Contractor Estimate Template

• Your business name and contact info
• The client's name and job address
• A dated estimate number
• A plain-language description of the work (scope)
• Line items with quantities and prices
• Materials vs. labor broken out
• Subtotal, tax, and total
• What's NOT included (exclusions)
• How long the price is good for (validity)
• Payment terms and a deposit amount

Start with your materials cost, add your labor hours times your rate, then add overhead and a profit margin on top — not just labor. A common mistake is pricing the labor and forgetting the drive time, dump fees, and the hours you spend writing the estimate itself. Build those into your number.

Always list a clear scope and a matching list of exclusions. Most disputes and unpaid change orders start because "that wasn't in the estimate."

ESTIMATE #1042 — July 10, 2026
For: John Smith, 14 Oak St.
Scope: Replace 220 sq ft of rear deck boards and railing.

Materials (pressure-treated lumber, fasteners): $1,150
Labor (16 hrs @ $65): $1,040
Dump/haul-away: $120
Subtotal: $2,310
Tax (7%): $161.70
Total: $2,471.70

Not included: staining/sealing, structural framing repairs.
Valid 30 days. 50% deposit to schedule; balance on completion.

The estimates that get accepted are the ones that land while you're still standing in the driveway. Contractor's Secretary turns a few details into a clean, professional estimate you can text on the spot.