Tax Guides

148 guides, built from the primary documents. Pick a topic to filter.

Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20269 min

What's a Realistic Gross Profit Target by Job Size? (And Why 50% Is Harder on Big Jobs)

This comes up again and again on Jobber community: contractors hitting 50% gross profit on small residential jobs and wondering why their $200K commercial build barely clears 20%. The short...
Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20266 min

Going Rate vs Own Pricing: Your Competitor's Bid Doesn't Pay Your Overhead

You look at three bids for the same job and wonder if you should match the middle one or price from your own costs. That is the question of going...
Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20267 min

National Account Contract Risk: What the Master Service Agreement Actually Says

National account contract risk is the gap between the revenue you see on paper and the cash you actually collect. You sign a master service agreement with a national chain...
Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20264 min

Material Markup vs Job Markup: Why Your Material Bump Alone Won't Pay the Bills

This comes up again and again on Jobber community: why every service contractor needs to understand material markup, not just job markup. The confusion usually comes down to one thing. Material...
Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20266 min

Markup vs Margin Contractors: How Much Should You Mark Up Materials?

Markup and margin are two different calculators. Markup is a percentage of your cost; margin is a percentage of your selling price. Using the wrong one quietly cuts your profit...
Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20265 min

They Said Your Price Is Too High — Now What? A Contractor's Playbook for 2026

This comes up again and again on Jobber community: how do you handle customers who say your price is too high when you know your numbers are right? I see...
Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20269 min

You Bid a Flat Fee and the Tariff Hit: How a Price Escalation Clause for Contractors Protects Your Margin

You bid a kitchen remodel at a flat $40,000. Two weeks later, the tariff on imported cabinets jumps 15% before delivery. If your contract is silent, you eat the cost,...
Job costing & pricingJul 10, 20265 min

Do You Need Pay As You Go Contractor Insurance Between Jobs?

This comes up again and again in contractor forums: do you need business insurance between jobs, or can you pause it and save the premium? You finish a kitchen remodel...
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...