Direct labor
Paid time, payroll burden, overtime treatment, and the productive hours actually available for sale.
Plumbing pricing method
Build plumbing prices from your costs, scope, and business plan
A calculation framework for hourly, time-and-materials, and flat-rate work—without presenting national price ranges or margin targets as universal facts.
Six inputs your price needs to address
Materials and outside cost
Parts, freight, rentals, permits, disposal, subcontractors, and any other job-specific cost.
Allocated overhead
Vehicles, insurance, tools, office time, software, rent, marketing, training, licenses, and other indirect costs under a consistent method.
Risk and scope
Uncertainty, access, warranty exposure, callbacks, schedule constraints, financing cost, and written exclusions or allowances.
Chosen return
A target supported by your business plan and accounting method—not confused with markup or owner wages.
Market and compliance
Local demand, customer alternatives, licensing, permits, tax, disclosure rules, and any price or contract requirements.
A worked calculation—not a market recommendation
Assume a contractor enters $300 of labor, $200 of materials, and $100 of allocated overhead for a defined job. The modeled cost is $600. A $750 selling price leaves $150 after those entered costs: 20% of the selling price ($150 ÷ $750). A 25% markup on the same $600 cost also adds $150. The two percentages describe the same dollars using different denominators.
Replace every number and cost definition with your own. The $150 remainder includes the effect of allocated overhead but excludes tax, financing, risk, warranty, bad debt, and any cost not entered. It is not a verified gross or net profit figure. For the distinction between cost of sales, operating expenses and profit, see the SEC's income-statement explanation.
Hourly or time-and-materials
Useful when scope cannot be known in advance. Define the labor unit, minimums, travel, material handling, approvals, documentation, and how the customer is told when the expected range changes.
Flat price
Useful when scope can be described and priced before work. Document inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, allowances, expiration, payment schedule, and a change-order process for new conditions.
Pricing and legal review remain your responsibility
PocketBoss does not determine whether a price is profitable, competitive, lawful, tax-compliant, or acceptable to a customer. Verify licensing, permit, tax, financing, disclosure, contract, warranty, and consumer-protection requirements for your location and work.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a plumber charge per hour?
There is no universal hourly rate. Calculate one from your paid labor, payroll burden, nonbillable time, vehicle and equipment cost, overhead allocation, risk, warranty exposure, taxes where applicable, and chosen return. Then compare it with your local market and completed-job results.
Should plumbing work be hourly or flat rate?
Either model can be appropriate. Hourly or time-and-materials pricing makes changing scope visible but leaves the final amount uncertain. Flat pricing gives the customer a defined scope and amount but puts estimating and productivity risk on the contractor. Use written scope, exclusions, and change control in either case.
What markup should I use on plumbing materials?
Choose a policy that covers acquisition, freight, handling, storage, waste, warranty exposure, financing, taxes where applicable, and target return. Markup is based on cost; margin is based on selling price. The calculator should use your own inputs, not an unsourced trade average.
How should emergency plumbing be priced?
Create a written policy that accounts for on-call labor, overtime rules, travel, availability cost, risk, minimum charges, permits, and local consumer or licensing requirements. Disclose applicable charges before work when required. This guide does not recommend a multiplier.
Can PocketBoss set my plumbing prices?
No. PocketBoss can store the services, line items, prices, descriptions, and durations you configure and help compare recorded estimates with entered costs. The business remains responsible for pricing, scope, tax, licensing, and legal compliance.
Test one service and one completed job
Configure the service you actually sell, build the estimate, enter the actual costs, and compare the modeled result with your accounting process.
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