General Contractor
How to Estimate a Contractor Job
A practical estimating workflow for pricing labor, materials, overhead, risk, and margin before sending a quote.
Start with the real scope
Write down what is included, what is excluded, and what still needs to be confirmed. A clear scope keeps the estimate from quietly absorbing work that was never priced.
Separate labor, materials, and overhead
A useful estimate shows the major cost buckets separately before markup. This makes it easier to spot thin labor allowances, missed supplies, or job costs that belong in overhead.
Add risk before margin
Risk allowance is not the same as profit. Use a separate buffer for uncertainty, access problems, waste, callbacks, or unclear site conditions, then apply your target margin.
Price the next job with more confidence
Use the free calculator, then download the toolkit when you want checklists and quote tools for your workflow.