specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: ServiceM8
providerId: servicem8
created: '2026-07-03'
modified: '2026-07-03'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Field Service
- Job Management
- Trades
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of ServiceM8 spend. ServiceM8 is billed as a monthly SaaS
  subscription priced on the number of jobs activated per month, with unlimited
  users on every plan. The REST API carries no separate metered fee - API access
  is included with the subscription and governed by rate limits rather than
  usage billing. The variable cost drivers layered on the base subscription are
  (1) job volume above the plan allowance, (2) SMS messages sent via the
  Messaging API beyond the included credit pack, and (3) upgrading tiers to unlock
  features such as Forms, Asset Management, Job Costing, and Knowledge.
notes: >-
  Per-unit overage rates for extra jobs and SMS are not reconciled here; verify on
  the ServiceM8 pricing page. Optimize spend by matching the plan's monthly job
  allowance to actual activated-job volume and by using webhooks instead of
  high-frequency polling (polling does not add fees but can hit rate limits).
sources:
- https://www.servicem8.com/pricing
- https://support.servicem8.com/help-center/tips-trick-more/more/what-does-servicem8-cost
- https://developer.servicem8.com/docs
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: ServiceM8
serviceCategory: Field Service Management Software
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: AUD
  chargeCategories:
  - Purchase
  - Usage
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: ServiceM8
  ServiceCategory: Field Service Management Software
  ProviderName: ServiceM8
  PublisherName: ServiceM8
  InvoiceIssuerName: ServiceM8
  BillingCurrency: AUD
  ChargeCategory: Purchase
  PricingCategory: Subscription
meters:
- name: subscription_tier
  description: Monthly plan fee (Starter, Growing, Premium, Premium Plus) determined by the monthly job allowance and feature set.
  unit: subscription
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - account
  - plan
- name: jobs_activated
  description: Jobs activated per month; drives which plan tier is required and any overage above the allowance.
  unit: jobs
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
- name: sms_messages
  description: SMS messages sent via the Messaging API; consume the plan's SMS credits and incur charges beyond the pack.
  unit: messages
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
- name: api_requests
  description: REST API requests. Not billed, but bounded by rate limits (180/min, 20,000/day per app per account).
  unit: requests
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - application
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track monthly activated-job volume and SMS usage against the plan allowance to see the true cost driver.
- name: Allocation
  description: Attribute the subscription and SMS spend to the trade business unit or franchise account using ServiceM8.
- name: Optimization
  description: Right-size the plan to actual job volume; use included SMS credits deliberately; use webhooks over polling to avoid rate-limit disruption; only upgrade tiers for features you use.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign an owner to review the monthly ServiceM8 invoice, job-count trend, and any overage before renewal.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com