In the UK
Plumbers, gas and heating engineers, electricians, heat pump and drainage firms, bathroom installers doing their own plumbing, and small multi-trade firms serving landlords, anywhere in the UK.
- My diary is full but nothing is left over: what should my charge-out rate and call-out fee be?Your engineers are paid for every hour but you only bill some of them, so build the rate from the hours you sell, not the hours you pay.Read the lesson
- Busy all summer on installs, yet the bank account is emptiest when the diary is fullestBreakdowns pay on the day, but installs, heat pump vouchers and letting agents pay late, so plan cash by the week, not by the season.Read the lesson
- Which VAT rate goes on the invoice: heat pump, boiler, wet room or new build?The VAT rate depends on what you install, for whom and in what kind of building, and charging too little comes out of your own margin.Read the lesson
- Can my engineer legally take this job, and who has to notify it?Gas, electrical and water work each has its own gatekeeper, and a job is not finished until the right person has done it, signed it and notified it.Read the lesson
- I went out for a repair and sold a new boiler: can the customer cancel?A homeowner's cancellation right, the emergency exception and the call-out fee all turn on what you put in writing before you started.Read the lesson
- My engineers run their own vans and carry CIS cards, so they are self-employed, aren't they?Status, travel time, on-call, holiday pay and who may work on gas all follow how the work is really done, not what the paperwork says.Read the lesson
- Letting agents want me to take on their landlords' deadlines: how do I win the work safely?Landlord and agent work is won on reliability, so sell the diary, price the failed visit and keep the legal duty where it belongs.Read the lesson
- The appliance is dangerous, or the customer blames my repair for a flood: what do I do first?When a job turns dangerous or a customer blames you for damage, the order of your first steps and what you write down matter most.Read the lesson
In the US
Plumbers, electricians, water heater and heat pump installers, drain and sewer shops, and small multi-trade firms serving homeowners and property managers, with Texas, California, Florida and New York in detail.
- My flat-rate book came from a competitor: is it paying after drive time and callbacks?Flat-rate prices only work if the hourly rate inside them is built from the hours your techs actually sell, not the hours you pay.Read the lesson
- Service pays at the truck, warranty companies and GCs pay late: can I afford another truck?Service work pays on the spot, but installs, home warranty companies, property managers and commercial pay apps do not, so plan cash by the week and test any new loan against what is left.Read the lesson
- Do I charge sales tax on this repair? Why the same job is taxable in one state and not the nextWhether a plumbing or electrical job carries sales tax turns on the state and on whether it repairs or improves real property, and a wrong guess can build up for years.Read the lesson
- Who can pull the permit, and what happens if a helper runs the gas line?The license holder of record carries the work, so who does the job, who pulls the permit and who supervises decide whether you keep the license and can enforce the contract.Read the lesson
- How much can I take up front on a home job, and when can the customer cancel?Down payment limits, cancellation rights and required contract wording all change by state, and getting them wrong can mean refunds, misdemeanor charges or license discipline.Read the lesson
- I pay techs flat rate and helpers on 1099s: am I building up back pay?Flat-rate and commission pay, drive time, on-call and 1099 helpers are where shops in this trade build up back pay without noticing.Read the lesson
- Selling the replacement at the kitchen table: options, financing and what I can claimPresent replacements as clear priced options with honest financing, and know the rules on dealer fees, fear selling and reviews before you start.Read the lesson
- A customer says my work flooded their house months later: what do I do?When a leak or failure is blamed on your work, report it, keep the evidence and watch the deadline on any defect notice, or you can lose the right to fix it first.Read the lesson
What Greymill knows about plumbing, heating and electrical · Every Academy lesson