Service Price Calculator
Work backwards from your income goal to find the hourly rate and per-job prices you need to charge.
Run your numbers
Your Goals & Costs
What you want in your pocket after taxes
Vehicle, insurance, tools, marketing, software, etc.
Self-employment + income tax
% for growth & savings
Typical: 25-35 hrs
Minus vacation & sick time
What You Need to Charge
Tip: These are minimum rates. Add margin for unexpected costs, slow seasons, and growth. Most successful service pros charge 10-20% above their minimum.
Pricing Strategy Tips
Don't Compete on Price
Competing on price is a race to the bottom. Instead, compete on reliability, quality, and customer experience. Customers who choose solely on price are rarely good long-term clients.
Flat-Rate Beats Hourly
Flat-rate pricing rewards efficiency and gives customers certainty. As you get faster at common jobs, your effective hourly rate increases. Track your actual time to optimize flat-rate prices.
Raise Prices Annually
Costs increase every year (insurance, fuel, supplies). If you don't raise prices, you're effectively taking a pay cut. A 3-5% annual increase is standard and expected.
Offer Good/Better/Best
Presenting three options lets customers self-select. Most choose the middle option, which should be your target price. The premium option makes the middle feel reasonable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set prices for my service business?
Start with your desired income, add business expenses and taxes, then divide by the number of billable hours you can realistically work. This gives you a minimum hourly rate. From there, compare to market rates and adjust.
Should I charge hourly or per job?
Per-job (flat rate) pricing is generally better for service businesses. It rewards efficiency, gives customers price certainty, and often results in higher revenue per hour.
How many billable hours can I realistically work?
Solo operators typically bill 25-35 hours per week. The rest is spent on travel, estimates, admin, marketing, and other non-billable tasks. Be realistic — overestimating billable hours is the most common pricing mistake.
Automate Your Pricing & Invoicing
Business Genie helps you create estimates, send invoices, and get paid faster with built-in pricing tools.
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