ARDOTOOLS

Contractor Estimate Builder

Build a simple client-facing estimate from line items, overhead, contingency, and tax.

Estimate

Output



  

    
How it works

    
    
      
  1. 
        
    List the work
    
        
    Each line with its own labour and materials, so nothing hides inside a lump sum.
    
      
    2. 
      
  2. 
        
    Add markup and tax
    
        
    Applied consistently across the lines rather than guessed at the end.
    
      
    3. 
      
  3. 
        
    Hand over the total
    
        
    An estimate a client can read and question line by line.
    
      
    4. 
    

  


  

    
Who this is for

    

      

        
Bidding for work

        
An itemised estimate is harder to haggle down than a single number.

      

      

        
Handling variations

        
When scope changes, change one line instead of rebuilding the quote.

      

      

        
Comparing subcontractors

        
Same line items, different suppliers, side by side.

      

      

        
Explaining the price

        
Most price objections are really requests to understand the price.

      

    

  


  

    
Questions

    

      
What markup should I use?

      
It depends on trade, risk and how much of the job is your own labour. The point of separating it as a line is that you can see what happens when you move it, instead of burying it in the rates.


      
Is an estimate binding?

      
That depends on your jurisdiction and on what the document says. If you mean it to be an estimate rather than a fixed quote, say so on the document in those words.


      
Should I show my markup to the client?

      
Most contractors show a total and a breakdown of work, not their internal margin. This builds both, so you decide what to send.