Who this is for: Managers | Vertical: General Contractor
💼 What makes this vertical different
The General Contractor estimate builder has six cost sections — scope, labor, change orders, subcontractors, permits, and equipment. This is the most detailed estimate form for trade work, built for multi-phase projects where you’re coordinating subs, tracking permits, and managing scope changes after the initial bid.
Scope Items #
The Scope Items section is the primary cost driver — every material, service, and line item that determines the job price. Tap Add Scope Item to add a line item manually, or tap GC Tools in the SmartScope strip to access calculators for concrete, lumber, labor phases, sub markup, permits, area takeoffs, pitch and slope adjustments, Good/Better/Best tiers, and room scan. The Scope Subtotal updates live as items are added.
Crew / Labor #
The Crew / Labor section tracks crew hours and labor cost for this job. Tap Add Crew Phase to add a labor phase with worker count, hours per worker, and rate per hour. Labor costs are tracked separately and do not affect the job price — pricing is driven by Scope Items. Use this section to monitor your effective labor rate and understand job profitability.
Change Orders #
The Change Orders section tracks scope additions after the base estimate is signed. Tap Add Change Order and enter a description, labor cost, material cost, and markup. Each change order is tracked as approved or pending — only approved change orders are added to the Project Total. The section footer confirms: “Only approved COs are added to the Project Total.” Use this section to document every scope change in writing rather than absorbing it into the original price.
Subcontractors #
The Subcontractors section tracks every sub you’re bringing in — plumber, electrician, HVAC, concrete, or any trade you’re coordinating. Tap Add Subcontractor to add a sub with their cost. A toggle lets you apply your job markup to subcontractor costs, with a Subs Subtotal shown when entries are present.
Permits & Fees #
The Permits & Fees section tracks permit costs and municipal fees. Tap Add Permit / Fee to add each permit line. A toggle controls whether your markup applies to permit costs — turn it off to pass permit costs through to the client at cost. The section footer confirms this behavior: “Turn off markup to pass permit costs through to the client at cost.”
Equipment & Rentals #
The Equipment & Rentals section tracks equipment brought to the job — owned equipment you’re billing a usage fee for, or third-party rentals. Tap Add Equipment / Rental to add each item. An Equipment Subtotal is shown when entries are present.
Saved Templates #
The GC estimate builder supports saved templates — tap the template option to save the current estimate as a reusable starting point. Name it something descriptive (the template name field suggests “e.g. Kitchen Remodel”). A saved template captures scope items, labor phases, subcontractors, permits, equipment, and all pricing controls. Change orders, billable expenses, and payment milestones are not included in templates.
Pricing Controls and summary #
The Pricing Controls, Sales Commission, Payment Schedule, and Estimate Summary follow the same structure as the standard estimate builder. See Add Costs, Allocation, and Markup to Your Estimate for a full walkthrough. Tap the document icon (orange, top-right toolbar) to preview and share the PDF.
