Pricing Methodology

Every price on VanHub is built on four non-negotiable principles:

• Transparency — the price you see before booking is the price you pay. We display the full breakdown including base rate, visit fee, taxes, and platform fee before you confirm.
• Consistency — the same service in the same city has the same base rate across all professionals. Pros cannot arbitrarily inflate their prices — they operate within VanHub-defined rate bands.
• Fairness to professionals — pros keep 88% of every payment. Our 12% platform fee covers payment processing, insurance, customer support, and platform maintenance — not shareholder dividends.
• No hidden charges — visit fees, diagnosis, and standard consumables are always included. If a part needs replacement, the pro shares a transparent quote before proceeding — you approve before any extra cost is incurred.

The total amount you pay for a service is the sum of several components. Here's the breakdown:

Base rates are reviewed quarterly and updated on the 1st of January, April, July, and October. Changes are announced 14 days in advance via email and SMS to all customers and professionals.

Base rates are not arbitrary. We calculate them using a data-driven methodology that considers:

• Market research — we survey local service rates in 80+ cities quarterly, collecting data from competitor platforms, local service markets, and government minimum wage notifications
• Professional input — our category managers interview 50+ professionals per category per city to understand fair compensation for their skill, time, and investment in tools
• Cost of living adjustment — rates are indexed to the city's cost of living index. Mumbai and Delhi rates are higher than Tier-2 cities for the same service
• Complexity weighting — services requiring specialized skills (AC repair vs. fan installation) have proportionally higher base rates reflecting training and certification costs
• Material cost tracking — for services involving standard materials, we track wholesale prices and adjust rates quarterly
• Customer affordability — we cap maximum rates to ensure services remain accessible. Our rates are 15-20% below the average local unorganized market rate

Pros cannot exceed their band's maximum rate. If a pro is found charging outside their band (via cash or off-platform), they are immediately delisted.

Professionals cannot set arbitrary prices. Each pro operates within a rate band defined by VanHub for their category and city:

When you book a service, you see an estimated price. Here's how the estimate relates to the final amount:

• Estimated price — shown before booking, based on the standard scope of the service. This is what you approve when you confirm the booking. Payment is authorized for this amount (not charged yet).
• On-site diagnosis — the professional inspects the job and confirms the scope. If the job matches the standard scope, the estimate becomes the final price.
• Scope changes — if the job requires additional work (extra time, parts, or a different approach), the pro shares a revised quote through the app. You approve or decline before any additional work begins.
• Final price — the amount charged after the job is complete. This can only be lower than or equal to the approved estimate — never higher without your explicit approval.
• Payment release — your authorized payment is captured for the final amount only. If the final price is lower than the estimate, the difference is refunded within 24 hours.

VanHub operates across 80+ Indian cities, grouped into 4 pricing tiers based on cost of living and local market rates:

To maintain trust, the following are always free or included — never charged separately:

• Booking fee — ₹0. Creating a booking on VanHub is free
• Cancellation fee (2+ hours before slot) — ₹0. Free cancellation up to 2 hours before
• Diagnosis fee — included in the base rate. The pro inspects the issue at no extra charge
• Visit fee (standard) — included in the base rate. The pro's travel is covered
• Standard consumables — screws, tape, basic wiring, glue, etc. are included
• Payment processing fee — ₹0 for customers. The 18% GST and 12% platform fee are already in the displayed price
• Insurance — ₹0. Every booking is insured up to ₹50,000 at no cost to you
• Customer support — ₹0. Calling our helpline or using chat support is always free

If the final price differs from the estimate, or if the service is not completed satisfactorily:

• Lower final price — if the job took less time or fewer materials than estimated, you're refunded the difference within 24 hours
• Pro no-show — full refund of the authorized amount plus ₹500 inconvenience compensation, and we arrange a replacement pro at no extra cost
• Incomplete work — if the pro leaves without completing the job, you're charged only for completed portions (pro-rated) and we arrange a free re-service
• Unsatisfactory work — raise a dispute within 48 hours. Our resolution team reviews and may issue a partial or full refund based on findings
• Material return — if unused parts remain (e.g., a pack of 10 screws, only 3 used), the pro takes them back and you're charged only for what was used

Professionals can see a live payout calculator in their dashboard that shows exactly how much they'll earn per booking before they accept it. No surprises on their end either.

For transparency to both sides, here's how the money flows when you pay ₹500 for a service:

Base rates are reviewed quarterly (January, April, July, October). If a rate for a service you've booked in the past 6 months changes by more than 10%, we notify you via email and SMS 14 days before the change takes effect. Professionals are notified of any rate changes affecting their category at least 30 days in advance. Historical pricing data is available on request — email pricing@vanhub.pro for a breakdown of any service's rate history over the past 24 months.

If you have any questions about how pricing works, believe you were overcharged, or want to report a pricing violation: