The job takes two hours. The day fits three of them.

Mobile service businesses price the job and sell the day. The arithmetic of travel explains why a wider map so often produces a thinner margin.

By Steve 5 min read
Abstract bridge artwork for The job takes two hours. The day fits three of them.

A quote for a two-hour visit is usually built as if the day contained four of them. On the pricing sheet it does. In the diary it does not, because the day also contains a depot leg, three inter-job hops, a customer who wasn’t in, and a stretch of dual carriageway that nobody costed. The business believes it sells jobs. What it actually sells is van-days, and the number of jobs a van-day holds is set less by how fast the technician works than by how far apart the customers…

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Important: General information only. Rialto Bridge articles describe patterns and considerations that may apply to a business; they are not financial, legal, tax or accounting advice, and they take no account of your particular circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a qualified professional before acting.

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