Introduction
For years, field service software meant monthly subscription fees—often $50-150 per user per month. But a new pricing model is gaining traction: per-job fees instead of monthly subscriptions.
Contractors are discovering that per-job pricing aligns software costs with actual business activity, making it easier to scale without fixed overhead eating into margins.
The Problem with Monthly Subscriptions
Fixed Costs, Variable Revenue
Field service businesses have variable revenue. Some months are busy (summer for HVAC, winter for plumbing), others are slower. But monthly software subscriptions are fixed costs that don't change with business activity.
The impact: During slow months, you're paying full price for software you're not using as much. During busy months, you might need to add users, increasing costs when you can least afford it.
Per-User Pricing Penalizes Growth
Most subscription software charges per user. As you grow and add technicians, your software costs grow linearly—even if those technicians don't all use the software equally.
The impact: A 10-person team might pay $1,000/month in software fees, even if only 2-3 people use the software regularly. Office staff and part-time technicians still count toward user limits.
No Alignment with Business Success
Monthly subscriptions charge you the same whether you complete 10 jobs or 100 jobs. There's no connection between what you pay and the value you're getting.
The impact: You pay the same during slow periods when you need software the least, and the same during busy periods when you need it most.
The Per-Job Pricing Alternative
Pay Only When You Work
Per-job pricing means you pay $1 for each completed job, capped at a monthly maximum. No jobs completed? No fees. More jobs completed? You pay more — but hit your cap and every job after that is free.
The benefit: Software costs scale with your business activity, not your team size.
No User Limits
With per-job pricing, you can add as many users as you need—office staff, technicians, subcontractors—without increasing your software costs.
The benefit: Scale your team without worrying about per-user fees eating into margins.
Aligned with Business Success
When you complete more jobs, you pay more in fees—but you're also generating more revenue. The software cost is directly tied to business activity.
The benefit: Software costs are proportional to the value you're getting.
Real-World Comparison
Monthly Subscription Model
Scenario: 5-person HVAC team, $99/user/month
- Monthly cost: $495
- Annual cost: $5,940
- Cost per job (assuming 200 jobs/month): $2.48/job
- Cost during slow months (100 jobs): $4.95/job
Per-Job Pricing Model
Scenario: Same team, $0.50/job fee
- Monthly cost (200 jobs): $100
- Annual cost (2,400 jobs): $1,200
- Cost per job: $0.50/job (consistent)
- Cost during slow months (100 jobs): $50/month
Savings: $4,740/year, or 80% less than monthly subscriptions
When Per-Job Pricing Makes Sense
Per-job pricing works best for:
- Growing businesses: Add team members without increasing software costs
- Seasonal businesses: Pay less during slow periods
- Variable workload: Costs match business activity
- Multi-trade businesses: One platform for all service types
Making the Switch
If you're considering per-job pricing, look for:
- Transparent pricing: Clear fee structure with no hidden costs
- No monthly minimums: Don't pay for jobs you don't complete
- All features included: No tiered plans that limit functionality
- Easy migration: Simple process to switch from your current system
Conclusion
Per-job pricing isn't for everyone, but for many field service businesses, it's a better fit than monthly subscriptions. It aligns software costs with business activity, removes user limits, and makes it easier to scale without fixed overhead.
Ormi uses per-job pricing specifically because it makes sense for field service businesses. Try it free and see how it compares to your current software costs.