A service call bills a diagnostic/trip fee plus labor and parts — with the diagnostic often credited toward the repair. The structure rewards booking the fix, not just the visit.
The example
$89 diag + $130 labor + $60 parts.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | 89 + 130 + 60 | — |
| 3 | Total | → $279 |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- The diagnostic/trip fee covers showing up and finding the problem.
- Add labor (hours × rate or flat repair) and parts.
- If the repair is approved, credit the diagnostic:
total − diagnostic_credit. - The credit nudges customers to approve the repair on the spot.
Crediting the diagnostic toward the repair closes more jobs. Customers resent paying just to be told what’s wrong, so waiving (or crediting) the trip fee when they approve the fix removes the friction and rewards same-visit decisions — you keep the truck on one job instead of returning. Price the diagnostic to cover the trip even if it’s sometimes credited, and the math still works because approval rates rise.
Try it: interactive demo
Diagnostic, labor, parts, credit if approved.
Variations
Diagnostic credited
If repair approved:
After-hours premium
Emergency rate:
Trip-only (no repair)
Just the visit:
Pitfalls & errors
Diagnostic covers the trip. Price it to cover showing up even if credited.
Credit on approval. Subtract the diagnostic when the repair is booked.
After-hours premium. Apply a multiplier for emergency calls.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I bill a service call in Excel?
How does the diagnostic credit work?
How do I handle after-hours?
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