How to Estimate a Job and Track Real Profit in a Spreadsheet
Most contractors know what they quoted. Fewer know what each job really earned. Put the estimate and the actual costs side by side and the profit shows itself.
Build the estimate
Every estimate has the same parts: labor hours, your hourly rate, materials, and a markup on materials.
Estimate = (Labor hours × Hourly rate) + (Materials × (1 + Markup %))In a sheet with hours in B2, rate in C2, materials in D2 and markup in E2:
=B2*C2 + D2*(1+E2)Log what the job really cost
As the job runs, record actual labor hours and every materials receipt against the job. Then compare:
Profit = Quoted − Actual cost
Margin = Profit ÷ Quoted| Job | Quoted | Actual cost | Profit | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen backsplash | $2,400 | $1,610 | $790 | 32.9% |
| Deck repair | $1,850 | $1,420 | $430 | 23.2% |
| Bathroom paint | $900 | $640 | $260 | 28.9% |
Use the gaps to price the next job
If one type of job keeps coming in under margin, the estimate is too low. Look at which line ran over (usually labor hours) and raise that part of your next quote for the same kind of work.
Skip the setup: Contractor Job Estimate & Profit Tracker
Estimate each job, track the real costs and see what you actually made. Ready to use in Google Sheets and Excel, $6.99.
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