Job costing for HVAC contractors
HVAC jobs live or die on equipment cost and labor hours, and both move after the bid is signed. Jobsheet gives every install or service job an expected cost, an actual cost that updates as you log expenses, and a projected final cost so you catch a problem before it eats the job's margin.
Equipment price swings between bid and install
Condenser, furnace and air handler pricing can shift between the day you quote a change-out and the day you order it. Log the actual equipment invoice against the job the moment it's booked so the budget-vs-actual gap shows up immediately, not at tax time.
Refrigerant and disposal fees add up quietly
Refrigerant, disposal fees, and permit costs are easy to under-bid because they're rarely itemized on the original quote. Give each of these its own expense category so you can see, job over job, whether your allowance is realistic.
Callbacks and warranty labor eat into margin
A callback on a job you already closed out still costs labor hours. Logging that time against the original job — instead of a general 'service' bucket — is the only way to see which install jobs are actually profitable once warranty work is counted.
What to track on every hvac job
- Equipment (condenser, furnace, air handler, mini-splits)
- Ductwork and sheet metal materials
- Refrigerant and disposal
- Permits and inspection fees
- Install labor hours
- Subcontracted electrical or crane work
Frequently asked questions
Can I track a service call and a change-out as separate jobs?
Yes. Create a job per work order or per install, set its expected cost, and log expenses against whichever job they belong to. Nothing forces you to lump service and install revenue together.
Does Jobsheet track refrigerant compliance paperwork?
No — Jobsheet tracks cost, not regulatory documentation. It gives refrigerant its own expense category so the cost is visible, but you'll keep compliance records in your existing system.