Sending two techs by default doubles labor on the ticket. Sometimes that is cheaper than one tech for eight hours, safer on heavy equipment, or required by the work. Sometimes it is habit — and the helper's wage erased the day's margin. Treat crew size as a costing decision per job type.
Compare apples to apples
For the same revenue, cost both scenarios in the calculator:
| Scenario | Labor hours | Clock time | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| One tech | Lower headcount cost | Longer on site | Diagnostics, small repairs, tune-ups |
| Two techs | Higher labor $ | Faster completion | Furnace/AC changeouts, heavy lifts, complex installs |
If two techs finish in half the clock time but both are paid the whole window including travel, you still pay two bodies for travel. That alone kills many "helper on every call" policies.
When the second tech earns their keep
- Safety or manufacturer requirements (heavy equipment, confined space)
- Job finishes same day that would otherwise spill to a second trip
- Apprentice training with a clear path to solo productive work
- Profit per hour for the crew still beats one tech after full costs
When one tech is enough
- Most service diagnostics and parts swaps
- Membership visits routed in density
- Jobs where the helper mainly holds the flashlight
Dispatch rule of thumb
Default to one. Escalate to two only for tagged job types or site conditions. Review weekly: jobs that ran two-man and still missed margin targets need a price change or a crew-size change.
Cost both crew sizes
Run the same job twice in the free calculator — once with one tech's hours, once with two — and keep the higher profit-per-hour option.