Pricing & Estimating8 min read
How to Price a Contracting Job: The Complete Guide
A step-by-step breakdown of how to calculate your real costs, apply the right markup, and price every job to make a profit — not just cover expenses.
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Contractor Business Guides
How to Run a More Profitable Contracting Business
Practical guides on pricing jobs, writing estimates, managing payroll, and understanding your numbers — written specifically for contractors.
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Invoicing5 min read
The 50/40/10 Payment Schedule Explained
Why most contractors use a 50/40/10 deposit structure, how to set it up, and how progress billing protects your cash flow on every job.
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Job Costing7 min read
Job Costing 101 for Contractors
How to track every dollar that goes into a job — labor, materials, subs, equipment — and calculate whether the job actually made money.
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Software & Tools6 min read
QuickBooks vs. Contractor-Specific Software: Which Is Right for You?
QuickBooks is built for accountants. Contractor software is built for you. Here's what's actually different and when each makes sense.
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Pricing & Estimating6 min read
How to Write a Scope of Work for a Contracting Bid
A scope of work protects you legally, sets expectations with customers, and wins more jobs. Here's exactly what to include and how to write one fast.
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Pricing & Estimating7 min read
Overhead Costs for Contractors: What to Track and How to Calculate Them
Most contractors underestimate overhead — which means they underprice jobs. Here's a complete list of overhead items and how to calculate your true overhead per hour.
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Invoicing6 min read
Progress Billing for Contractors: The Complete Guide
Progress billing keeps cash flowing on large jobs. How to structure payment milestones, create progress invoices, and handle customer disputes on billing.
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Payroll9 min read
Payroll for Contractors: A Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about contractor payroll — overtime rules, payroll taxes, employee vs. 1099, pay periods, and how to stay compliant in all 50 states.
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