An accurate estimate sets the tone for the project and ensures that there are no financial or logistical hurdles along the way. With an accurate estimate, contractors can avoid over- or under-buying materials and hire necessary labor. Additionally, having a reliable estimation process means contractors can confidently quote costs to clients and never charge them more in the future. This helps to develop strong client relationships leading to repeat business. For contractors looking to learn the best ways for creating project estimates, this article has you covered.

Obtain a Detailed Scope of the Project

Clients often solicit multiple bids from various contractors to receive the best estimate for their project, as reported by One-Pull Solutions. While quoting a lower price than competitors can help you land clients, if it is not accurate, you may end up paying out of pocket to cover project costs. 

Rather than focusing on providing the lowest price, your goal needs to be quoting an accurate price in line with project expectations. This can be easier with new home construction, where the scope of the overall project is relatively small. Larger projects are comparatively more challenging to estimate.

The best way to accurately understand the scope of the project is to meet clients in person. Reviewing the property/site in person will provide a clear idea regarding the amount of material and labor required for the project. Additionally, you can factor in any extra costs associated with transportation, local taxes, etc.

Speaking with clients face-to-face also provides the chance to ask questions and discuss special requests they may have. Moreover, if you ascertain a specialist is required for the project, request to bring them along for a follow-up visit. Only once you have collected ample details regarding the project should you start working on the estimate.

Maintain Your Margins

As a contractor, your goal needs to be to make a profit on all projects. But this is easier said than done. With the competitive nature of the industry, you sometimes may need to provide discounts to make offers attractive to clients, however, the amount of discount will depend on the financial health of the business.

Using cloud construction accounting software will provide a clear picture of your business's financial standing. For instance, within a few clicks on the software, you can create a cash-flow statement, which can be reviewed to understand the rate of inflow and outflow of cash from the business. A negative cash flow will require you to cut costs, improve collections and reduce discounts on projects. Conversely, when the business is healthy, you can be more competitive, afford to bid for numerous projects, and have greater price leeway with clients.

Use an Estimating Software

An estimate needs to include all important aspects of the project such as cost of labor, type and quantity of raw materials, tax calculations, and much more. The best way to tackle this cumbersome task is to use cost estimating software. This kind of software can be useful both during the consultation phase and the construction phase of a project. Based on the type of project, you’ll be able to choose from an array of templates that can be customized depending on your labor and material requirements. Additionally, the software will automatically calculate the various types of taxes you’ll incur and provide a final figure which can then be shared with clients.

Additionally, as reported by Building Advisor, if a payment schedule has been decided with the client, you can include that with the estimate as well for approval. During the course of the project, the software will share automated invoices to ensure that you receive payments on time. 

Moreover, you can expect minor modifications to be requested either by you or the client while work is ongoing. Using the software, you can seamlessly make tweaks to the estimate and share a fresh copy with the client for approval. This ensures that all parties are on the same page at all times.

When it comes to consistently creating accurate estimates for projects, using technology will be key. Tools such as accounting software and cost estimating software simplify the process of handling complex calculations, make accepting payments easy and allow you to outperform competitors. Additionally, you can make changes on the fly with little to no disruption in work and ensure that projects are always completed on time and within budget.

Here are a few other great resources for entrepreneurs in the general contracting business:

• How to Start an LLC in Illinois

• Creating an S Corp in Illinois

• The 12 Most Effective General Contractor Marketing Tips

• 7 Building Blocks that Create an Awesome Contractor Website

• How to Get More Construction Leads

Connect with other local business owners in the Deerfield, Bannockburn, and Riverwoods areas by joining the DBR Chamber of Commerce.

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Starting a business feels like lighting a match in a rainstorm. It takes nerve, timing, and a little luck. But growing a business—that’s where the real complexity lies. Not all strategies fit every stage, and what propels a startup can suffocate a mature enterprise. Growth isn’t a straight line; it bends and shifts depending on where the business stands, who it serves, and how ready it is to evolve. From early-stage validation to late-stage expansion, there’s a rhythm to growth that rewards those who know when to pivot, when to double down, and when to get out of their own way.

Early-Stage Survival Isn’t About Going Big

In the beginning, the goal isn't scale—it's survival. It’s about proving the product works, the market wants it, and that the business isn’t just a passion project in disguise. This means staying focused on one thing: customer validation. Instead of burning cash on ads or fancy office space, early-stage companies benefit more from obsessively talking to their customers, tweaking offerings based on feedback, and being ruthlessly clear about what problem they're solving.

Don’t Mistake Attention for Traction

At the growth stage, visibility can be deceiving. Just because more people are talking doesn’t mean more people are buying. This is where data starts to matter more than hype. Real traction shows up in conversion rates, repeat purchases, and net promoter scores, not just social media buzz or press mentions. Scaling too fast based on vanity metrics leads to burnouts—of both budgets and teams—before the model proves itself.

Paper Trails That Don’t Trip You Up

A business can only move forward if its foundation isn’t buried under a mess of missing receipts and unlabeled files. Staying organized means keeping financial records current, stored in one place, and structured in a way that makes sense when tax season or investor questions roll around. Saving key documents as PDFs ensures they retain their formatting and are easier to archive and retrieve. If changes are needed, a PDF editor allows you to make adjustments without converting the file, which is especially helpful after exploring your options by reviewing an overview of PDF editing tools.

When It’s Working, Focus Like a Laser

Once a business finds its footing, there’s often a temptation to branch out too early. New product lines, new markets, new channels—all seem like obvious next steps. But expansion without focus kills momentum. The most successful growing businesses double down on what works before adding complexity. They find their best customers and pour into that relationship, turning those loyal few into brand evangelists before chasing the masses.

Culture Is Strategy Wearing Comfortable Shoes

At a certain point, a business stops being about the founder and starts being about the team. Growth hits a wall when internal culture can’t keep up with external demand. People strategies become growth strategies—hiring processes, communication flows, leadership training, and accountability systems all shape whether a business stays coherent as it expands. Culture is no longer a soft skill; it’s the infrastructure that either powers growth or poisons it.

Channel Experiments That Don’t Break the Bank

At mid-stage, businesses face a critical question: how to find new customers without wasting money. Blindly throwing dollars into ad campaigns or partnerships without testing can become a financial sinkhole. Smarter companies run low-cost pilots on new channels—be it influencer marketing, affiliate programs, niche sponsorships, or experiential pop-ups—to learn quickly and scale only what sticks. Not every tactic needs to go full-throttle to teach something useful.

Legacy Is Built Through Systems, Not Hustle

Late-stage businesses can’t rely on personality or hustle anymore. The goal shifts from making noise to making things run. Growth at this stage is about durable systems—supply chain efficiency, automation, knowledge management, and leadership development. Founders often struggle here, because what worked in the early days—charm, urgency, improvisation—starts to erode consistency. Building a company that can grow without its original team pulling the strings every day is the final test of scalability.

Growth isn’t a one-size-fits-all playbook. It demands different kinds of courage at different points: the bravery to start small, the discipline to stay focused, the humility to listen, the wisdom to pause, and the resilience to build for the long haul. There’s no universal blueprint, only a shifting landscape that rewards those who stay grounded in reality while reaching for what’s next. A smart business doesn’t just grow—it grows in tune with its season, aware of its limits and hungry for its potential.

• Complimentary review of repair quote
• Assessment of product options
• Pricing review
• Warranty review

• Complimentary review of quote
• Complimentary sewer line video inspection
• Complimentary copy of sewer line video inspection
• Pricing review
• Warranty review

Egg Harbor Cafe's Summer Specials have arrived! 🍓☀️⛱️🍋🍳

☀️Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes☀️
Our classic pancakes made with lemon and poppyseeds and topped with fresh strawberries, lemon icing and powdered sugar!

☀️Geneva Rösti☀️
A delicious blend of shredded potatoes, two eggs, bacon and onion, baked with Jack & Cheddar cheeses and topped with sour cream and green onion. Served with fresh fruit and a buttered English muffin with our signature house-made  jam.

☀️Alpine Scrambler☀️
Three eggs scrambled with diced ham, cream cheese and onion. Served with Harbor potatoes and a buttered English muffin with our signature house-made jam.

We also have returning barista summer favorites! 
🍋Spiked Blackberry Lavender Lemonade (Available without alcohol)
🍋Spiked Strawberry Lemonade (Available without alcohol)
🍋Spiked Lemonade (Available without alcohol)

✨Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte
✨Brown Sugar Vanilla Harborccino

Available at all Egg Harbor Cafe locations from May 21st - August 26th! 😊