Should plumbers quote flat rate or hourly?

Flat rate for routine jobs like water heaters and fixtures, hourly with a not-to-exceed for diagnostics and work behind walls. State which one on the first line.

What should a plumbing quote exclude?

Drywall repair, code upgrades discovered mid-job, water damage remediation, and anything outside the scope you were asked to price, listed in writing.

How many options should a plumbing quote offer?

One clear total, optionally with alternatives, and always a recommendation.

The plumbing quote that wins the job and protects your margin

Plumbing customers decide on two things: whether they trust you and whether the number surprised them. A clear quote handles both.

Flat rate or hourly?

Flat rate for anything you have done a hundred times: water heaters, disposals, faucets, toilets. Hourly with a not-to-exceed for diagnostics and anything behind a wall. Say which one the quote is on the first line.

A water heater swap, line by line

50-gallon gas water heater, brand and model
Expansion tank, new supply lines, gas flex, drip pan if required by code
Haul-away and disposal of the old unit
Labor, flat
Permit if your jurisdiction requires one

What to exclude, in writing

Drywall repair, code upgrades discovered during the job, water damage remediation, anything downstream of the shutoff you were not asked to touch. The exclusions list is the difference between a change order and an argument.

The number customers remember

Give one total. Options are fine, but the customer should be able to say your price out loud without looking.

Say it, do not type it

In SkilledTradesAi, tap the mic and say "water heater swap, fifty gallon gas, haul the old one, three hours." The Quote Builder returns this structure with your flat rates and your exclusions already in it.

Try it free in the app Build a sample quote