How to Build a Recurring Maintenance Plan
Create predictable recurring revenue with maintenance plans. Pricing, plan structures, and automation tips for HVAC, plumbing, and landscaping.
Why Maintenance Plans Transform Your Business
Maintenance plans create predictable monthly revenue that smooths the feast-or-famine cycle. A plumber with 100 customers at $25/month has $2,500 guaranteed before a single service call. For HVAC, plans create a built-in base for replacement sales.
How to Structure Your Plan
Keep it simple with 2-3 tiers. Basic: annual inspection, priority scheduling, 10-15% repair discount. Premium: bi-annual inspections, 15-20% discount, no diagnostic fees. Price based on cost plus 40-60% margin. Most residential plans are $15-$35/month.
Pricing Your Plan
Calculate costs per customer per year: labor for inspections, materials, drive time, admin overhead. Add 40-60% margin. HVAC example: two visits at $75 each ($150) + $30 materials + $20 admin = $200 cost. With 50% margin: $300/year or $25/month.
Selling to Existing Customers
Best time to sell: immediately after completing a repair. The customer just experienced a problem and wants to prevent it. A simple explanation converts 15-25% of repair customers into subscribers.
Automating Plan Management
Manual management breaks at 50+ customers. You need: automated monthly billing, automated scheduling for inspections, renewal reminders, and plan tracking. Jobber and ServiceTitan have dedicated features. Business Genie handles recurring invoicing and scheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I charge?
HVAC: $20-$35/month. Plumbing: $15-$25/month. Landscaping: $150-$400/month. Calculate your cost per customer, add 40-60% margin, divide by 12.
How many plan customers do I need?
Aim for plans to cover fixed monthly expenses. If overhead is $5,000/month, you need 200 customers at $25/month. Start with a goal of 50 in your first year.
Do plans actually increase revenue?
Yes. Plan customers generate 2-3x more lifetime revenue. They approve repairs at 3-4x the rate and stay 3-7 years on average. A $25/month customer over 5 years generates $1,500 in plan revenue plus $2,000-$4,000 in repairs.
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