Act on the result
Confirm the recoverable travel and diagnostic scope before publishing the fee.
Educational only: Business decision support, not accounting, tax or legal advice.
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Update policy: Reviewed when formulas or official dependencies change.
Scope: Market-neutral small-business planning using your own assumptions.
What this planner helps you decide
Best for
Trade businesses setting a minimum call-out fee that protects mobilisation and diagnostic capacity.
Outputs
Loaded call-out cost, required fee, proposed-fee gap and expected economic contribution including the entered follow-on scenario.
Start here
Enter travel, mobilisation, diagnostic time and displaced-capacity cost for one typical visit.
Use a different tool when: Do not use this to compare quoted and actual job economics and identify overruns; use Job Costing & Margin Planner for that decision. Use this tool to set a minimum call-out fee from mobilisation, travel, diagnostic time and displaced capacity.
Quote & capacity
Trade Call-out Fee: loaded call-out cost
Loaded call-out cost, required fee, proposed-fee gap and expected economic contribution including the entered follow-on scenario.
Amounts use the same currency as your inputs. No currency conversion is performed.
Owner presets
Load an illustrative trade workflow, then replace every time, distance and cost assumption with your own records. These are not market benchmarks.
Your industry scenario
Set a minimum trade call-out charge from mobilisation and diagnostic time, travel distance, vehicle cost, fixed dispatch cost and target margin.
Your numbers stay in this browser
Fixed booking, parking, toll and attendance cost. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Labour time consumed travelling to and from the job.
On-site diagnosis included before separately quoted work.
Wages, on-costs and labour overhead for one hour. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Expected total kilometres from base to customer and back.
Fuel, wear and other distance-linked vehicle cost. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Other chargeable capacity unavailable because of the call-out.
Contribution that displaced capacity would otherwise earn. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Share of call-outs expected to convert to separately priced work.
Expected contribution if the call-out converts. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Margin the minimum charge should retain after attendance costs.
Fee currently being considered for the customer. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Industry decision result
Protect the cost and displaced capacity of attending a small or uncertain field-service job. Review every output on the same entered business basis.
- Labour and travel cost
- 121.78
- Capacity displacement cost
- 27.50
- Protected call-out cost
- 149.28
- Minimum call-out fee
- 213.26
- Expected follow-on contribution
- 143.00
- Expected economic contribution
- 138.72
- Proposed fee gap
- -68.26
Scenario comparison
Each row names the assumption axis changed from the baseline.
ScenarioResultDifference
Current industry scenario213.26Baseline
Lower Target call-out margin204.49-8.76
Higher Target call-out margin222.819.55
Save these results, change an input, then compare the updated figures with this baseline.
The baseline is temporary in this tab and is not added to shared scenario links or generated reports.
Calculation details
View calculation detailsView the formulas and inputs used for these results.
Labour and travel cost
Labour and travel cost
(travel + diagnostic hours) * loaded labour rate + distance cost + mobilisation121.78 , ex taxResult121.78
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Trade Call-out Fee Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Labour and travel costMobilisation Cost Ex Tax
- 18
- Labour and travel costTravel Hours
- 0.75
- Labour and travel costDiagnostic Hours
- 0.5
- Labour and travel costLoaded Trade Labour Rate Ex Tax
- 58
- Labour and travel costRound Trip Distance Km
- 34
- Labour and travel costVehicle Cost Per Km Ex Tax
- 0.92
- Labour and travel costDisplaced Billable Hours
- 0.5
- Labour and travel costDisplaced Contribution Per Hour Ex Tax
- 55
- Labour and travel costExpected Job Conversion Rate
- 0.55
- Labour and travel costExpected Follow On Job Contribution Ex Tax
- 260
- Labour and travel costTarget Callout Margin
- 0.3
- Labour and travel costProposed Callout Fee Ex Tax
- 145
Capacity displacement cost
Capacity displacement cost
displaced billable hours * displaced contribution per hour27.50 , ex taxResult27.50
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Trade Call-out Fee Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Capacity displacement costMobilisation Cost Ex Tax
- 18
- Capacity displacement costTravel Hours
- 0.75
- Capacity displacement costDiagnostic Hours
- 0.5
- Capacity displacement costLoaded Trade Labour Rate Ex Tax
- 58
- Capacity displacement costRound Trip Distance Km
- 34
- Capacity displacement costVehicle Cost Per Km Ex Tax
- 0.92
- Capacity displacement costDisplaced Billable Hours
- 0.5
- Capacity displacement costDisplaced Contribution Per Hour Ex Tax
- 55
- Capacity displacement costExpected Job Conversion Rate
- 0.55
- Capacity displacement costExpected Follow On Job Contribution Ex Tax
- 260
- Capacity displacement costTarget Callout Margin
- 0.3
- Capacity displacement costProposed Callout Fee Ex Tax
- 145
Protected call-out cost
Protected call-out cost
labour/travel cost + capacity displacement cost149.28 , ex taxResult149.28
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Trade Call-out Fee Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Protected call-out costMobilisation Cost Ex Tax
- 18
- Protected call-out costTravel Hours
- 0.75
- Protected call-out costDiagnostic Hours
- 0.5
- Protected call-out costLoaded Trade Labour Rate Ex Tax
- 58
- Protected call-out costRound Trip Distance Km
- 34
- Protected call-out costVehicle Cost Per Km Ex Tax
- 0.92
- Protected call-out costDisplaced Billable Hours
- 0.5
- Protected call-out costDisplaced Contribution Per Hour Ex Tax
- 55
- Protected call-out costExpected Job Conversion Rate
- 0.55
- Protected call-out costExpected Follow On Job Contribution Ex Tax
- 260
- Protected call-out costTarget Callout Margin
- 0.3
- Protected call-out costProposed Callout Fee Ex Tax
- 145
Minimum call-out fee
Minimum call-out fee
protected call-out cost / (1 - target margin)213.26 , ex taxResult213.26
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Trade Call-out Fee Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Minimum call-out feeMobilisation Cost Ex Tax
- 18
- Minimum call-out feeTravel Hours
- 0.75
- Minimum call-out feeDiagnostic Hours
- 0.5
- Minimum call-out feeLoaded Trade Labour Rate Ex Tax
- 58
- Minimum call-out feeRound Trip Distance Km
- 34
- Minimum call-out feeVehicle Cost Per Km Ex Tax
- 0.92
- Minimum call-out feeDisplaced Billable Hours
- 0.5
- Minimum call-out feeDisplaced Contribution Per Hour Ex Tax
- 55
- Minimum call-out feeExpected Job Conversion Rate
- 0.55
- Minimum call-out feeExpected Follow On Job Contribution Ex Tax
- 260
- Minimum call-out feeTarget Callout Margin
- 0.3
- Minimum call-out feeProposed Callout Fee Ex Tax
- 145
Expected follow-on contribution
Expected follow-on contribution
conversion rate * follow-on job contribution143 , ex taxResult143.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Trade Call-out Fee Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Expected follow-on contributionMobilisation Cost Ex Tax
- 18
- Expected follow-on contributionTravel Hours
- 0.75
- Expected follow-on contributionDiagnostic Hours
- 0.5
- Expected follow-on contributionLoaded Trade Labour Rate Ex Tax
- 58
- Expected follow-on contributionRound Trip Distance Km
- 34
- Expected follow-on contributionVehicle Cost Per Km Ex Tax
- 0.92
- Expected follow-on contributionDisplaced Billable Hours
- 0.5
- Expected follow-on contributionDisplaced Contribution Per Hour Ex Tax
- 55
- Expected follow-on contributionExpected Job Conversion Rate
- 0.55
- Expected follow-on contributionExpected Follow On Job Contribution Ex Tax
- 260
- Expected follow-on contributionTarget Callout Margin
- 0.3
- Expected follow-on contributionProposed Callout Fee Ex Tax
- 145
Expected economic contribution
Expected economic contribution
proposed fee - protected cost + expected follow-on contribution138.72 , ex taxResult138.72
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Trade Call-out Fee Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Expected economic contributionMobilisation Cost Ex Tax
- 18
- Expected economic contributionTravel Hours
- 0.75
- Expected economic contributionDiagnostic Hours
- 0.5
- Expected economic contributionLoaded Trade Labour Rate Ex Tax
- 58
- Expected economic contributionRound Trip Distance Km
- 34
- Expected economic contributionVehicle Cost Per Km Ex Tax
- 0.92
- Expected economic contributionDisplaced Billable Hours
- 0.5
- Expected economic contributionDisplaced Contribution Per Hour Ex Tax
- 55
- Expected economic contributionExpected Job Conversion Rate
- 0.55
- Expected economic contributionExpected Follow On Job Contribution Ex Tax
- 260
- Expected economic contributionTarget Callout Margin
- 0.3
- Expected economic contributionProposed Callout Fee Ex Tax
- 145
Proposed fee gap
Proposed fee gap
proposed fee - required call-out fee-68.26 , ex taxResult-68.26
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Trade Call-out Fee Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Proposed fee gapMobilisation Cost Ex Tax
- 18
- Proposed fee gapTravel Hours
- 0.75
- Proposed fee gapDiagnostic Hours
- 0.5
- Proposed fee gapLoaded Trade Labour Rate Ex Tax
- 58
- Proposed fee gapRound Trip Distance Km
- 34
- Proposed fee gapVehicle Cost Per Km Ex Tax
- 0.92
- Proposed fee gapDisplaced Billable Hours
- 0.5
- Proposed fee gapDisplaced Contribution Per Hour Ex Tax
- 55
- Proposed fee gapExpected Job Conversion Rate
- 0.55
- Proposed fee gapExpected Follow On Job Contribution Ex Tax
- 260
- Proposed fee gapTarget Callout Margin
- 0.3
- Proposed fee gapProposed Callout Fee Ex Tax
- 145
Inputs used
- Mobilisation and dispatch cost (/call-out, ex tax)
- 18
- Round-trip travel hours (hours/call-out)
- 0.75
- Included diagnostic hours (hours/call-out)
- 0.5
- Loaded trade labour cost per hour (/hour, ex tax)
- 58
- Round-trip distance (kilometres/call-out)
- 34
- Vehicle cost per kilometre (/kilometre, ex tax)
- 0.92
- Displaced billable hours (hours/call-out)
- 0.5
- Displaced contribution per hour (/hour, ex tax)
- 55
- Expected follow-on job conversion (decimal fraction of call-outs converting to follow-on work)
- 0.55
- Follow-on job contribution (/converted follow-on job, ex tax)
- 260
- Target call-out margin (decimal fraction of call-out fee)
- 0.3
- Proposed call-out fee (/call-out, ex tax)
- 145
Open this calculator with preset values
This calculator supports documented, shareable scenario URLs. Compatible assistants and applications can construct links using the parameters below.
Scenario links contain only allowlisted numeric and closed-choice inputs shown in the URL; Margin101 excludes free text and identifying fields. Anyone you share the URL with can read those numbers, so do not include private or identifying data.
| Parameter | Meaning | Unit | Allowed values | Presence | Default |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| diagnosticHours | On-site diagnosis included before separately quoted work. | hours/call-out | 0 to 168 | Required | 0.5 |
| displacedBillableHours | Other chargeable capacity unavailable because of the call-out. | hours/call-out | 0 to 168 | Required | 0.5 |
| displacedContributionPerHourExTax | Contribution that displaced capacity would otherwise earn. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/hour, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 55 |
| expectedFollowOnJobContributionExTax | Expected contribution if the call-out converts. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/converted follow-on job, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 260 |
| expectedJobConversionRate | Share of call-outs expected to convert to separately priced work. | decimal fraction of call-outs converting to follow-on work | 0 to 1 | Required | 0.55 |
| loadedTradeLabourRateExTax | Wages, on-costs and labour overhead for one hour. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/hour, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 58 |
| mobilisationCostExTax | Fixed booking, parking, toll and attendance cost. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/call-out, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 18 |
| proposedCalloutFeeExTax | Fee currently being considered for the customer. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/call-out, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 145 |
| roundTripDistanceKm | Expected total kilometres from base to customer and back. | kilometres/call-out | 0 to 100000 | Required | 34 |
| targetCalloutMargin | Margin the minimum charge should retain after attendance costs. | decimal fraction of call-out fee | 0 to 0.99 | Required | 0.3 |
| travelHours | Labour time consumed travelling to and from the job. | hours/call-out | 0 to 168 | Required | 0.75 |
| vehicleCostPerKmExTax | Fuel, wear and other distance-linked vehicle cost. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/kilometre, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 0.92 |
Trade Call-out Fee: loaded call-out cost
The required fee protects the entered mobilisation and capacity burden; it is not a market-rate recommendation.
Formula summary
- Primary formula
- protected call-out cost / (1 - target margin)
Data used here
- The estimate uses your inputs and the general business formula documented in the methodology.
Decision checks
Stress-test the decision
Retest longer travel and diagnostic time plus a lower achievable margin.
When this estimate can be misleading
- Industry costs, tax, contract terms, capacity and targets are entered by the user; no market benchmark is embedded.
- Use records from one consistent period and one ex-tax currency basis where money applies.
- This is educational business decision support, not accounting, tax, legal or financial advice.
- The required fee protects the entered mobilisation and capacity burden; it is not a market-rate recommendation.
Educational estimate, not advice. See all assumptions & limitations →
Related reading
Guides to interpret the decision and its assumptions.
- Field-Service Economics: Travel, Labour and Capacity
Reconcile call-out work with travel, loaded labour, recovery and daily capacity on one job basis.
Read guide - Call-Out Fee vs Higher Hourly Rate
Compare a separate call-out fee with a higher hourly rate using aligned job mix, travel and recovery assumptions.
Read guide - Emergency and After-Hours Pricing
Build an after-hours scenario from incremental labour, disruption, capacity and response scope without prescribing a premium.
Read guide
Frequently asked questions
How do I set a minimum call-out fee from mobilisation, travel, diagnostic time and displaced capacity?
Confirm the recoverable travel and diagnostic scope before publishing the fee.
Which planning assumptions should I stress-test?
Compare a plausible alternative scenario and verify the decision-critical assumption that changes the plan most.