For plumbers
Emergency calls paid the same day, maintenance plans billed every month
Plumbing work arrives at 2 a.m. as often as it arrives by appointment. An emergency call needs paying before the van leaves, and a drain-maintenance customer needs billing on the same day every month without anyone remembering to.
The billing problems plumbers actually have
After-hours calls carry a different rate, and the customer disputes what they were not told.
The after-hours rate is its own line, named on the estimate the customer approves and again on the invoice.
Maintenance plans are billed by hand and some months are simply missed.
A recurring invoice raises the plan’s charge on its date, and with the customer’s consent autopay charges their saved card or bank account.
Parts bought for one job end up absorbed by the business.
Record the parts as an expense on the job and bill them onto its invoice, with or without a markup you set.
A worked invoice
Sample work, priced the way this work is usually priced. The total is computed with the same function the console bills with.
| Line | Qty | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| After-hours call-out | 1 | $225.00 | $225.00 |
| Plumber, on site | 2.5 | $135.00 | $337.50 |
| PEX supply line and fittings | 1 | $87.40 | $87.40 |
| Water damage drying fans, 2 days | 2 | $60.00 | $120.00 |
| Total | $769.90 | ||
Sample figures. Due on completion; the customer pays from the link on the invoice.
Questions
Can I add a markup to parts I bill to the customer?
Yes. An expense you bill onto an invoice can carry a markup percentage, set when you bill it.
What happens when an autopay card is declined?
The invoice stays unpaid and its automatic reminders continue, so the customer can pay it from the link.
Can a customer see all their past invoices?
Yes. Customers with a confirmed email can sign in to the customer portal to see their invoices, pay them and download receipts.
Send your next invoice with BillingMart
Start free, send your first invoice, and see it paid by card or bank transfer.