Why pros charge a visit fee
Complex services (plumbing, HVAC, electrical, carpentry, appliance repair) can't be priced accurately from photos alone. The pro needs to see the job in person to write a binding quote.
The visit fee covers the pro's time, travel, and on-site assessment.
How it's set
Each pro sets their own visit fee in their profile (0-$200). You see it on every pro card before you commit, and it's locked at the moment you select that pro's estimate.
Common ranges:
- Plumbers: $50-$80
- Electricians: $60-$90
- HVAC: $75-$120
- "Free estimate" pros: $0
How it's charged
- You pick a pro and schedule the visit — your card is held for the visit fee
- The pro shows up, assesses, and submits a final quote
- The visit fee is captured the moment they mark the visit complete
- The full job quote is a separate auth-hold and capture
If you decline the final quote, only the visit fee was charged.
What Mendly keeps
| Visit fee | Mendly cut | Pro gets |
|---|---|---|
| $0 (free) | $0 | $0 |
| $1 - $49 | $5 | rest |
| ≥ $50 | $10 | rest |
This is much lower than our 15% job commission because the visit fee is small-volume + the pro is committing real travel time.