Raising rates on mini-split installs in Texas, feeling the squeeze

Man, I'm in Texas and just bumped my rate to $150/hr for ductless jobs, but damn customers are balking at quotes over $4k for a basic Carrier mini-split setup. It's killing me because parts costs keep climbing with R-410A shortages. Anyone else in the state dealing with this pushback?

Don't do it without locking in a flat rate option first, I saw a guy lose a $10k job last year to a DIYer who watched a YouTube tutorial and botched the install.

SharkBite fittings for refrigerant lines? Nah, that's a lawsuit waiting to happen in a hot zone like Texas. Stick to proper brazing or you'll be back fixing leaks in a month.

Same here in the DFW area, had to explain three times why $150/hr is fair after fuel and the heat wrecked my truck AC last summer.

Finally got to $200k revenue this year by going flat rate on all installs, no more haggling.

Target the commercial side, residential clients nickel and dime but businesses pay for Trane reliability without blinking.

Private equity firms are buying up every mom and pop HVAC shop, jacking rates artificially and screwing us independents out of work.

Walked into a service call yesterday, customer pissed because their last guy charged $120/hr and now I'm quoting higher for the same Goodman coil swap.

Another frustrated tech here, apprentice quit after a bad rate hike announcement, now I'm solo on installs.

Customer calls at 3am for a frozen evaporator, I quote $200 diagnostic and they ghost me. FML.

Check out that HVAC School podcast episode on pricing psychology, changed how I present quotes and doubled my close rate.

ServiceTitan software helped me track rate increases without alienating clients, but the subscription fee is a kick in the nuts.