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• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20265 min

  Should You Charge for Estimates? The Break-Even Math and Tax Mechanics

  I get asked constantly whether contractors should charge for estimates. It is one of the first questions I cover in job costing for contractors. My answer is usually the same:...

• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20265 min

  How to Scale Past 1 Million Revenue Without Eating Your Own Margin

  This comes up again and again on Jobber community: "How do you scale past 1 million in revenue what are some common bottle necks to". I read that and I...

• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20265 min

  Rising Material Costs Are Eating Your Margin—Here Is How to Rebid Without Losing Work

  Rising material costs are the single biggest reason a profitable bid turns into a breakeven job. You bid a job at $20,000. You planned $8,000 for materials. Labor and overhead...

• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20264 min

  The Recession Revenue Drop Benchmark 2008 — How Much Can Your Contracting Revenue Actually Fall?

  The recession revenue drop benchmark 2008 shows that a severe recession can cut your contracting revenue by 40% to 60%. Look at what happened to construction spending between 2006 and...

• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20268 min

  Qualify Leads Before Quoting: How Contractors Stop Wasting Estimates on Tire-Kickers

  Every estimate you give to a tire-kicker is labor and mileage that could have gone to a paying job. Qualify leads before quoting and you get that time back. I...

• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20269 min

  Procurement Deposits Liability Not Income: A Designer's 2026 Guide

  Procurement deposits liability not income is the first rule of clean books for any designer handling client furniture purchases. When a client sends you forty thousand dollars to buy a...

• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20267 min

  Pricing Unfamiliar Work: How Contractors Bid on Jobs They've Never Done Before

  This comes up again and again on Jobber community, Houzz Pro forum: "How to price deep cleaning services without undervaluing your work" — or waterproofing, or cabinet installs, or commercial...

• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20267 min

  Pricing Jobs Outside Service Area: Travel Surcharge or Not?

  Pricing jobs outside service area is a recurring question for contractors: how to price a job that is outside your normal working area. The cost is more than fuel. You...

• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20266 min

  Pricing Change Orders: How Contractors Protect Profit on Every Add-On

  Pricing change orders is not the same as pricing the original bid. The original bid was a competitive proposal you prepared in your office with time to think. A change...

• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20268 min

  When Turn Down Profitable Work? The Capacity Test for Contractors in 2026

  Every contractor hits the same wall. The phone rings, the job pays real money, and your crew is already at fifty hours. When turn down profitable work is not a...

• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20265 min

  When Should You Raise Prices to Keep Up With Rising Payroll Costs?

  This comes up again and again in contractor forums: when should you raise prices to keep up with rising payroll costs? Most of the answers are gut reactions. The real...

• Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20266 min

  Vendor Discount vs Markup Design Fee: How Contractors Price Furnishings Without Exposing Cost

  This comes up again and again on the Jobber community and Houzz Pro forum. A contractor gets a steep vendor discount on furnishings and does not know whether to pass...