Unit pricing is a quick way to lose your shorts if you don't have a strong background in that area. i.e. -A receptacle in an industrial facility won't be the same as one in a hospital, or a retail facility.
If you're wanting to take the plunge into commercial work, it's time to train up; and pony up for an estimating system.
There's loads out there: AccuBid, EBM, Timberline, McCormick, etc. The function is essentially the same, even the databases are organized similarly.
This is a huge expense, but a necessary one.
For budget purposes, many will use an Excel spreadsheet, but to get an accurate takeoff, you'll need software. I don't recommend a spreadsheet for a novice.
(no offense to you old timers that used a NECA manual, pencil and paper, I've done just enough of that to know that, while it works, it stinks:whistling2: )
Another option for a small company, is to have an estimating service do the estimating for you, then you can solicit your own quotes, add in your overhead, profit and burden, and send it out.
If you're wanting to take the plunge into commercial work, it's time to train up; and pony up for an estimating system.
There's loads out there: AccuBid, EBM, Timberline, McCormick, etc. The function is essentially the same, even the databases are organized similarly.
This is a huge expense, but a necessary one.
For budget purposes, many will use an Excel spreadsheet, but to get an accurate takeoff, you'll need software. I don't recommend a spreadsheet for a novice.
(no offense to you old timers that used a NECA manual, pencil and paper, I've done just enough of that to know that, while it works, it stinks:whistling2: )
Another option for a small company, is to have an estimating service do the estimating for you, then you can solicit your own quotes, add in your overhead, profit and burden, and send it out.
