Plumbing contractor software for small service plumbing shops

The stages of a plumbing job, and what each one asks of software

A plumbing call often changes once the plumber sees the problem. A slow drain turns out to be a root intrusion, or a leaking tank needs a replacement rather than a new valve. So the shop needs prices set before the visit, a way to offer the customer more than one path once the cause is known, written approval before the work starts, and an invoice that matches what was approved. Some shops add a yearly plan for water heater flushes or whole-home inspections. Each stage depends on the one before it, which is why retyping between tools causes errors.

Setting prices that hold up on parts-heavy jobs

Plumbing pricing swings between labor-heavy tasks like clearing a main line and parts-heavy tasks like a water heater change-out. TierMenu prices each task from your own billable rate, hours, material costs and markup tiers, so a forty-gallon heater and a wax ring do not share one markup. Materials can carry a SKU and vendor, and you can import supplier costs from a CSV with a validation preview. When a supplier raises prices, preview the bulk change before applying it. The starter library offers plumbing task names and descriptions without any prices.

Offering choices after the diagnosis

Once the plumber knows the cause, a proposal can show up to four options: clearing the line, clearing it and adding a cleanout, or replacing the damaged section. For a failed water heater, the options might be a like-for-like tank, a larger tank or a different style of heater your shop installs. Add-ons such as an expansion tank or a new shutoff valve stay separate from the options. Photos of the corroded fitting or camera findings can be attached so the customer sees what the plumber saw.

Getting written approval before you open a wall

Approval matters most before work that is hard to undo. The customer can sign on the plumber's phone or tablet, or open an emailed link from work and sign there. They choose an option and any add-ons, type their name, draw a signature and accept the authorization, and TierMenu saves a signed PDF and locks the proposal. If conditions change after approval, you can duplicate the proposal and send a new version for approval, keeping the signed original intact.

Maintenance plans for plumbing customers

Not every plumbing shop sells memberships, and that is fine; skip this stage if it does not fit. Shops that offer an annual water heater flush, a fixture and shutoff inspection or scheduled drain maintenance can define the plan price, included services, member discount and one to four visits a year. TierMenu tracks enrolled locations, upcoming and overdue visits and renewals, and can email reminders before a visit. Members see their member price on future proposals. The plan fee is collected outside the app.

Invoicing from the signed proposal

When the job is finished, turn the approved option and add-ons into an invoice so the description and totals match what the customer signed. For a small call without a proposal, start a blank invoice. The invoice uses your numbering, tax rules and payment instructions, goes out by email as a branded PDF, and carries a Draft, Sent, Paid or Void status. Record the payment date and method when the customer pays you through your usual method; TierMenu does not process the payment itself.

Limits worth knowing before you try it

TierMenu is not a dispatch or scheduling system and has no GPS, payroll, truck inventory or accounting sync. It does not take card payments, send texts, work offline or install as a native app. The pipe size, friction loss and flow rate calculators on this site are free references and are not part of the app. In practice a small plumbing shop keeps its current calendar or dispatch tool for booking jobs and uses TierMenu beside it for prices, options, signatures, plans and invoices.

Choosing between a full suite and a pricing and proposal tool

A full field service suite earns its cost when the shop is coordinating many moving parts: emergency calls rerouted through the day, plumbers clocking in and out for payroll, stock tracked per van and every payment posted to the books. A focused tool is enough when booking already works and the trouble is on the quoting side: each plumber prices a heater swap differently, customers get handwritten numbers, and invoices do not match what was agreed. Decide which problem costs you more, then pick the smaller tool that fixes it.

Everything for plumbing contractors on TierMenu

How it works in TierMenu

1. Step 1

   Load your costs

   Set your billable rate and markup tiers, and import supplier material costs from a CSV.

2. Step 2

   Quote after the diagnosis

   Offer up to four repair or replacement options with photos and add-ons, and collect a signature.

3. Step 3

   Invoice the approved work

   Create the invoice from the signed option and record payment when it arrives.

TierMenu, a spreadsheet and a paper price book

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