Free contractor bidding + estimating utility

Bid jobs without guessing your profit.

A beginner-friendly estimating tool for handymen, landscapers, painters, cleaners, remodelers, and 1099 contractors. Calculate labor, materials, overhead, markup, tax set-aside, and real take-home before sending the bid.

Build Estimate

Project Overview Labor Plan Materials Direct Costs Overhead Margin & Tax Scope Review Client Proposal

Professional Bid Estimate Builder

Enter the project details you know. The bid summary updates automatically as you refine the estimate.

Mobile view is streamlined for fast job pricing. Keep Beginner Mode on for a cleaner estimate workflow, then turn it off when you need advanced fields.

Beginner Mode

Turn off to show advanced pricing fields.

1. Project Overview

Project / estimate title

Client name optional

Trade / project type

Project location optional

Scope of work

The assistant below uses scope keywords to suggest common line items and hidden project costs. It does not use external AI or store your data.

Optional hidden-cost suggestions

Type a short scope description above. The tool will suggest items beginners often forget.

2. Labor & Production Plan

On-site hours per crew member

Number of workers on site

Hourly billing rate

Use the hourly rate your business needs to charge, not an employee wage.

Pre-job planning & admin hours

Cleanup & load-out hours

Labor contingency %

3. Materials, Waste & Markup

Default material markup percentage

Default waste allowance percentage

Material sales tax percentage

Price-book style line items help keep estimates consistent from bid to bid. Update costs to match current local supplier pricing.

4. Direct Project Costs

Travel & mobilization cost

Equipment rental / tool wear

Disposal / dump fees

Permit & inspection fees

Subcontractor or helper cost

Other direct job costs

Client allowance amount

Use allowances for selections that are not final yet, such as fixtures, finishes, or uncertain material choices.

5. Business Overhead Allocation

Overhead includes the business costs you carry even when you are not on the jobsite, such as insurance, phone, website, truck payment, bookkeeping, tools, software, licensing, storage, and advertising.

Estimated monthly business overhead

Monthly billable labor hours available

Minimum project price

6. Profit Margin & Tax Planning

Target profit margin percentage

Margin is calculated as price = cost ÷ (1 - margin).

Estimated tax set-aside percentage

Risk / contingency buffer percentage

This tool is for planning only. It is not legal, tax, accounting, engineering, or licensed contractor advice. Always confirm job scope, local code, material prices, permits, and tax rules.

7. Scope Review & Bid Protection

Professional estimates are more than math. They define the scope, exclusions, assumptions, client responsibilities, valid-until date, deposits, and change-order rules.

Estimate validity period in days

Requested deposit percentage

Minimum change-order fee

Scope exclusions / not included

Assumptions

Client responsibilities

Private estimator notes not shown to client

Optional professional bid review checklist

Check each item you have verified. The score helps catch weak estimates before they are sent to the client.

Scope is clearly definedWork to be performed is specific enough to reduce confusion. Measurements and quantities verifiedDimensions, counts, or material quantities were measured or confirmed. Material pricing verifiedSupplier prices, delivery costs, and availability were recently reviewed. Site conditions reviewedAccess, disposal, surface conditions, weather, and difficulty were considered. Permits and code requirements reviewedPermit, inspection, licensing, HOA, or code requirements were checked when relevant. Scope exclusions documentedAnything not included is stated before the client accepts. Change-order policy includedAdded work, hidden damage, or scope changes require written approval. Photos, notes, or plans savedReference photos, notes, drawings, or sketches are saved for the project record.

Professional estimate rule: A professional bid should be traceable from scope → quantities → labor/material costs → overhead → contingency → profit → client terms.

8. Client Proposal Preview

Proposal terms / client notes

About this free tool: Contractor Bid Builder is designed for new and solo contractors who need a clean way to price small projects without opening a spreadsheet. It now includes scope protection, price-book style line items, client terms, deposits, allowances, and a bid confidence score. For complex construction projects, commercial work, engineering requirements, or regulated trades, use professional estimating software and consult qualified local professionals.

Contact: fkcreativestudio4@gmail.com