Shop Rate and Bill Rate let you set default labor pricing for invoicing. Shop Rate represents your internal cost of doing business, and Bill Rate is what you charge (and what will populate on bills by default).
Understand Shop Rate vs Bill Rate
Shop Rate
Your internal hourly cost for labor (used to understand profitability).
Bill Rate
Your default hourly rate you charge for labor, this is the rate that will appear on bills.
Note: A margin or profit view (if enabled in your account) uses the difference between Shop Rate and Bill Rate to help estimate profitability.
Set your default Shop Rate and Bill Rate
Go to Settings.
Select Account Settings.
Open Invoicing.
Enter your Default Work Log Shop Rate and Default Work Log Billing Rate.
Select Save.
Tip: In most cases, your Bill Rate should be higher than your Shop Rate, since Bill Rate is what you charge and Shop Rate reflects your internal labor cost. If Bill Rate is set lower than Shop Rate, the system will display a warning, but it will still allow you to save.
Tip: If you do not want to use these yet, you can leave the defaults at $0.
Recommended: Add work logs in the technician mobile app
The preferred way to add work logs is through the technician mobile app while work is being performed in the field. This helps capture labor in real time and supports more accurate billing.
Open the assigned Meld in the technician mobile app.
Check in when work begins.
Add the work log with the time worked and any relevant notes.
Check out when work is complete.
Save the work log.
Once the Meld is complete and work log hours have been entered, you can create the bill in Meld.
Note: The Bill Rate will apply to labor by default during billing. Bill Rate will apply when the bill is later created from those work logs.
Create Your Bill
Go to Create Bill.
Select Continue.
If you add a new line item and set the type to Labor, your default Bill Rate will also be applied automatically. You can still edit the rate per line item as needed (for example, cleaning at a reduced rate, specialty work at a higher rate).
Hide Shop Rate from technicians (optional)
If you do not want technicians to see the Shop Rate (since it can be higher than a technician’s wage), you can control access with role permissions.
Go to Settings.
Select Account Settings.
Open Roles and select the role used by technicians (for example, Maintenance).
Under Payments, disable View expenditures.
Save the role.
Tip: Most technicians do not need this permission since they log labor in Work Logs and add parts or receipts in Costs.