Pricebook categories group items so the field UI surfaces them in the right place. A clean category set means techs find items in three taps.

Creating a category

  1. Pricebook → Categories tab.
  2. + New category.
  3. Fill in:
    • Name — e.g. Capacitors, Refrigerant, Diagnostic fees.
    • Description (optional).
    • Sort order — a number; lower numbers show first.
  4. Save.

Categorizing items

When you create or edit a pricebook item, pick its category from the dropdown. An item lives in one category at a time.

To move an item between categories, open it and pick the new category on the item form.

What categories look like in the field

Field UI groups search results by category. A tech searching "capac" sees:

  • Capacitors (category)
    • 35/5 dual-run capacitor
    • 45/5 dual-run capacitor
    • 60/5 dual-run capacitor
  • Air conditioner components (category)
    • …

Sort order controls the section order; alphabetical within a section.

Keep it shallow and meaningful. A good shop has 10–25 categories — not 100, not 5.

Examples:

  • Diagnostic & service calls
  • Capacitors
  • Contactors & relays
  • Refrigerant (R-410A, R-32, R-454B)
  • Filters
  • Thermostats
  • Labor — hourly
  • Maintenance packages
  • Installations — equipment
  • Installations — labor

Avoid:

  • One mega-category called Parts with 300 items.
  • Categories that overlap (e.g. Capacitors and AC parts both holding the same capacitor).
  • Per-brand categories (Trane parts, Carrier parts) — by brand goes inside the part name, not as a category.

Renaming / deleting

ActionWhat it does
RenameEdit the category. The change applies to all items in it instantly.
DeleteOnly allowed if no items reference the category. Move items elsewhere first.

Categories and reporting

Categories show up as group-by dimensions in:

ReportGrouping
Jobs reportBy item category.
Profitability reportMargin per category.
Items and services reportMost-sold by category.

Get the structure right and reporting becomes useful.