Contractor estimating guides
Everything here comes from pricing real jobs: how to work out what an hour of your time costs, why markup and margin are different numbers, how to take off materials without over-buying, and how to structure payments so you are never funding somebody else's renovation. No fluff, no upsell in the middle of a sentence.
Pricing basics
How to price a job when you're new to contracting
A step-by-step method for pricing your first contracting jobs: labor rates, materials, overhead, and the margin that keeps you in business.
9 min read
Markup vs. margin: the mistake that quietly kills small contractors
Markup and margin are not the same number. See the math, the conversion table, and why a 30% markup only leaves you 23% profit.
8 min read
Takeoffs
How to estimate materials without over-buying
Takeoff formulas, realistic waste factors, and a supplier routine that stops you eating returns, restock fees, and leftover stock.
8 min read
How to bid construction materials
Convert square footage to quantities, apply waste factors, and price a material takeoff correctly.
6 min read
Winning work
Writing a bid that wins without being the cheapest
The structure of a bid homeowners actually say yes to: scope, exclusions, options, and the follow-up that closes the job.
9 min read
Running the business
What overhead really costs you (with worked examples)
Add up your real overhead, turn it into an hourly burden rate, and stop paying for your truck, insurance, and phone out of your own profit.
9 min read
How to handle change orders and scope creep
A simple change order process — what to write, when to stop work, and how to price extras without becoming the bad guy.
8 min read
Getting paid
Deposit, progress, and final payment schedules that protect you
How to structure deposits and progress payments so you are never funding a customer's project out of your own pocket.
8 min read
By trade
Pricing by trade: painting, drywall, decks, flooring, and roofing
Unit pricing approaches, production rates, and the cost traps specific to painting, drywall, decks, flooring, and roofing work.
11 min read
Handyman pricing guide
Hourly rates, minimum call-out fees, and flat-rate pricing for handyman work.
7 min read
Ready to price a job?
The free calculator handles labor, materials, overhead, and true margin. No account needed.
Open the bid calculator →