but how do you get compensated from your customer for this time?
Well for us it's easy.
We charge them by the hour as soon as I start heading their direction.
If it also happens to be a 'off hours' call it is a four hour minimum and I charge the customer for every minute I am out of my house.
From the time the answering service calls me until the time I anticipate I will be back home.
Add to that a truck and mileage charge.
Of course none of our calls are to single family homes.
What do they get for this?...quick response, professional, reliable service.
Also the abilty to get a lot of man power on the job ASAP if there is a major issue.
Bob