“Companies that manage their labor and their inventory effectively are among the most profitable,” says Ruth King (@RuthKing) in HVACR Business Magazine. King used her wealth of knowledge and 25+ years of experience in the HVACR industry to share with HVACR Business readers how the contracting business can increase profits without increasing prices. The solution: productively manage your labor force.
Here are ten ways to do so:
- Lock up your warehouse and parts room
- Make sure that charges for nitrogen use, silver solder, vacuum pump (and the oil change after each use), reclaim units, and leak testing are included in your flat-rate pricing or added to the invoice
- Add a charge of $0.50/pound for refrigerant disposal
- Say thank you to your installers and service technicians by bringing them a soda or hot drink on the job
- Create a sheet and have the customer sign off that they understand how to use a programmable thermostat
- Use tickler files
- Say, “It’s time for your prepaid maintenance check” instead of spring/fall tune up
- Keep the second call of the day open
- Use the camera in your phone or keep a digital camera in your truck
- Track productivity
For further explanation of these guidelines, visit HVACRBusiness.com.