A Tradie's Guide to Improving Your Job Quote Accuracy
2 October 2026 · 6 min read · By Heaney Accounting
Why accurate quoting is your profit foundation
Many tradies fall into the trap of guessing their quotes based on what the competition is charging. If you don't account for your specific overheads, materials, and actual labour time, you are likely losing money on every job without even knowing it.
- Break down the actual cost of materials for the specific site requirements.
- Include a buffer for inevitable site delays or supply chain issues.
- Add your overhead recovery rate to every quote, not just your profit margin.
- Review your completed jobs against the original quote to identify discrepancies.
Pro Tip: A profit margin is what is left over after all costs are paid. If you treat your overheads as part of the margin, you are effectively paying to work.
Once you have your base cost, apply your standard markup consistently. Be sure to account for travel time and specialized equipment hire if necessary for the specific project requirements.
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