MarginShock

Mobile service
fuel surcharge calculator

If you bring the shop to the customer, every appointment starts with a drive. Mobile mechanics, detailers, groomers and pressure washers often run generators or equipment on site too. When fuel jumps, your trip charge may no longer cover the trip. Check it per appointment.

Worked example

Gasoline $3.20 → $4.10

$1.90

surcharge per appointment

Extra / month
$342
Of avg ticket
1.4%

Illustrative · enter your own below

Surcharge engine · inputs

Example numbers — replace with yours

Example: 2 service vans, ~180 appointments a month, $140 average ticket

The cost that changed
$
$
How much you use

From fuel cards, receipts, or supplier invoices.

How many appointments the cost is spread across.

Your pricing
$

Used to express the surcharge as a %.

%

e.g. 20 for 20%.

Gallon change

▲ 28.1%

Extra / month

$342

Extra / appointment

$1.90

No account needed. Inputs are saved anonymously to build industry benchmarks — never shown individually. Privacy

(What drives the cost)

Where the fuel goes in mobile services.

  1. 01Drive time between appointments, especially across a wide service area.
  2. 02Generators, pressure washers, and onboard equipment burning fuel on site.
  3. 03Heavier upfitted vans and trailers with lower fuel economy.
  4. 04Return trips for parts or follow-up visits.

(Pricing it)

How to add a surcharge customers accept.

01

Update your trip charge first

Many mobile businesses already have a trip or travel fee. Raising it by the calculated amount is often easier for customers to accept than a new line item.

02

Use distance zones

A zone-based travel fee (for example 0–10, 10–20, 20+ miles) recovers fuel more fairly than one flat fee and nudges bookings toward your core area.

03

Show it at booking

Put the fuel or travel fee in your online booking flow and quote, not just the final invoice. Surprises at checkout cost reviews.

(Sample customer notice)

A surcharge letter you can adapt.

Built from the example numbers. Create a free account to generate one from your own numbers as an email, SMS, invoice note, or contract clause — then review it before sending.

Generate mine free More letter, SMS & invoice templates

Email · friendly · draft

Review before sending

Subject: A small fuel surcharge on upcoming appointments

Hi [Customer name],

Fuel prices have risen sharply, and fuel is one of the biggest costs of every appointment we do for you. Rather than raise our base prices, we're adding a temporary fuel surcharge of $1.90 per appointment, starting [date].

This covers only the added fuel cost — nothing more. We'll review it regularly and reduce or remove it when fuel prices come back down.

Thank you for your business. If you have any questions, just reply to this message.

[Your name]
[Company]

(FAQ)

Mobile Services fuel surcharge questions

01Should a mobile business add a fuel surcharge or raise the trip fee?

If you already charge a trip fee, adjusting it is usually simplest. If you don't, a clearly labeled travel or fuel fee works well. The calculator gives you the amount either way.

02How do I include generator fuel?

Add the gallons your generator or equipment uses in a normal month to your vehicle fuel when you enter monthly usage.

03What about customers far outside my area?

Use distance zones or a per-mile fee beyond a set radius, so close-in customers aren't subsidizing long drives.

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