Trying to price jobs better and wondering how much time others spend per account. Obviously varies by complexity, but what's your typical range for standard commercial accounts?
Time management - how long do you spend per account?
Larry - for straightforward commercial accounts, I budget 2-3 hours for initial audit including data collection. Complex accounts with multiple meters or special contracts can take 6-8 hours.
I spend about 1.5 hours on simple retail locations but up to 4 hours on manufacturing accounts. The key is having efficient processes for the routine stuff so you can focus time on complex issues.
Steve makes a good point about follow-up. I track that separately in my pricing now. Initial audit is one fee, dispute resolution and utility coordination is additional.
Don't forget to factor in follow-up time for dispute resolution. That can add another 2-3 hours per account if you find issues that require utility contact.