SmartHelping / Contractors & Job Costing / Excel
Job Bidding Excel Template
Build a job bid from the costs behind it. Enter wages, benefits, payroll taxes, insurance, and other direct costs, then use a target gross margin or cost-based fees to calculate a suggested bid and review the cost breakdown.
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See the template in action
Walk through the costs and suggested bid.
See how labor, other direct costs, fees, and the target margin work together in the Excel template.
What the template includes
A detailed view of the costs behind each bid.
Build the estimate line by line, adjust the assumptions, and see how the resulting job costs affect the suggested price.
Build the labor estimate by role
Configure up to seven worker types, each with inputs for base wage, headcount, and hours worked.
Include more than base wages
Use the overtime, holiday, and PTO sections to reflect the labor costs relevant to the job.
Account for additional employment costs
Define fringe benefits and payroll taxes by worker type, including health insurance, 401(k), FICA, FUTA, and SUTA inputs.
Break out other job costs
Enter up to 100 other direct-cost lines, with a unit cost and up to two multipliers for each line.
Include wage-based insurance costs
Calculate general liability and workers' compensation insurance costs using an input rate multiplied by total base wages.
Use a margin target or cost-based fees
Calculate a suggested bid from estimated costs and a target gross margin, or use the fee/profit and general/admin percentage inputs.
See what makes up the total
Review the components of total job cost and each cost type's percentage of the whole in the summary at the bottom of the spreadsheet.
Adapt the calculations when needed
The Excel sheet is fully unlocked and editable, including the ability to change logic or override formulas for a specific situation.
Margin and fee logic
Choose how the job should earn its profit.
The template supports a target gross margin as well as a cost-based fee approach. Use the inputs that match how you intend to price the work.
Target gross margin
Enter the desired gross profit margin. The template uses that target together with estimated total job costs to calculate a suggested bid amount.
Cost-based fees
If you are charging a percentage of costs instead, set the margin target to 0% and enter percentages for the fee/profit and general/admin inputs.
Owner/operator profit view
The summary separately shows the margin if the fee/profit and general/admin amounts are removed from expenses and treated as owner/operator profit.
Cost adjustments
Change pay rates, headcount, hours, or other direct costs to see how the suggested bid changes and identify assumptions to review or negotiate.
How to use it
Move from job scope to a cost-backed bid.
Enter the labor requirements
Define the worker types, wages, headcount, and hours. Add applicable overtime, holiday, PTO, benefits, and payroll-tax assumptions.
Build the other direct costs
Populate the relevant cost lines with unit costs and multipliers. Enter the general liability and workers' compensation rates.
Set the pricing approach
Choose a target gross margin, or set the margin target to 0% and use cost-based fee/profit and general/admin percentages.
Review and refine the bid
Check the suggested bid, total costs, cost mix, and profit view. Test changes to the assumptions before deciding what to quote.
Who gets value from it
For teams estimating labor-intensive jobs.
Contractors and trade businesses
Bring wages, insurance, direct costs, and the intended profit into one job estimate.
Estimators and project managers
Break the job into individual cost assumptions and review what drives the proposed price.
Owners and operators
Compare margin-based and cost-based fee approaches while keeping the owner/operator profit view visible.
Accountants and advisors
Help clients review the cost structure behind a bid and adapt the editable calculations to their requirements.
Also available in these bundles
Need more than a job-bidding tool?
The Job Bidding template is included in the Accounting, Construction / Contractor, and Super Smart collections.
Accounting Templates
Explore tools for costs, budgets, accounting analysis, and financial reporting.
View the Accounting bundleConstruction / Contractor Templates
Find spreadsheets for construction planning, contractor analysis, job costs, and related decisions.
View the Construction bundleSuper Smart Bundle
Get the complete SmartHelping template collection for financial modeling, accounting, tracking, and more.
View the Super Smart BundleRelated accounting and project tools
Connect the estimate to the wider business.
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A few useful details.
How many worker types can I enter?
The template has slots for up to seven worker types. Each includes inputs for base wage, headcount, and hours worked, plus relevant compensation and employment-cost assumptions.
How many other direct costs can I include?
There are 100 direct-cost slots. Each line supports a unit cost and up to two multipliers.
Does it account for benefits, taxes, and insurance?
Yes. The labor section includes fringe benefits and payroll-tax inputs for each worker type. General liability and workers' compensation insurance inputs use a rate applied to total base wages.
Can I charge a fee instead of targeting a gross margin?
Yes. Set the margin target to 0% and enter percentages for the fee/profit and general/admin inputs. The summary also shows the owner/operator profit view described above.
Can I edit the formulas?
Yes. The Excel sheet is fully unlocked and editable. You can modify the logic or override formulas when your situation requires it. For help adapting the spreadsheet, contact SmartHelping about custom work.
Is it included in any bundles?
Yes. The Job Bidding template is included in the Accounting, Construction / Contractor, and Super Smart bundles linked above.
Build the bid from the costs
See the job economics before you quote.
Get the editable Excel template for seven worker types, 100 direct-cost lines, insurance, margin or fee-based pricing, and a detailed cost summary. One-time purchase for $45.
