Flat Rate jobs follow a standardized Service Fee + Service Option workflow. Instead of hourly billing, you diagnose on site, select pre-priced services, get approval, and your payout is calculated for you. This article walks you through the whole job, from arriving on site to closing out and getting paid.
Prefer not to read the walkthrough? You can watch this video:
How You're Paid
Service Fee: $50 for standard jobs, $100 for after-hours or emergency jobs (the $100 replaces the $50, it isn't added on top). It covers travel, diagnosis, job setup and standard overhead. The Service Fee is paid once per visit, no matter how many services you select. When you submit for approval, the app asks "If this quote is approved, are you willing and able to start this work today?" Selecting Yes grants you the Service Fee for that visit, regardless of whether your work is approved. Selecting No means you won't be paid the Service Fee on the first visit; if your quote is approved, you're paid the Service Fee on the approved quote (your second trip). See Getting Approval for details.
Selected services: each service has a pre-set payout based on your market.
Add-ons and materials: approved add-ons are added to your total.
You see your running payout as you add services, and you know the total before you start the repair. There are no hourly rate calculations, no post-job adjustments and no reconciliation. There are zero Lula fees on flat rate catalog services, unless there's a no-show or background check fee. Custom services are the exception (see Custom Services below).
Starting the Job
The job start screen works almost the same as before. Even though we've moved to flat rates, we still track time — this helps keep catalog pricing accurate since prices are based on average completion times.
⚠️ Important: You must select your flat rate services and get approval before beginning any work.
Diagnosing & Selecting Services
1. Job Details & Issues
Once you start the job, you'll see the Job Details screen. Each job may have one or multiple issues. Issues are tied to problem categories (like Plumbing/Toilet or Doors/Windows) that are set automatically by Lula's AI.
You'll need to open each issue individually to select the services needed to complete the work. All of this must happen before any work begins.
2. Issue Details & Diagnosis
When you open an issue, you'll need to:
Write a diagnosis — describe what you found and why the work needs to be done. The more detail, the better. This helps prevent kickbacks. A diagnosis should include what, why, where, and who caused it (when applicable).
Add before photos — upload photos of the issue before starting any work.
Tap "Add Services" to select the work needed. If you don't see the button, scroll down to the Services section of the issue. You can't save the issue until a service has been added.
All of this information is collected upfront to keep the job moving smoothly.
3. Adding Services
Think of a service as a repair or replacement. Choose a category, choose Repair or Replace, and pick from the recommended list. Each service displays its title, a scope summary (what's included), whether it's labor only or includes parts, expected repairs, and whether procurement is handled by Lula.
Repairs — you can add multiple repair services for a single issue.
Replacements — you can only select one replacement per issue, and the same replacement can't be selected twice. If Lula is handling procurement, this will be clearly noted on the service card.
You can select multiple services in the same work order if multiple issues are resolved during the visit. If you can't find the service you're looking for, tap "Browse All Services" to view the full catalog of 500+ services.
You are expected to complete everything listed in the scope of the service. Pay special attention to whether the parts are included in the price or not.
Two Types of Services
Lula-Procured (Replacement-Based Work)
Some services include materials purchased directly by Lula. When you're approved for one:
Lula buys the materials at the nearest Home Depot (or approved vendor).
Pickup details are in your work order, and you'll get a notification with the confirmation number, warehouse address and contact number once the materials are ready.
The price includes labor and materials. You don't need to submit a separate materials cost or request reimbursement.
If materials aren't ready or available, contact Lula using the number in your work order. Don't buy Lula-procured materials out of pocket without authorization. Our team will find the closest available alternative.
Your role: diagnose, select the correct replacement, pick up the materials and tap "Confirm Item Pickup", complete the repair, and close out.
Labor-Only Services
The service has a fixed labor rate. You source the parts and add your parts cost as an add-on. The system combines labor and parts and runs the approval automatically, and no separate invoicing is needed.
4. Add-Ons
Add-ons cover any costs that fall outside the scope of a service but don't require a separate service to be added. Think of small materials needed while completing a repair — like plumber's tape or new toilet bolts when replacing a wax ring.
A few things to know about add-ons:
Each add-on has a cap (you won't see the cap amount). Staying under it means the cost is covered. If you'd go over it, you need approval before proceeding.
This should be a material or additional labor cost that is not explicitly listed on the scope. If it's listed in the scope, it can't be added as an add-on and it was already included in the payout price.
5. Custom Services
If you've searched the full catalog and truly can't find a matching flat rate service, you can add a custom service. This acts as a quote.
⚠️ Only use a custom service if a flat rate option doesn't exist. If a flat rate service does exist for the work, our team may update it to keep pricing consistent.
Unlike flat rate catalog services, custom services carry the standard 12% Lula fee, which is deducted from your payout. Custom services are also subject to an additional pricing review after the job is completed and all notes are submitted.
Unable to Complete a Service
If you get on-site and realize you can't complete a service, tap "Unable to Complete" on the issue details page. This lets our team know that a different Pro may be needed, or that no further action is required.
Getting Approval
Every flat rate job requires approval before work begins. Once you've selected all services and add-ons, tap "Submit for Approval". There's no NTE to manage, and you won't see one in the app.
If your total is within the approval limit for the job → you'll receive automatic approval to proceed.
If your total is over the limit → you'll get an alert that the job has become an on-site quote.
What is an on-site quote? It's a request for approval of the services you selected, sent while you're still at the property. When you submit, the app asks: "If this quote is approved, are you willing and able to start this work today?" A 20-minute timer starts. Stay on site while you wait. If it's approved in time, you can start the work. If time runs out, close the job. What you're paid for this visit depends on your answer (see below). The quote then becomes an off-site quote, and you'll get another work order for the approved work once it's approved. Partial approvals are possible, so complete only the approved services.
If you can start the job today
Yes, I'm willing and able to start today: selecting Yes grants you the $50 Service Fee ($100 for after-hours or emergency jobs) for this visit, regardless of whether your work is approved. If your work isn't approved, you're also paid a second Service Fee for the return visit.
No: selecting No means you won't be paid the $50 Service Fee on the first visit. If your quote is approved, you're paid the Service Fee on the approved quote (your second trip).
Only answer Yes if you're willing and able to start the work the same day. We encourage you to claim jobs with the intention of resolving them in one trip when possible, or at least starting on the job, to help speed up service.
No phone call is needed to request approval in most cases.
Approval Received
Once approved, the job details screen will show all approved services. You're cleared to begin work. If no procurement is required, continue with the work as needed.
If your approved service required procurement, you'll see a new "Confirm Item Pickup" button. Tap this once you've picked up the materials — this helps us track everything.
Closing the Job & Getting Paid
The job closing flow is nearly the same as before — the main difference is how the pricing summary looks. You'll see your full payout broken down by service fee, individual issues, and total job payout.
To close out:
Complete the job info — add detailed service notes (your diagnosis and the resolution) and after photos for every service. Lula's processing team compares these to the selected services and may adjust a mismatch.
Rate the resident (private to Lula — not shared with the resident).
Tap "Close Job".
If additional work was found during the visit, you can submit a quote from the job closed screen or return to it later from the job details page.
Example Payout
You arrive and diagnose two labor-only issues:
Running toilet → Flapper replacement ($45), plus $15 materials as an add-on
Faulty outlet → Outlet replacement ($55), plus $9 materials as an add-on
Service Fee: $50
Flapper Replacement: $45 + $15
Outlet Replacement: $55 + $9
Job Payout: $174
The system calculates this total automatically once you select your services.