1. Define what the price is buying
Write the included areas, preparation, materials, finish, waste removal, access, customer responsibilities and exclusions. A vague scope can turn a winning quote into unpaid additions.
2. Price direct job costs
Add materials with realistic wastage, labour for every worker, subcontractors, hire, delivery, waste, permits and specialist services. Use supplier figures that match the specification rather than a memory of what the item cost last year.
4. Give the job its share of business overhead
The van, insurance, phone, tools, software, storage, accountant and advertising exist so jobs can be delivered. Allocate them using a sensible job percentage or a daily overhead based on realistic billable days.
5. Separate contingency from profit
Contingency covers uncertainty. Profit is the reward after expected job and business costs. Calling the same money both contingency and profit makes the result fragile.
6. Test the awkward version of the job
Add an extra day, material rise, callback, delayed programme or customer discount. A quote is safer when the likely bumps do not instantly remove the entire profit.
7. Structure how the work is funded
Check whether the deposit covers early materials, hire and subcontractors, and whether stage payments follow real points of value in the programme.
Use your own figures
The guide explains the decision. The calculator shows what that decision does to a real job.
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