BIDFORGEFREE DEMO
An accurate estimate in minutes — with a full breakdown for the client · includes California CSLB compliance helpers

Estimate line items

Description Qty Unit Unit price Total

Contingency, overhead & margin

Typically 5-15% — covers material price increases and minor measurement errors
Transportation, tools, equipment depreciation
Your profit on top of the project's cost
Final price for the client
$0
Cost (materials + labor)
$0
Price for the client
$0
Line items (materials + labor)$0
+ Contingency buffer$0
+ Overhead$0
= Project cost$0
+ Margin → Final price$0
California max legal down payment
$0
The lesser of $1,000 or 10% of the contract price — no exceptions, even for special-order materials (CSLB / B&P Code §7159.5).
This is a live demo — try the full calculator above. Saving estimates and exporting client PDFs are part of the paid version.
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This is a free live demo — the full calculation runs entirely in your browser, but saving estimates and PDF export are disabled here and only available in the paid version. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere either way. Contingency, overhead, and margin percentages are working defaults — adjust them for each specific project and region.

California note: the paid version produces an estimate, not a legally compliant Home Improvement Contract. California Business & Professions Code §7159 requires a separate written contract for residential jobs where labor and materials exceed $500 — with a fixed total price (time-and-materials and cost-plus formats are not permitted for home improvement work), a payment schedule, a right-to-cancel notice, and a mechanics' lien warning, among other requirements. The down payment figure shown is a calculation aid, not legal advice — confirm your contract template is current with CSLB's requirements (cslb.ca.gov) or a construction attorney, especially given the subcontractor disclosure and email-cancellation changes that took effect January 1, 2026.