Pool Service Call Minimum Calculator | What to Charge for a Truck Roll

Time

Drive Time (minutes, round trip)

On-Site Time (minutes)

Your Costs

Your Hourly Cost (burdened rate)

Your pay + payroll taxes + benefits. Or tech's burdened rate.

Vehicle Cost per Mile ($)

IRS rate is $0.70/mile. Includes gas, maintenance, insurance.

Round Trip Distance (miles)

Business Overhead

Overhead Multiplier

Covers insurance, phone, software, office, etc.

Target Profit Margin (%)

Service Call Minimum

Minimum Charge

Labor Cost

Vehicle Cost

Total Time

Effective Hourly

Pricing Strategy

Enter your costs above.

Setting Your Service Call Minimum

A service call minimum (or truck roll fee) is the least you should charge for any visit, even if the fix takes 5 minutes. It covers your time getting there, diagnosing the issue, and the overhead of running your business.

Why You Need a Minimum

Drive time is real labor that earns nothing without a minimum
Your truck costs money every mile regardless of what you fix
A 5-minute fix still required your expertise and availability
Without a minimum, warranty callbacks and quick fixes lose money

Industry Standards

Solo operators: $75-100 service call minimum
Small companies: $85-125 service call minimum
Larger companies: $95-150 service call minimum
After-hours/emergency: 1.5-2x standard minimum

How to Present It to Customers

Frame it as a "diagnostic fee" that gets applied to the repair if they proceed:

"We charge a $95 diagnostic fee to come out and assess the issue. If you approve the repair, that $95 is applied toward the total."
This feels fair to the customer and protects you from free estimates
Make sure it's quoted upfront before you drive out

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a typical service call fee in the pool industry?

Most pool service companies charge $75-$150 for a service call / diagnostic visit. The average is around $95. This typically covers drive time and 15-30 minutes of diagnostic time. Any repair work is billed additionally.

Should I waive the fee for existing customers?

That's a business decision. Some pros waive it for regular monthly customers to keep them happy. Others charge a reduced fee ($50 instead of $95). The key is that even existing customers cost you money when you make an extra trip. Consider including 1-2 "free" service calls per year in your monthly rate.

What about "free estimates"?

Free estimates for large jobs (replasters, equipment replacements) can make sense as a customer acquisition cost. But free estimates for repair calls rarely make sense — you're giving away your diagnostic expertise. Charge a diagnostic fee that applies to the job.

How do I handle customers who think the fee is too high?

Explain what it covers: "That includes my drive time, the diagnostic itself, and my recommendation. If we do the repair, it's applied to the total." If they still balk, they're probably not your ideal customer. Don't race to the bottom on pricing.

Should I charge more for far-away customers?

Yes. If a customer is 30+ miles away, your drive time alone costs $40-60 in labor and vehicle expenses. Either increase the service call minimum for distant customers, or decline and refer them to someone closer.

Create and Track Work Orders

PoolDial makes it easy to create work orders, log time and materials, and invoice customers for service calls — all from your phone.

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