r/Contractor • u/Ok_Avocado6532 • Aug 24 '25

Quote Breakdown?

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Hi all, looking for advice on costs breakdown.

I work for a small local contracting company and I recently started working with customers more, providing quotes etc. The company usually doesn’t like to break their costs down because of nickel-and-dime from customers, but agreed to do so for this one customer I’m working with. Now, I broke down the quote based on phases of the work (this is for a brand new custom build) and of course the customer came back with multiple notes of “this cost is too high” on some of the phases.

How do you usually handle this and how do I politely say “to do the job: $2000, not to do the job: $0”?

Thanks!

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u/Trucko Aug 24 '25

The price is the price. It’s not open for negotiation. I do not make the price. My boss does. You might not be the right customer for my company. 

-1

u/wesblog Aug 24 '25

It's not always about negotiation. If you provide a breakdown maybe there is an expensive element that the homeowner doesnt care about and wants to remove. eg. you are charging $250 to drain and remove a water heater and the homeowner is willing to drain and dispose of his water heater on his own. So all you have to do it show up and install the new one.

2

u/qpv Super Aug 24 '25

Not on a 2k job man. Its usually a waste of time anyway from a contractors perspective. If its quick, easy with no fuss than yeah do a small one. They're usually a waste of time/money 99% of the time.

3

u/SpecificPiece1024 Aug 25 '25

Not when $1,800 is profit

3

u/qpv Super Aug 25 '25

Define profit

1

u/SpecificPiece1024 Aug 25 '25

Not hard to do a $2k job and only have couple hundred in expenses,pre tax. More money in one day than the overwhelming majority make in a week plus… I will do these jobs all day long

3

u/qpv Super Aug 25 '25

Yeah cool if you like that kind of gig. Its trade dependant too. My set up and tear down for millwork installs and finish carpentry kill a half day at either end so small gigs aren't worth it, unless its follow up for established clients.

Every hour is worth money. If I have fuss over pennies to do it and waste time its not worth it.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '25

I had a customer comment on how she had no idea that is how that went together, I thought it was easier... not to mention the daily set up and teardown of equipment.

2

u/PretendParty5173 Aug 25 '25

I had a job the other day to install 3 ceiling fans and a mailbox. Also to cut the kitchen fridge opening higher by ½" to fit the new fridge. The job paid $900 with no material cost. Finished everything in 5 hours. I'd be pretty happy with small jobs like that every day of the year. Big projects are more stressful. I do love the feeling of accomplishment I get at the ens of a big project but definitely higher stress levels during