Running an appliance repair business means dealing with ups and downs. Some weeks you're swamped with emergency calls. Other weeks your phone barely rings.
What if you could smooth out those peaks and valleys? What if you had steady income coming in every month, plus happier customers who call you first?
The answer is maintenance plans. These programs turn your one-time customers into long-term partners. You'll get predictable revenue while helping customers avoid costly breakdowns.
Here's everything you need to know about building a maintenance plan that grows your business and keeps customers happy.
Why Maintenance Plans Work for Your Business
How to Design Plans Customers Actually Buy
Smart Pricing That Maximizes Your Profits
Marketing Your Plans to Get Sign-Ups
Training Your Team to Sell Plans
Using Technology to Run Plans Smoothly
Tracking Success and Making Improvements
Real Success Stories from Other Businesses
Most appliance repair companies live on a roller coaster. When appliances break, customers call urgently. But between emergencies, your schedule gets empty fast. This unpredictable cycle makes it hard to plan for consistent appliance repair leads.
While maintenance plans create steady revenue, you still need a solid foundation for new customer acquisition. Read the 5 best ways to get appliance repair leads in 2025 to build the customer base you'll convert into maintenance plan members.
Maintenance plans fix this problem and create a steady flow of repair leads. Instead of waiting for things to break, you visit customers regularly to keep their appliances running smoothly.
ServiceTitan calls maintenance agreements a way to create "guaranteed, recurring revenue" for your business. You lock in future work even when competitors are fighting for the same customers.
Here's what maintenance plans do for your business:
Give you steady cash flow every month
Make customers worth more over time
Let you plan your schedule instead of reacting to emergencies
Create chances to sell more services during visits
Keep customers loyal through regular contact
Your customers get big benefits too:
Save money by preventing major breakdowns
Feel secure knowing their appliances get professional care
Get priority service when problems happen
Save on parts and labor for extra services
Home service businesses that add maintenance plans see their revenue grow by about 35% in the first year. That makes maintenance plans one of the best marketing strategies to grow your appliance repair business and create year-round stability.
Your maintenance program needs to give customers clear value while keeping your business profitable. Just offering "maintenance" without specific benefits won't get people to sign up.
A good appliance repair company maintenance plan includes:
Regular scheduled check-ups (usually twice per year) of major appliances
Preventive maintenance tasks like:
Cleaning refrigerator coils and condenser fans
Checking and cleaning dryer vents
Testing water valves on washers and dishwashers
Looking at door seals and gaskets
Making sure oven temperatures are right
Checking all safety controls
Sears Home Services says regular maintenance "makes your appliances last longer and reduces unexpected breakdowns." This high quality messaging connects with homeowners who want to avoid appliance failures.
Beyond basic maintenance, successful plans include perks that make customers feel special:
Priority scheduling when maintenance members need repairs
Discounted service rates (usually 10-15% off labor or parts)
No service fees for maintenance plan members
Extended warranty coverage on repairs
Coverage that transfers if the customer moves
Special seasonal offers only for plan members
Mr. Appliance calls their program an "Appliance Wellness Plan." They talk about regular "checkups" and "tune-ups" for home appliances. This friendly language helps customers understand the value clearly.
Consider offering different plan levels for different budgets:
Basic Plan:
Covers 2-3 critical appliances (refrigerator, range, dishwasher)
Two maintenance visits per year
10% discount on repairs
Premium Plan:
Covers 5-6 major appliances (add washer, dryer, microwave)
Two maintenance visits per year
15% discount on repairs
Priority scheduling for emergencies
Free or discounted filters and small parts
Custom Plans:
Made for unique needs (vacation homes, rental properties)
Flexible scheduling
Coverage for special appliances
By offering choices, you let customers pick the coverage that makes sense for them while maximizing your revenue.
Finding the right price for your maintenance plan means balancing profit with customer appeal. Price too high and few people will sign up. Price too low and you'll lose money on each plan.
Start by checking what similar businesses in your area charge:
Look at local competitors' websites for maintenance plan rates
Check national franchise pricing for benchmarks
Consider typical repair rates in your area
Most home appliance maintenance plans cost $150-$299 per year for basic coverage. The lead price varies by service area, with premium plans reaching $400+ depending on how many appliances they cover and what benefits they include.
Several pricing approaches work well for home service maintenance plans:
Annual Prepaid Subscription:
Customer pays once yearly ($180-$250 for most basic plans)
Gives your business upfront cash flow
Often offered at a discount compared to monthly options
Monthly Subscription:
Lower cost barrier ($15-$25 per month for basic plans)
Steady, predictable revenue
Higher lifetime value as customers stay enrolled longer
Needs automated payment processing
Per-Appliance Pricing:
Base fee plus extra cost per covered appliance
Lets you customize based on customer needs
Usually $50-$100 base fee plus $25-$50 per appliance per year
FieldEdge suggests offering a discount for annual prepayment. For example, $180 per year versus $20 per month. This improves cash flow while giving customers clear savings.
Make sure to account for all costs of providing the service:
Technician time (usually 30-60 minutes per visit per appliance)
Travel costs and vehicle expenses
Office overhead for scheduling and managing plans
Software costs for maintenance plan management
Marketing expenses to promote the program
Value of discounts and included services
Industry experts recommend aiming for a 50-60% profit margin on maintenance plans to keep them viable long-term.
Once you've designed your maintenance plan, you need to tell potential customers about its value. Using multiple marketing channels ensures maximum visibility and more sign-ups. This includes everything from appliance repair ads to social media marketing.
Your website should prominently feature your maintenance plan and help generate free appliance repair leads:
Create a dedicated page with clear benefits and pricing
Add a "Maintenance Plans" tab to your main menu
Include customer testimonials from happy plan members
Feature a clear "Join Our Maintenance Plan" button
Add a FAQ section about common program questions
Jemsu says optimizing your website for local search is crucial for appliance repair businesses. Include location-specific keywords like "Chicago appliance maintenance plan" to show up better in google searches and search engines in your service area.
Beyond local search, ensure your website captures leads 24/7. Learn 7 ways to get appliance repair leads while you sleep to maximize the pool of potential maintenance plan customers.
Your existing customers are your best chance for maintenance plan sign-ups and quality appliance repair lead generation:
Send targeted emails highlighting plan benefits
Include plan information with every service invoice
Create seasonal promotions like "Prepare for summer with our Appliance Wellness Plan"
Offer special rates for existing customers
Start a referral program for plan members who recommend others
Broadly suggests that email marketing to past customers can be one of the most cost-effective appliance repair marketing strategies for repair service businesses. Service-related emails typically get 20-30% open rates.
Every service call is a chance to sell a maintenance plan:
Give technicians digital or printed brochures
Include plan information in all estimate and invoice folders
Train technicians to explain plan benefits at the end of every service call
Offer same-day sign-up incentives like "Sign up today and get 10% off today's service"
Use tablets to show the value visually
Extend your reach through targeted digital marketing and appliance repair marketing:
Create Google and social media ads targeting local homeowners
Write educational content about appliance maintenance for your blog
Share maintenance tips on social media with calls-to-action for your plan
Use remarketing to target website visitors who looked at your maintenance plan page
Optimize for voice search with conversational keywords like "How do I maintain my refrigerator?"
ServiceTitan says service businesses that use effective digital marketing along with service agreements can cut their customer acquisition costs by up to 25%.
To further reduce acquisition costs, implement 7 ways to get free appliance repair leads without paying for ads - these prospects often make ideal maintenance plan candidates since they found you through trust-based channels.
Your technicians are your main salesforce for maintenance plans. Their interactions with customers provide the perfect chance to show value and turn one-time service calls into long-term relationships.
Train your team to follow a structured approach to maintenance plan sales:
Spot opportunities during the service call (aging appliances, preventable issues)
Teach customers about potential future problems
Introduce the maintenance plan as a solution
Explain specific benefits that matter to this customer's situation
Ask for the sale with confidence
ServiceWorks Academy says technicians who consistently present maintenance plans can double their conversion rates compared to those who only mention them sometimes.
Provide technicians with a script they can adapt to their personal style:
"Mrs. Johnson, I've fixed your dishwasher today, but I noticed a few other issues that could cause problems later. Our Appliance Wellness Plan includes two scheduled maintenance visits per year where we'll check and service all your major appliances. This prevents emergency breakdowns and makes your appliances last longer. Plus, as a plan member, you'll get priority scheduling and a 15% discount on any repairs needed. We can set up your first maintenance visit right now for just $19 per month or $199 for the year. Would you like to enroll today?"
Prepare your team to address typical customer hesitations:
"It's too expensive" Response: "The plan actually saves money by preventing costly emergency repairs and making your appliances last longer. Plus, the included discounts often pay for the membership after just one or two service calls."
"I'll just call when something breaks" Response: "I understand, but many major appliance failures can be prevented with regular maintenance. Plus, as a plan member, you'll get priority service when emergencies do happen, instead of waiting in our regular service queue."
"Let me think about it" Response: "Of course. I can leave this brochure with more details. We're also offering a special 10% discount if you enroll today. Would that help make your decision easier?"
Create pay structures that reward maintenance plan sales:
Offer a commission for each new plan sold (typically $25-50)
Give bonuses for reaching plan sales targets
Recognize top performers in team meetings
Create friendly competition between technicians
Share success stories of how maintenance plans helped customers
Servgrow says technicians who are properly rewarded can convert up to 30% of regular service calls into maintenance plan customers.
Managing maintenance plans effectively requires the right tools and systems. Manual tracking leads to missed appointments, frustrated customers, and lost revenue.
Modern field service management platforms provide features specifically for maintenance plans:
Dedicated maintenance plan module
Automated scheduling and reminders
Custom membership pricing and services
Client portal for plan management
Mobile app access for technicians
Specialized for service agreements
Automated renewal processing
Recurring billing integration
Custom plan templates
Performance analytics
Recurring job scheduling
Client relationship management
Automated email and text reminders
Payment processing
Team management features
These platforms let you:
Automatically schedule maintenance visits
Send timely customer reminders.
Process recurring payments
Track plan profitability
Manage renewals effectively
Regular communication keeps maintenance plan customers engaged:
Set up automated email sequences for plan members
Send text reminders before scheduled maintenance
Create seasonal tips newsletters for members
Send automated renewal notices
Send follow-up surveys after maintenance visits
InvoiceFly suggests that businesses using automated communication systems see renewal rates 15-20% higher than those relying on manual follow-up.
Make the financial side of maintenance plans easier:
Set up recurring billing through platforms like Stripe or Square
Offer autopay options for monthly subscribers
Send automated receipts and invoices
Provide customer account portals for payment management
Set up early renewal incentives
Once your maintenance plan is running, continuous monitoring and improvement are essential for maximizing its impact on your business.
Even with automated reminders, no-shows can still impact your maintenance schedule. Learn how to end no-shows and keep your appliance repair calendar full to protect the predictable revenue your maintenance plans create.
Monitor these critical metrics to evaluate performance:
Membership Growth
New plans sold per month
Total active members
Plan density (percentage of total customers enrolled)
Financial Performance
Monthly recurring revenue
Average revenue per plan member
Customer lifetime value of plan vs. non-plan customers
Additional revenue from plan member repairs and upgrades
Operational Metrics
Plan renewal rate
Technician compliance with maintenance schedules
Customer satisfaction scores for plan members
Time spent on maintenance visits
Use member feedback to continuously improve your offering:
Survey plan members annually
Analyze common repair issues to update maintenance checklists
Track which benefits members value most
Test new premium offerings or add-on services
Adjust pricing based on costs and market response
FieldEdge says maintenance plans that change based on customer feedback typically see 25-30% higher renewal rates than programs that stay the same.
These maintenance plan metrics work best alongside overall business tracking. Master the 3 key numbers every appliance repair business must track to make more money to optimize both your maintenance plans and your entire operation.
Develop a systematic approach to maximize renewals:
Begin the renewal process 30-60 days before expiration
Highlight specific benefits the customer has received
Offer multi-year renewal options at a discount
Set up automatic renewal with advance notice
Create win-back campaigns for lapsed members
Learning from other appliance repair businesses can give you valuable insights as you develop your own maintenance program.
This regional appliance repair company started a maintenance plan targeting commercial clients, including restaurants and laundromats. By scheduling routine check-ups for critical appliances, they created steady work while helping clients avoid costly emergency shutdowns.
Their approach focused on the unique needs of commercial customers:
Quarterly maintenance visits scheduled during off-peak hours
Emergency response guarantees for plan members
Detailed documentation for health and safety compliance
Custom preventive maintenance checklists by appliance type
The results were impressive:
40% of commercial clients enrolled within the first year
85% renewal rate after initial term
28% reduction in emergency calls from plan members
Steady work during traditionally slow periods
This small family-owned business transformed their operations by starting a residential maintenance plan called the "Appliance Protection Program." Their approach included:
Annual plan covering up to 6 major appliances
Two scheduled maintenance visits per year
15% discount on all repairs and parts
48-hour guaranteed response time for emergency calls
Coverage that transfers to new homeowners
After 18 months of offering the program, they achieved:
200+ active maintenance plan members
$60,000+ in predictable annual recurring revenue
22% increase in average revenue per customer
Smoothed seasonal workload fluctuations
Higher technician utilization during slow seasons
The Mr. Appliance franchise has successfully used their "Appliance Wellness Plan" across numerous locations. Their standardized approach includes:
Comprehensive home appliance checks
Discounted service rates for members
Priority scheduling for repairs
Seasonal maintenance tips and reminders
Professional technician training on preventive maintenance
This systematic approach has become a cornerstone of their business model, contributing significantly to franchise stability and growth.
Starting a well-designed maintenance plan can transform your appliance repair business from a reactive emergency service to a proactive partner in home appliance care. This shift brings numerous benefits: smoother revenue, higher customer lifetime value, better scheduling efficiency, and natural opportunities for additional sales.
The most successful maintenance programs combine clear customer value with smooth operations and consistent marketing. By focusing on preventing problems rather than just fixing them, you position your business as a trusted advisor rather than just an emergency service.
As you develop your maintenance plan strategy:
Start with a clearly defined service offering
Price it competitively while ensuring profitability
Market it consistently across all channels
Train your team to sell effectively
Use technology for efficient management
Continuously measure and optimize performance
Remember that building a successful maintenance plan program takes time. Begin with a simple, well-executed offering and expand based on customer feedback and your capacity.
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Hello everyone! My name is Alex and I write these blogs to help educate small business owners on different ways to grow their business. My goal is to make lead generation as easy as possible for you. After reading these blogs, I hope you leave with some actionable steps that will get you closer to growing your business :)
