Suppose someone asks you to replace a few fence pickets and adjust a gate. You expect three hours on site. Before quoting, think through the whole job from the first conversation to the last trip back. The site work is only one part of the time you’ll put in.
Count your time away from the job
In this example, add 30 minutes for the estimate and scheduling, an hour for travel and picking up materials, and 30 minutes for unloading and paperwork. That brings the job to five hours. Include site cleanup in your work estimate and add time for any separate disposal trip.
Build the quote from your own costs
The numbers below are illustrative. Substitute your own costs and a labor rate that makes sense for your business.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Five hours of owner time at $40 per hour | $200 |
| Materials and supplies | $95 |
| Vehicle and overhead allowance | $45 |
| Allowance for uncertainty | $25 |
| Target business profit | $35 |
| Illustrative quote before any payment fee or applicable tax | $400 |
If you priced only three hours on site at $40 and added $95 for materials, you’d quote $215. After materials and the $45 overhead allowance, you’d have $75 left for five hours of your time, or $15 per hour before any other expenses. Writing out the job makes that gap visible before you commit.
Tell the customer exactly what’s included
List the number of pickets, the gate adjustment, cleanup, and any assumptions about existing conditions. If the work reveals a rotten post outside the original scope, explain what changed and get written approval for the added price before doing it. Afterward, compare the hours you estimated with the hours you actually spent.
← Back to the blog