose

- **Match the platform to your truck count.** Solo or 1–2 trucks: Housecall Pro, Jobber, or Square invoicing. Mid-size with flat-rate discipline: FieldEdge or Workiz. Multi-truck scaling shop: ServiceTitan.
- **Demand automatic time-of-day pricing.** An after-hours premium that depends on a tech remembering to add it will leak revenue. ServiceTitan and FieldEdge enforce premium rates by schedule; lighter tools require a manual line item — fine for low after-hours volume.
- **Insist on separate fee reporting.** You must see dispatch, after-hours, permit, materials, and haul-away revenue apart from labor, or you can't track the 10–18% benchmark. The field-service tool captures it; QuickBooks confirms it.
- **Keep every fee tangible.** Tie each fee to a visible cost — a truck rolled (dispatch), a night call (after-hours), paperwork filed (permit), debris removed (haul-away). A fee the customer can explain is a fee they pay without a fight.
- **Decide your dispatch-fee policy up front.** Many shops **waive or credit the trip fee** if the customer approves the repair. That converts the fee into a commitment device rather than a barrier, and it keeps capture rate high.
- **Plan the fee before you collect it.** Use the **[Service Fees Calculator](/tools/service-fees)** to size attach rates and margin first, then configure the fee in your field-service platform.

## FAQ

**What is a trip/dispatch fee and how much should it be?**  
A trip/dispatch fee covers the cost of sending a truck and a technician to a customer’s location, including fuel, vehicle maintenance, and travel time. Most plumbing companies charge between $50 and $100 for this fee, with $79 being a common middle point. It is typically applied to 90–95% of service calls.

**How do after-hours emergency premiums work?**  
An after-hours premium is an extra charge for service calls made outside normal business hours, such as nights, weekends, or holidays. This fee usually ranges from $100 to $200, with $150 being typical, and it applies to about 15–20% of total monthly jobs. It compensates for the inconvenience and higher labor costs of off-hours work.

**What is a permit-handling fee and why is it charged?**  
A permit-handling fee covers the time and paperwork a plumber spends obtaining necessary permits from local authorities for certain jobs, like water heater replacements or major repipes. This fee typically runs between $75 and $125, and it is applied to roughly 10–15% of jobs that require permits. It ensures the company recovers administrative costs without surprising the customer.

**What does a materials/supply fee include?**  
A materials/supply fee covers small consumables used on the job, such as fittings, solder, tape, or sealants, that aren’t itemized separately. This fee generally ranges from $30 to $60 and is applied to about 50–70% of service calls. It simplifies billing and prevents nickel-and-diming customers for minor parts.

**When is a haul-away fee charged?**  
A haul-away fee is applied when the plumber removes and disposes of old equipment, like a water heater or toilet, from the property. This fee typically falls between $100 and $150 and is used on around 5–10% of jobs. It covers disposal costs and labor for handling heavy or bulky items.

**What is the typical profit margin on service fees?**  
Service fees generally have a profit margin of 85–95%, because they primarily recover costs the company already covers in overhead, like truck maintenance or permit processing. For example, a $79 trip fee might cost only $4–8 in direct expenses, leaving the rest as contribution margin. This high margin helps fund support staff like dispatchers and customer service reps.

## Bottom Line

Service fees are the highest-margin revenue a plumbing company can add, but only when each fee is **tangible** — a dispatch fee for the truck, an after-hours premium for the night call, a permit fee for the paperwork, a haul-away fee for the debris. Use the free **PULSE Service Fees Calculator** (Best Overall) to size the fee schedule, then collect with **Housecall Pro** (Best Value) for a small shop or **ServiceTitan** for a multi-truck operation, and reconcile it all in **QuickBooks** to confirm you are inside the 10–18% benchmark. Done right, your fees fund the back office and keep every truck billable.

<!--pillar-weave-->
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## Sources

- ServiceTitan — Product, pricebook, and Dispatch Pro feature pages (servicetitan.com), 2026.
- Housecall Pro — Pricing tiers (Basic / Essentials / MAX) and features (housecallpro.com), 2026.
- Jobber — Plan pricing (Core / Connect / Grow) and payments features (getjobber.com), 2026.
- Stripe — Billing and standard processing pricing (stripe.com/pricing), 2026.
- Square — Invoicing and in-person/online processing rates (squareup.com), 2026.
- Intuit QuickBooks Online — Plan pricing (quickbooks.intuit.com), 2026.
- FieldEdge — Field-service management features and QuickBooks integration (fieldedge.com), 2026.
- Workiz — Plan pricing and dispatch features (workiz.com), 2026.

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