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Give your plumbers ChatGPT on a tablet to draft invoices and proposals and think through tricky repairs from a photo
Dan Callies, president of Oak Creek Plumbing & Remodeling in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area (roughly 20 plumbers), in CNN Business
Plumbers carry a tablet with ChatGPT that drafts invoices and work proposals. Technicians photograph a problem, such as a broken water heater, or type what they see into a prompt and get back suggested fixes.
ChatGPT Free $0; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro $100/mo
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ChatGPT
The problem
Writing invoices and work proposals took office and field time, and technicians in the field sometimes faced complex plumbing problems they had to work out on the spot.
What happened
Callies says ChatGPT has let the company "lower our overhead and provide better services or better value" and that "It's definitely been worth the investment." He says it affects both the field and the office, and that some of the older plumbers have learned to ask ChatGPT the right questions. No figures given. Self-reported.
Quoted in the source: Dan Callies, president, Oak Creek Plumbing & Remodeling. Source: CNN Business (via Yahoo Finance): Your plumber has a new favorite tool: ChatGPT (2025-10-10) · Added 2026-10-23.
How to set it up yourself
- What Oak Creek Plumbing uses: ChatGPT on a tablet that plumbers bring to jobs, used to create invoices and work proposals and to brainstorm fixes from photos or written observations. CNN doesn't say which ChatGPT plan they pay for.
- Set up a shared ChatGPT account or workspace on a company tablet and save a project with your standard rates, trip charge, warranty wording and proposal layout so every draft starts from your numbers.
- On a job, have the tech take a photo of the equipment and nameplate, then use the prompt below to get possible causes and a draft proposal with good/better/best options.
- Make the tech confirm every diagnosis with their own testing and code knowledge before telling the customer anything, and have the office check prices before the invoice or proposal goes out.
Copy-paste prompt
I'm a licensed plumber at {COMPANY NAME}. Here is a photo and my notes on a {EQUIPMENT TYPE, BRAND, MODEL AND AGE}: {WHAT I SEE AND MEASURED}. 1) List the most likely causes in order, with the test I should do to confirm each one. 2) Then draft a customer proposal with up to three options (repair, upgrade, replace), using my rates: {LABOR RATE}, {PARTS PRICES}, {TRIP CHARGE}, {WARRANTY TERMS}. Use plain language a homeowner understands, keep it to one page, and don't invent any price or code requirement I didn't give you. Mark anything that needs my check.We set up one AI automation in your tools, live within 48 hours of getting access, for $197. No call needed. Founding price for our first 10 customers (regular $297).
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Tools used
ChatGPT
General AI assistant for writing, research, brainstorming and analysis.
From Free $0; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro $100/mo (checked 2026-10-23)
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Checked prices: ChatGPT: from Free $0; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro $100/mo (verified 2026-10-23)
Rather not do it yourself?
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See the $197 Quick-WinNeed more than one automation or ongoing care? Bigger setups: $149/mo with setup included (6-month minimum), or $497 pay-once. Satisfaction guarantee: we'll fix it until it works. Pay-once setups: or we refund your setup fee. $149/mo plan: cancel in the first 30 days and we refund your first month. We reply within 1 business day.
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