How to Bid a Construction Job
Bidding a job is two skills: estimating it accurately, and presenting it convincingly. Get either wrong and you either lose money or lose the job. Here's how to do both.
Step 1: Estimate accurately
Break the job into materials, labor hours, equipment, permits, and disposal. Price materials at current rates, multiply labor hours by your loaded rate, and don't forget overhead.
Step 2: Add the right margin
A common mistake is bidding at cost plus a thin margin. Build in margin for risk, overhead, and profit — typically 10–20%+ depending on the trade and job complexity.
Step 3: Present it like a pro
The same number wins or loses depending on presentation. A detailed, organized proposal justifies your price and makes the client comfortable saying yes.
Step 4: Send it fast
Speed wins jobs — the first professional proposal often gets the contract. The free tool below turns your estimate into a polished proposal in minutes so you can respond same-day.
🔨 Get 12 ready-to-send contractor proposal templates — the full Proposal Pack PDF for just $29 →