Reliable income is something all techs want to achieve. But to have consistent profits, you have to perform consistently on service calls. While we all might like to think of ourselves as repair cowboys who can head out on every job half-cocked and still get it fixed right, that's just not reality. The way to achieve the most consistency possible on service calls is by using systems.

A system is coherent set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) designed to achieve a specific objective. If you want your business to run as smoothly as possible, you should have a system for every aspect of it -- in particular, you should have a system for pricing, for service call structure, and for troubleshooting.

It's easy to systematize your pricing -- all you need is a flat-rate guide and the diligence to research your calls before you head out. You can click here to learn more about prediagnosis and pricing systems.

Your system for service call structure is a little more complicated. This is your general framework for how you'll approach each call from start to finish. It includes how you'll communicate with and manage the customer, recognizing the specs you have to work with, and much more. Our patented (not really) system for this is called The Samurai System for Service Call Excellence. Our premium members can click here to watch a webinar recording that dives into this one in detail.

And finally, a system for troubleshooting: a structured workflow for how you'll approach any problem. This one is vital for profitability: fewer trips and fewer unneeded part swaps = more money. We provide a thorough system for this in our famous Troubleshooting Ten-Step Tango. Watch this webinar recording, and you'll know how to diagnose like a real technician.

We're not saying that every single situation can be boiled down to a set series of steps. Sometimes, you do have to make exceptions from your system to adapt to the situation. But the point is that you always have a plan when you go into every situation. That's how you be consistent, and that's how you be consistently profitable.

If you implement all these systems into your business, you'll bring mistakes, misdiagnoses, call-backs, and dissatisfied customers to an absolute minimum and maximize your chances of earning the living your hard work deserves.