Even seasoned window fitting professionals know that small miscalculations in a quote can erode margins and undermine profitability. Beyond basic cost inputs—materials, labor, and overhead—you should also account for potential overruns, nuanced client requests, and real-time market fluctuations. Below are some considerations to help refine your quoting process and maintain healthier margins.
Go Beyond Simple Material Markups
You’re likely already factoring in frames, glazing units, sealants, and hardware. But be sure to capture smaller consumables (e.g., shims, drill bits, fasteners) and factor in shipping variances. If you’re dealing with high-volume commercial jobs, minor percentage discrepancies in bulk materials can accumulate into significant cost differences.
Calibrate Labor Rates Precisely
Setting a flat hourly rate for installations can overlook variations in skill levels, on-site conditions, or project complexity. Track actual labor hours across different job types, then compare them to your initial estimates. Over time, you’ll develop more accurate labor multipliers—for example, factoring in additional man-hours when dealing with retrofit installations in older buildings.
Allocate Overheads Based on Historical Data
Rather than evenly distributing overhead, analyse your most common job categories (e.g., residential window replacements vs. commercial curtain wall installations). Examine which projects historically consume more project management hours, vehicle mileage, and admin support. Assign overhead accordingly, so each quote reflects its true operational burden.
Leverage Specialised Software
Generic spreadsheets are easy to outgrow as your volume increases. Platforms like FitterPal can streamline cost calculations by pulling in real-time data—such as updated supplier pricing—and automatically associating labor estimates with job types. This approach not only reduces manual errors but also produces professional, itemised quotes faster.
Proactively Manage Contingencies
Unexpected structural issues, permit delays, or material substitutions can quickly dent margins. Incorporate a data-driven contingency buffer—often 5–10%—based on the volatility of specific project types. Tracking cost overruns in past jobs helps you refine this buffer so you’re neither underestimating nor padding excessively.
Bottom Line
Accurate quoting goes hand in hand with rigorous job tracking and ongoing cost analysis. By fine-tuning each cost element—from material markups to overhead allocation—and integrating data-driven tools, you’ll protect your margins and maintain a competitive edge in a crowded marketplace.
