Great question! Contractor estimating software is a time-saving, accuracy-designed digital tool that general contractors use to convert measurements into documents that outline all costs of a project—from labor, and materials to markups, shipping and more. Contractor estimate apps allow GCs to automate these calculations, leaving less room for human error that could lead to billing errors down the road. Additionally, contractor estimating software helps pros digitize their business, helping to keep estimates organized within the software program or app. As an added bonus, estimating software makes it seamless to share estimates with clients, other contractors or vendors. 

Here’s a great starter pack. At minimum, a contractor estimate should contain the following elements:

• Your company’s contact information
• Your client’s contact information
• Date the general contractor estimate was prepared
• Item names, quantities and price for each material required to execute a project (you can include labor in the price or as a separate line item)
• Subtotal, taxes, fees and the grand total
• A place for both parties to sign and date the estimate once approved

If you want to add a competitive edge to your estimate, we recommend including:

• Your company’s logo to add an extra dose of professionalism
• Inspirational images to help clients visualize what they’re getting
• Dreamy descriptions of items to show how you plan to use them
• Terms and conditions that include any important information your client should be privy to before signing
• A payment schedule so your client knows when to expect an invoice

With so many GCs looking to digitize their business, there are many types of contractor cost estimators available on the market today. When looking for an estimating software that suits your needs, be sure to consider the following features:

• Cloud-based: A cloud-based estimating software for small contractors will help keep your estimates organized in the cloud so any team member, contractor or client can access them when they need to. It also ensures you only ever have one version of an estimate floating around to create a single source of truth.
• Integrations: The contractor estimate program you choose should integrate with your other business tools so you don’t have to completely overhaul the way you work. Integrations with Gmail, Zoom and accounting software like QuickBooks online are some important integrations to look for as you’ll commonly be using these tools to send and communicate your estimates, then align them with your business finances.
• All-In-One Tools: Contractor estimate programs are most useful for busy general contractors when it has other features that help optimize the entire project workflow. For example, if you use one tool to create your estimates and another to create invoices, you’ll be spending a lot of time entering the same data twice, which could hold you back from taking on more projects. Be sure to look for tools that can tackle takeoffs, estimates, invoices, change orders and more so you can achieve maximum business efficiency.

P.S. Houzz Pro’s general contractor estimating software checks all of the boxes on this wishlist. Try a demo to see for yourself. 

With a Houzz Pro membership that comes with our small contractor estimating software, you’ll also have access to these game-changing business tools:

• A premium profile on Houzz*
• A complimentary business website*
• Targeted local advertising*
• Quality lead generation*

But the perks don’t stop there. You’ll also get the following tools that help you win the projects you want:

• Professionally branded estimates
• A CRM that helps you stay organized
• Simple email marketing tools*
• Mood boards, a 3D floor planner and  Life-sized Walkthrough features 
• Lightning-fast takeoff tech*

We even help you manage projects with: 

• Project management and collaboration solutions
• Straightforward change orders*
• A 24/7 client dashboard and portal
• Real-time approval tracking and e-signatures
• Project profitability analytics

When it’s time to get paid, you’ll enjoy the convenience of:

• Online payment & invoicing tools
• Time and expense tracking*
• Financial reports
• Integrations with Gmail, Zoom, QuickBooks Online and more

Subscribers of our contractor estimate app get the full support of our customer support team*. We’re available via chat, email or phone to help ensure you’re getting the most out of Houzz Pro. As a Stevie Award Winner recognized for Innovation in Customer Support we’re confident we can help you through any challenge. Need help figuring out how to integrate with your QuickBooks Online account? We’ve got your back. Need a tutorial of how to use our takeoffs tool to expedite your general contractor estimates? We’ll make it happen!