How to Calculate Contractor Bids: Margin vs. Markup
Build a contractor bid from labor, materials and fixed overhead. Compare markup with margin using a worked example and a free CSV starter.
Read guideOffline Business Planners for Quotes & Budgets
A quote and a program budget answer different questions. Choose the planner for the work you actually do: contractor bids, cleaning visits, caregiver capacity, nonprofit programs or school materials. Each planner is a downloadable HTML file that runs in a modern browser offline, with no account or installation.
Compare the actual files
Current prices are in USD for a one-time digital download. Check the limited preview and software requirements for each tool.
| Product and preview | Price | Formats | Software requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructional Materials & Equipment Budget Planner Limited preview | $39.00 USD | HTML · TXT · JS | Any modern browser, offline, no install and no account. Works on desktop and mobile; the print view is a clean budget sheet. |
| Nonprofit Program Budget Planner Limited preview | $39.00 USD | HTML · TXT · JS | Any modern browser, offline, no install, no account. Print view is a clean board page. |
| Home Care Visit Planner Limited preview | $39.00 USD | HTML · TXT · JS | Any modern browser, offline, no install, no account. Print view is a clean week sheet. |
| Contractor Bid Planner Limited preview | $39.00 USD | HTML · TXT · JS | Any modern browser, offline, no install, no account. Print view is a clean bid sheet. |
| Cleaning Quote Planner Limited preview | $39.00 USD | HTML · TXT · JS | Any modern browser, offline, no install, no account. Print view is a clean quote sheet. |
| Operator Bundle — five planners Limited preview | $99.00 USD | HTML · TXT · JS | Any modern browser, offline, no install, no account. Each planner is one HTML file; tests run with Node if you want to check the maths. |
Use a consistent workflow
Choose one task, replace the sample inputs and keep records you can reconcile.
Browse all 14 toolsChoose the unit you need to price or fund
A contractor prices a defined job, a cleaning operator compares cost per visit and frequency, and a home care operator models visit costs against caregiver hours. School and nonprofit planners organize funding and spending assumptions rather than service quotes.
Replace the sample assumptions
Use your own loaded labor rates, material costs, visit times, funding restrictions and overhead. Read the included arithmetic notes before interpreting a margin or multi-year outlook. The tools do not supply a live price database, payroll rules or grant-allowability decisions.
Inspect one file before choosing a bundle
Open the limited preview for the task you need, compare the requirements and use the printable output when reviewing your assumptions. The five-planner bundle contains separate files for all five tasks; its value depends on whether you need those additional models.
Read the method first
Worked examples and free resources explain the assumptions before you buy a complete tool.