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5 min read Webhound Engine August 3, 2026
Stop Losing Profit on Small Call-Outs: The Ultimate Pricing Model
Small call-outs are the silent killer of electrical businesses.
A client calls. A socket has stopped working. You drive 25 minutes, spend 10 minutes diagnosing a loose wire, fix it, drive 25 minutes back.
You charged them £40 because "it only took 10 minutes".
Congratulations. Once you factor in fuel, vehicle wear and tear, and the hour of your life you just spent, you made less than minimum wage.
Here is how to price small call-outs so they actually make you money.
The client isn't paying for the 10 minutes it took to tighten the wire. They are paying for the 5 years of training it took you to know *which* wire to tighten safely, the van you bought to get to their house, and the insurance you carry.
Quote a fixed Diagnostic Fee (e.g., £90 for the first hour of fault finding). Tell the client: *"I will spend up to an hour diagnosing the fault. If I can fix it within that hour without parts, the £90 covers it. If I need parts or more time, I will quote you for the repair before proceeding."*
It costs you almost nothing in the long run, but justifies a higher call-out rate.
A client calls. A socket has stopped working. You drive 25 minutes, spend 10 minutes diagnosing a loose wire, fix it, drive 25 minutes back.
You charged them £40 because "it only took 10 minutes".
Congratulations. Once you factor in fuel, vehicle wear and tear, and the hour of your life you just spent, you made less than minimum wage.
Here is how to price small call-outs so they actually make you money.
1. The 1-Hour Minimum Charge
Never, ever charge by the minute for a call-out. You must implement a strict 1-hour minimum charge.The client isn't paying for the 10 minutes it took to tighten the wire. They are paying for the 5 years of training it took you to know *which* wire to tighten safely, the van you bought to get to their house, and the insurance you carry.
2. The Diagnostic Fee vs. The Repair Fee
Some faults take 5 minutes to fix, but 3 hours to find. If a client has a tripping RCD, do not quote a fixed price to "fix it".Quote a fixed Diagnostic Fee (e.g., £90 for the first hour of fault finding). Tell the client: *"I will spend up to an hour diagnosing the fault. If I can fix it within that hour without parts, the £90 covers it. If I need parts or more time, I will quote you for the repair before proceeding."*
3. Material Markup is Non-Negotiable
You bought a £5 switch from the wholesaler. You charge the client £5. Wrong. You had to drive to the wholesaler, queue up, pay for it, store it in your van, and warranty it. Standard industry markup on small parts should be 40-100%.4. Geographic Fencing
If you accept a call-out 45 minutes away, you've lost 1.5 hours of unbillable travel time. Draw a circle on a map that represents a 20-minute drive from your base. Anything outside that circle incurs a travel surcharge.5. The "No-Quibble" Guarantee
When you charge premium prices, you must offer premium service. Clean up after yourself, wear boot covers, and tell the client: *"If this specific fault happens again within 12 months, I'll fix it for free."*It costs you almost nothing in the long run, but justifies a higher call-out rate.