Free contractor pricing tool

Contractor profit calculator

Add the real cost of the job, choose the profit margin you want, and see the quote price you need before sending an estimate.

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Recommended quote

$7,906.25

Price before tax that achieves your selected profit margin after direct costs, overhead, and contingency.

Final client price

$7,906.25

Recommended quote plus 0.0% tax.

Expected profit: $1,581.25
Profit margin: 20.0%
Markup: 25.0%
Direct costs: $5,500.00
Labor cost: $2,000.00
Overhead: $550.00
Contingency: $275.00
Tax: $0.00

The professional PDF adds a quote number, full itemized breakdown, client details, generated date, terms, notes, and clean Veltril Quote branding.

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Margin is not markup

A 20% margin on $100 of cost requires a $125 quote. That creates $25 profit, which is a 25% markup on cost but a 20% margin on the selling price.

How the contractor profit calculator works

Enter every direct job cost, including labor, materials, equipment, permits, travel, and subcontractors.
Add overhead, contingency, tax, and the profit margin your business needs.
Review the recommended quote, expected profit, markup, and final client price.

Contractor quote formula

Direct cost = materials + labor + subcontractors + equipment + permits + travel + other costs.
Internal cost = direct cost + overhead + contingency.
Quote before tax = internal cost ÷ (1 - desired profit margin).

Common quote pricing mistakes

Pricing labor from wages instead of the real business labor cost.
Confusing markup with profit margin.
Leaving overhead, contingency, or small job expenses out of the quote.

Frequently asked questions

What profit margin should a contractor target?

The right margin depends on trade, risk, overhead, and market conditions. Veltril Quote warns when margin falls below 15%.

Is markup the same as margin?

No. Markup divides profit by cost, while margin divides profit by selling price.

Should overhead be included in every quote?

Yes. Insurance, vehicles, software, estimating, and administration must be funded across the work you sell.

What does the paid PDF include?

The client-ready PDF includes project details, itemized costs, quote totals, terms, notes, date, and clean branding.

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