How to Price a Service Call: Finding Your Minimum Charge
A service call has a cost before any repair starts. Work out your loaded labor, travel, vehicle and overhead cost per call, then set a minimum price that covers them.
IRS Mileage Rate 2026: What Field Technicians Need to Know After the July Increase
The IRS raised the business mileage rate to 76 cents per mile on July 1, 2026. Here is what changed, what counts as a business mile, and what to do if you drive your own vehicle for work.
How Overtime Pay Works for Field Technicians
Federal overtime rules for hourly technicians: the 40-hour workweek, how bonuses change your overtime rate, and when drive time and on-call time count as hours worked.
Markup vs. Margin: The Pricing Mistake That Costs Service Businesses Money
Markup and margin are different numbers. Mixing them up means a shop that thinks it earns 50 percent on parts is really earning 33 percent. Here is how each one works.
What to Look for in Field Service Software for a Small Business
A buyer's guide to field service management software for small service businesses: the features that matter, the costs to check and how to run a fair trial.
How to Prepare for Emergency and After-Hours Service Calls
On-call work is part of field service. How to prepare your truck and yourself, handle an emergency call safely, and questions to ask about on-call pay.
How to Test a Run Capacitor
A failed run capacitor is one of the most common air conditioner faults. Learn how to test one safely with a meter, read the tolerance and choose a replacement.
Per Diem for Field Technicians: How It Works
Per diem is a daily allowance for lodging and meals when you travel overnight for work. Learn how rates are set, when it is tax-free and what to ask your employer.
How to Reduce Windshield Time in a Service Business
Windshield time is paid driving that earns nothing. Measure how much your technicians drive, then cut it with zoning, better scheduling and well-stocked trucks.
AI in Field Service: What It Changes for Technicians
How AI tools are being used in field service scheduling, diagnostics, paperwork and customer contact, what they cannot do, and what it means for technicians' jobs.