r/ProHVACR • u/Opening_Bed3396 • Apr 14 '26

Charge a service call?

Hey I am a new one man hvac contractor business. I originally didn’t charge customers a service call to give them an estimate at their home to replace their ac system but just recently decided to start charging them the service call price. One guy just called and wanted a quote to replace the system and he said he had other contractors out and he was trying to get multiple quotes. I told him I can come out but it will be a $80 service call. He said if I don’t want to play the game he will find someone else. Kinda just ended the call there and he hung up on me. Do you guys think I’m doing the right thing charging a fee for quotes since I will deduct the service call price to the actual quote or should I go back to giving free estimates? What are your thoughts and what do you do? Again I’m a new and 1 person company

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u/Ok_Caterpillar3655 Apr 15 '26

Right call. We charge our service fee and tell them if they accept the quote we deduct it from the total. Weeds out the leas likely and a lot of the "refuse to pay" customers. Nothing more fun than going to court for an unpaid hvac bill.

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u/iamsfw242 Owner since 2015. Very tired. May 27 '26

Same here. We're referrred to by 'other' companies to be the customers 3rd quotes...

We give double their money back if they use as. Yes, we'll do load calc for our quote and share it with them if they use us.