Dave
HVAC Contractors

HVAC Contractors Side Jobs Guides

Practical guidance for starting side jobs as a hvac contractor, keeping the admin under control, and growing toward running your own shop.

Guides for hvac contractors

Use these guides to get the basics right before you take on too much. The goal is to stay useful, stay organized, and keep the side work manageable while you are still employed.

Getting Started3 min read

How to Start Doing Side Jobs in HVAC

A practical guide for HVAC techs starting side jobs while still working for someone else, without getting buried in diagnostics, callbacks, or loose service pricing.

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Common early side-job work

system replacementsservice callsmaintenance workduct and airflow fixes

Helpful calculators

HVAC BTU Calculator
Use the BTU calculator as a fast sizing gut-check before you quote equipment and comfort-related scope.
HVAC CFM Calculator
Use the CFM calculator for airflow and system-sizing reference when you are scoping HVAC jobs.
Service Price Calculator
Turn labor, overhead, and profit targets into a cleaner customer-facing price.

Helpful templates

Free Contractor Estimate Templates
Grab the main estimate template library if you want a fast spreadsheet starting point.

Helpful Dave features

Dave Estimates
Build clean, professional quotes with reusable templates, line items, and approvals.
Dave Pricebook
Save your go-to labor rates, assemblies, and material pricing so your quotes start faster.
Dave Online Payments
Move from approved quote to paid invoice without sending clients to another tool.