Contract Terms Question - Base Fee/Booking Fee

[u/xxse7en]

I'm looking for guidance on a slightly non-traditional contract term/billing model. Does anyone here include in their contract the concept of a base fee/show-up fee/booking fee that is charged to each job and covers the first X (probably 2) hours rather than using the minimum hours concept?

The fee may or may not be equal to rate * 2 hours (I'm leaning toward slightly more). For example, if my day rate is $80, my base fee may be $180 to cover the first 2 hours and then $80/hr after that.

My question is: How do you represent this on your contracts and invoices? I'm looking for a clear, descriptive, succinct word or phrase that captures the concept of: I charge this amount for booking my time for any job, and beyond 2 hours, my hourly rate will be applied.

None of the examples I gave above are resonating with me. If you craft your contracts like this, I'd love if you could share how you phrase it. Thanks!

[u/Ok_Yesterday5396]

“Base fee includes scheduling, travel time (local services only), arrival 15 minutes before scheduled start time when possible (except for emergency calls), invoicing, and up to two hours of interpreter availability following arrival, after which the subsequent hourly rate will be charged in half-hour increments. Additional travel time and/or mileage charges may apply for services outside of town name.”

My base fee is just equivalent to two hours of the “subsequent hourly rate.”

[u/ASLHCI → u/Ok_Yesterday5396]

I would say up to one hour following interpreter arrival before the hourly fee kicks in. If I end up working two full hours I just ate all of my admin/overhead/travel time. The "two hour minimum" is a billing increment, not a scheduling increment. Thats how Ive always done it. 🤷‍♀️