Payroll Tax Savings for Home Services & Trades
Keep Your Best Techs. Cut Payroll Tax. And Don’t Spend a Dime Doing It.
When you’re running a trades business — HVAC, plumbing, pest control, landscaping, electrical — you’ve got a simple formula: keep the jobs flowing, control labor costs, and retain good people.
But in the last few years, that’s gotten harder:
Labor costs are rising
Training new techs takes time and money
Employee turnover hurts your schedule — and your reputation
Most business owners think offering better benefits means higher costs. But here’s the truth:
You can give your W2 employees a valuable, usable benefit and save money — at the same time.
It’s called a Preventive Care Management Plan (PCMP) — and when implemented properly, it’s 100% compliant and zero cost to your business.
What’s a PCMP?
It’s not insurance. It’s a supplemental wellness benefit that gives your employees access to:
Virtual telehealth and behavioral coaching
Preventive wellness services (like screenings, nutrition, and substance support)
Health resources they can use on their own schedule — no waiting room needed
It’s set up as a pre-tax benefit, so you reduce your payroll tax obligation — particularly FICA — while employees receive the full value of the plan and are reimbursed in the same paycheck.
What Could You Save?
Let’s say you run a residential HVAC business with 20 field techs and 3 office staff. Everyone is on W2.
23 × $600 = $13,800/year in recovered payroll tax
That’s a good month of payroll — back in your pocket.
If you’ve got multiple trucks running crews across plumbing, electric, or landscape routes — that savings grows fast:
10 employees = $6,000/year
40 employees = $24,000/year
100 employees = $60,000/year
And again — this isn’t a credit. It’s not a write-off. It’s money you stop paying in tax every payroll cycle.
Why It’s Perfect for Field Service Businesses
1. It Works with Hourly, Non-Salaried Staff
Most benefit programs are built for white-collar salaried employees. PCMPs are designed for people on W2s — even if they’re paid hourly or work variable hours.
2. It Doesn’t Require Offering Insurance
Whether you already offer coverage or not, the PCMP fits. No ACA penalties. No plan disruption. Just a simple overlay that delivers value without adding cost.
3. It Helps with Retention
You’ve trained your techs. You’ve got them working routes. Losing one means two months of callbacks and reschedules.
A small benefit like this — even just virtual care and behavioral support — shows you care, and it’s something they’re not getting from the guy offering 50¢ more per hour.
4. It’s Hands-Off
You don’t need another thing on your plate. PCMPs are fully administered:
Integrated with payroll
Auto-reimbursements to employees
No claim processing or paperwork on your side
Is It Legal?
Yes — when structured and administered correctly. PCMPs are based on long-standing IRS and ACA guidance. They rely on Section 125 pre-tax benefits and qualified preventive care services.
We only work with vendors who:
Provide full documentation and legal backing
Handle all plan setup and payroll integration
Deliver proof of services to employees
Offer support for audits or questions
This isn’t a loophole — it’s a little-known benefit structure that more trades businesses are using every year.
Real Questions from Business Owners Like You
Q: Do I have to pay anything?
No — it’s designed to be net zero cost to the employer. You keep more of what you’re already spending.
Q: My guys don’t care about benefits. Why bother?
They might not care until they need something. Access to mental health support, substance counseling, or basic telehealth makes a difference — especially when they can use it privately without paperwork or insurance.
Q: Do I have to change my payroll system?
Nope. The vendors we work with integrate directly with your current payroll setup — no extra admin required.
Snapshot
What you get:
~$600+/employee/year in FICA savings
Better retention & morale
Administered for you
What it costs:
$0 net cost
No disruption to payroll
No insurance requirement
Let’s Run the Numbers
If you’ve got 10 or more employees on W2 payroll in the field or office, you could be leaving real money on the table.
Get a quick estimate — no sales pitch, no obligation.