These are the estimating mistakes we see most often in small contracting businesses, and the practical fixes that protect your margin.
Waste factor, permit fees, and windshield time are easy to forget and brutal to absorb. Add them to every estimate as a standard line item.
Supplier prices move constantly. Pull fresh quotes for any large material category before sending a bid.
Apply markup, report margin — but never confuse the two. Use a conversion table or the EstiDash margin tool to keep them straight.
Every estimate should list the scope assumptions, exclusions, and allowances in writing. This prevents change-order disputes later.