What should a contractor bid include?
Describe the site and work, itemized labor and materials, allowances, exclusions, schedule, permit assumptions, written change process, payment stages and workmanship warranty.
Construction proposal template
Set out the work, materials, price, schedule and approval process before a remodel or trade job begins.
Free to generate. No account needed.
Start with the property, the area being worked on and the result the client expects. For a remodel, name the rooms and the specific work in each. For plumbing, electrical, roofing, painting or handyman work, describe the locations, systems or surfaces included, along with preparation and finish tasks. “Repair the upstairs bathroom supply line and patch the opened wall” gives both parties more to check than “bathroom repairs.”
Separate included work from exclusions and client responsibilities. Note who moves furniture, provides access, selects finishes or arranges utility shutoffs. If concealed damage cannot be confirmed before opening a wall, say how you will document it and pause for approval before extra work. When a site visit informs the price, record its date and any limits on what could be inspected. This helps explain why a later discovery may require a revised scope rather than an assumed fixed repair.
Show labor and materials as distinct line items where that helps the client understand the bid. Group related tasks into useful phases and identify equipment, delivery or disposal charges. A small repair may need only a few lines, while a multi-room remodel benefits from room-by-room or trade-by-trade organization.
Use an allowance only when a selection or quantity is not settled. Identify what it covers, the assumed amount or quantity, and how a difference will be handled after the client chooses. Do not imply that a placeholder is a supplier quote or guaranteed final cost. Note whether tax, delivery and disposal are already included so the total is not mistaken for a materials-only figure. Browse BidLogik proposal templates for a document structure, then adapt it to the actual job.
Give a realistic sequence: anticipated start window, work phases, inspection or approval points, and estimated duration where useful. Note that access, weather, material lead times, client decisions and other trades can affect dates. Explain how you will communicate schedule changes.
Identify permits or inspections that may apply and state who confirms, applies for and pays for them. Requirements vary, so check local licensing and lien rules before sending or signing. Use placeholders such as [license #] and [insurance] until you verify the business details; never invent credentials. State how the work area will be protected and what cleanup is included.
Work outside the accepted scope needs a written change order before it proceeds, except for an immediate safety response handled under an agreed process. Identify the requested change, price or pricing method, schedule effect and approving person.
For discoveries such as damaged framing or an inaccessible pipe, document the issue, explain options and added cost or time, then wait for written approval. Do not bury change work in a later invoice. See the landscaping proposal template and cleaning service proposal template for related service examples.
List the amount or percentage due at each agreed stage, the milestone that triggers it, and accepted payment methods. A schedule might connect an initial payment to material ordering, another draw to a completed phase, and the balance to closeout. Check local rules that may govern deposits, progress payments or lien notices. This page is not legal advice. State when each invoice will be sent and how a client can question a charge before the next draw is due.
State what your workmanship warranty covers, its duration, how the client reports an issue, and any exclusions. Distinguish your workmanship commitment from manufacturer product warranties. Include an expiry date if costs or availability may change, and provide a signature or e-signature step to record approval.
Before sending, match every price to a scope, label allowances, and place exclusions beside the affected work. Confirm names, site address, contact details, start assumptions and access. Make clear which choices or documents are needed next.
BidLogik supports service businesses across different industries; tailor this bid to the actual project. If the client asks for options, show separate scopes—for example, repair versus replacement—instead of blending alternatives into one total. Review assumptions with the client before work begins.
Example — edit everything
Included: Remove the existing vanity; install one client-selected vanity and faucet; reconnect the sink supply and drain; protect the hallway; remove job debris. Materials allowance: [allowance]. Labor: [labor amount]. Permit and inspection responsibility: [confirm locally]. Any concealed damage, added wall repair or change in selected fixtures requires a written change order approved before the added work begins.
This is a starting template, not legal advice. Have a professional review terms for your jurisdiction.
Describe the site and work, itemized labor and materials, allowances, exclusions, schedule, permit assumptions, written change process, payment stages and workmanship warranty.
Label it as an allowance, define what it covers and how a difference will be handled once the client selects the item.
Use verified business details only. Insert [license #] and [insurance] placeholders until accurate information is confirmed, and check requirements where the work is performed.
No. Not legal advice. Check applicable local licensing, lien and payment rules, and seek qualified professional review when needed.
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