Please do a search on the term "flat rate" in regards to residential and light commercial service work (all trades)

LK's definition of (paraphrasing) flat rate being the same as contract pricing, is the accepted industry standard. Of the 500+ contractors that I know who use flat rate, that is the definition they would all give you.

So, no offense to anyone, but whether you agree with that definition or not is quite irrelevant. It's like saying "I don't agree that a plain pizza is generally dough, cheese and tomato sauce"

There will always be variations, but any contractor who uses flat rate pricing will generally follow the principles LK set forward.

PE did a good job of explaining the real benefit to a flat rate manual (employees)

macmike makes a great point with his last post.

call it what you want, but more and more customers simply want to know what things will cost before you do them. however you figure out that price is up to you.