A job has $100 of owner labor, $60 of helper labor, and $40 of materials and travel. Fixed cost is $200. With a 20% target margin and 3% quote-based fees, $200 ÷ 0.77 = $259.75 after rounding up to the cent.
Break the job into tasks
Estimate delivery, setup, and closeout hours separately. Quantity times hours per item lets you adjust a scope item without redoing the whole estimate.
Price a helper explicitly
Multiply actual helper hours by full cost per hour, or enter a subcontractor quote. Do not reuse the owner pay assumption for someone else.
Review the final quote
The full job price comes first. Only divide by hours, units, or visits when the billable unit count is real and clear to the customer.
When to use this method
Use separate task rows when a job has a clear delivery phase and setup or closeout phase. For multiple helpers, enter their count, hours per person, and full cost per hour.
A mistake to avoid
Do not add a subcontractor invoice again under materials or overhead. One real cost belongs in one input line.
What this does not tell you
These are calculation examples using stated assumptions. They are not national service rates, local quotes, tax advice, or a prediction of demand. Confirm your own scope, costs, fee basis, and any local requirements before sending a price.
Source and updates
The formulas and assumptions are explained in our methodology. This guide was prepared on 2026-11-06. If you find an error, send a correction.