Estimates are key for establishing pricing for home service businesses. Whereas other industries can offer set prices for products and services, HVAC contractors need to consider the complexity of the project, its duration, the number of technicians required, and other factors to provide a fair quote.
This task can be challenging, but HVAC businesses find an ideal estimating solution in field service management software. Learn more about HVAC estimating software and the top features contractors need from Sera.
HVAC estimating involves evaluating HVAC installation and repair jobs to provide customers with a precise cost estimate. The specialists who complete cost estimates are aptly called HVAC estimators. Typically duties of a cost estimator include:
HVAC estimating software provides a cloud-based solution for simplifying the estimating process and providing more accurate pricing. It delivers templates and other tools to help estimators calculate time and material costs, as well as price margins, for HVAC projects like installations and repairs. Some HVAC software includes additional functions, such as tools for generating quotes, drafting proposals, and project management.
Not all HVAC businesses are created equal. Contractors may focus on residential or commercial HVAC or serve specific sectors. While needs differ from company to company, the best HVAC estimating software for residential contractors includes the following features:
The cost of labor is the total expenses of employee pay and benefits. It’s key to estimating but is also valuable for HVAC contractors. Estimating software can help estimators calculate direct labor costs (employees involved in providing the service, like techs) and indirect labor costs (support the delivery of services, like admin staff).
Contractors constantly look for ways to deliver better customer service. If techs need to contact office staff for information on quotes, it can slow down service and potentially create an adverse customer experience. The best estimating software enables real-time adjustments to pricing so techs can provide multiple quotes within minutes to a homeowner.
For contractors offering memberships, some estimating software also allows techs to show customers the difference between member and non-member pricing. This feature can boost memberships, helping contractors secure year-round business.
Price is not always the first or only concern for customers. Some homeowners want to know how contractors intend to help them solve a problem. For example, a homeowner may notice they’re spending more energy in the summer and want insight into how particular equipment or systems can make their air conditioning more efficient.
In these cases, quotes aren’t enough — a proposal is necessary. Proposals involve offering several solutions that combine services to fix the issue. Estimating software can help in designing proposals by looking at the various solutions suggested and calculating total cost according to material costs, project time, and profit margins.
Estimating software can help consolidate this data to facilitate more effective job management. For instance, some estimating software allows for QuickBooks integration, streamlining the flow of financial data from invoices to accounting software. This function can eliminate the possibility of double entry.
As with any investment in new technology, HVAC estimating software should contribute to growth. However, attaining new software may feel like just another added expense, especially for small businesses like residential HVAC contractors whose budgets may be tight. The following five benefits prove how utilizing a cost-estimating tool ultimately helps save time and money, boosting profits in the process:
Many software solutions are available for residential HVAC contractors, including tools for scheduling and dispatching and customer relationship management (CRM). As such, contractors may wonder why estimating software is necessary, but its many features and advantages show it’s integral to scaling up business and increasing revenue.
For HVAC service software that helps residential contractors streamline cost estimating and other key processes, turn to Sera. We go a step above other field service management software providers, getting to know each business more intimately to understand their unique concerns and obstacles.
With our software, contractors can identify and correct financial gaps and inefficiencies to reduce the burden on your employees while boosting your bottom line. Built on the four principles of field service management, our software is not only for residential HVAC contractors, but residential plumbing contractors, electricians, and other general contractors in the home service business.
Contact us to learn more about our software, or schedule your 15-minute discovery call today.