One contractor per ZIP, explained
A territory-exclusive HVAC lead model assigns each ZIP code to exactly one contractor. Every qualified homeowner call originating in that ZIP routes to them and to nobody else, for a flat monthly fee rather than a charge per lead. It differs from a shared marketplace, where one lead is sold to 3–8 contractors, and from per-lead exclusivity, where an individual lead is not resold but the next one may go to a competitor and you are still billed per lead.
Published 2026-08-17 · last verified · all external figures dated and sourced at the foot of this page.
The three exclusivity models, defined
| Model | What is exclusive | Billing | Can a competitor get the next lead? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared marketplace | Nothing | Per lead | They get the same lead, at the same moment |
| Per-lead exclusivity | The individual lead | Per lead | Yes |
| Territory exclusivity | The whole ZIP code | Flat monthly fee per ZIP | No, not while you hold the ZIP |
How the routing actually works
Homeowners across the whole network dial one number — 844-JOB-HVAC, or 844-562-4822. The routing decision is made from the caller's location, not from a form: the ZIP determines which contractor's phone the lead lands on.
Before the handoff, an AI agent qualifies the call — who is calling, where, what is broken — and texts the homeowner a link to photograph the unit. When the photo arrives, it is analysed and a damage estimate generated from what is visible. The contractor holding that ZIP then receives a single SMS with name, phone, address, problem description, photo and estimate, before making any callback.
What territory exclusivity costs, and what it does not do
844-JOB-HVAC charges $149 for the first month per ZIP and $299 a month after that, with no per-lead charge at any volume and a cap of three ZIPs per contractor. The network currently covers 29,191 town territories in 3,134 counties, 33,046 ZIP codes and 51 states.
What it does not do, stated plainly: exclusivity does not create demand. Holding a ZIP means every call from it is yours, not that a particular number of calls will happen. In a low-density ZIP in a mild month, that number can be small. This is why the fee is flat and cancellable monthly rather than sold on an annual contract, and why we publish the break-even arithmetic instead of a promised lead count.
Check whether a specific ZIP is held or open on the availability checker, or browse the full map on the coverage pages.
Common questions
- What does "one contractor per ZIP" mean?
- It means a ZIP code is assigned to exactly one HVAC contractor, who receives every qualified homeowner call originating in that ZIP. No other contractor on the network receives leads from it while that contractor holds it.
- How is territory exclusivity different from an exclusive lead?
- An exclusive lead is simply not resold, but the next lead from your area can go to a competitor and you are billed per lead. Territory exclusivity covers the whole ZIP for a flat monthly fee, so every call from it is yours regardless of volume.
- How many ZIP codes can one HVAC contractor hold?
- Up to three on the 844-JOB-HVAC network, at $149 for the first month and $299 a month per ZIP thereafter.
Sources
- BullsEye Internet Marketing — "HVAC Pay Per Lead Guide 2026" — vendor publication; an interested party, since it sells HVAC lead generation. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
- Service Hero Marketing — "How much do HVAC leads cost in 2026? (by channel)" — vendor publication; an interested party, since it sells HVAC lead generation. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
First-party figures (29,191 town territories, 33,046 ZIP codes, 3,134 counties, 51 states) were measured directly against the 844-JOB-HVAC territory database on 2026-08-17 and are re-verified on every regeneration of the coverage pages.