FIELD NOTE · Pro Shop Owner
Build a service price from supplies, time, and rework
A repeatable worksheet makes a price list easier to explain and maintain.
Describe the included work
Begin with a service that has a clear start and finish. Write down the inspection, work steps, materials, handover, and any follow-up included in the price. List work that requires a separate quote. A fixed price becomes unreliable when every customer assumes it includes a different amount of work.
Measure a small real sample
Record active technician minutes for ten completed jobs. Keep waiting time separate from active labor, but note when a job occupies a workstation. Record material usage and rework rather than estimating from memory. A small sample is imperfect; it is still more useful than assuming every job takes the fastest observed time.
Work through an example
Imagine $7 in materials, 35 minutes at a modeled $30 hourly labor cost, and $4 of allocated overhead. Assigned cost is $28.50. With a 3% payment fee and a 35% target contribution margin after those assigned costs, price is $28.50 ÷ (1 − 0.03 − 0.35), approximately $45.97. These numbers are illustrative. Your shop must supply its own costs, fees, and target.
Check the result against exceptions
Track jobs that required extra consultation, a second attempt, or a return visit. If exceptions are common, either the service description is too broad or the standard time is too optimistic. Review the price and scope together. Keep a dated copy of each price sheet so that a later review can distinguish changed prices from changed work.
Prepared with AI assistance. Examples are constructed for explanation, not reported customer results. Corrections are welcome through the contact page.
← All guides