Free tool · No email
What does a small underquote add up to?
See what being a little under on each quote adds up to over a year. Use your own numbers. No email required.
What your result means
The result is money you earned but didn't charge for: the gap between what the job really cost to deliver and what you quoted.
Most underquoting isn't a maths problem. It's a memory problem: the travel you forgot, the machine hours, the fuel, the supplier price that went up last month.
How it's worked out
Average job value × percentage under × jobs a month = left on the table each month.
Monthly figure × 12 = left on the table each year.
- The percentage under is your own estimate of how much you miss on a typical job.
- It assumes a similar number of jobs each month.
- It doesn't include the knock-on effect on your margins or cash flow.
Worked examples
What it looks like for different businesses.
Illustrative numbers only. Use your own numbers in the calculator above.
| Example | Job value | Under by | Jobs a month | Each month | Each year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping jobs | A$5,000 | 10% | 2 | A$1,000 | A$12,000 |
| Electrical call-outs | A$1,200 | 5% | 12 | A$720 | A$8,640 |
| Earthmoving projects | A$18,000 | 4% | 1 | A$720 | A$8,640 |
| Regular cleans | A$650 | 8% | 30 | A$1,560 | A$18,720 |
FAQ
Calculator questions. Answered.
How do I know if I'm underquoting?
Compare what a job actually cost you with what you quoted. If the gap keeps coming up, especially on travel, machinery, fuel or materials, you're probably underquoting.
What are the most common things tradies forget to quote?
Travel time and kilometres, machine hours, fuel, consumables, disposal costs and recent supplier price increases.
How can I stop underquoting?
Set up your real costs once and use them on every quote. BuzzBrain Time Boost does this, then shows the true cost and a recommended price before you send it.
Do you store my numbers?
No. The calculator runs in your browser. We don't ask for an email and the numbers you enter aren't sent to us.
Your next step
Quote from the true cost.
BuzzBrain Time Boost works out what each job really costs before you quote, then shows you what you actually made. Free during private beta testing on iPhone and iPad.
More free tools:
Missed Call Calculator →Phone Interruption Calculator →Find your best starting point →