Contractor Knowledge Base
Pricing Guides for
Trade Professionals
Straight-talk articles on job pricing, overhead, taxes, and business math — written for contractors who want to understand exactly what they're earning on every job.
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How to Price a Contractor Job: The Complete Guide
Most contractors underprice their work because they only think about the obvious costs. This guide walks through all 6 components of a correct job price — labor, materials, overhead, drive time, taxes, and profit margin — with a step-by-step example calculation you can apply to any trade job today.
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What Overhead Percentage Should a Contractor Use?
Industry benchmarks say 15–25%, but your real number could be higher. Learn what counts as overhead, how to calculate your actual rate, and why most contractors underestimate it by 5–8 percentage points.
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How Much to Mark Up Materials as a Contractor
A 15–30% material markup is standard across most trades — and it's not price gouging. This guide explains exactly what markup covers, how to apply it by trade, and how to handle customers who want to supply their own materials.
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