Key Takeaways
- Traditional spreadsheet-based estimating wastes hours and introduces errors that cost you jobs and profit.
- Modern estimating software automates material cost tracking, markup calculation, and PDF generation in one workflow.
- Accurate, professional-looking estimates build client trust from the first interaction.
- VoltPro is free to get started — sign up and start building estimates in minutes.
Picture this: You’ve just run into that builder you worked for while you were employed 12 months ago. You start chatting and tell him that you finally started your own gig. He tells you he liked your work. His newest project is looking for bids and encourages you to submit one — “absolutely,” you respond.
After receiving the details, you begin the estimating process. Time to duplicate that spreadsheet you used for the last job (or worse, create a blank one!). You clear fields, drag rows that have materials you will probably use again, and begin adding new materials to your estimate. Maybe you memorized some material costs, or maybe you look them up on that one distributor website with the best search; either way, it takes a lot of time. Hours later, you’re done. You’ve calculated your material cost, your labor cost, your profit margin, and you’re happy with the overall outcome. Now you need to create a PDF or document to send to the builder. You duplicate an old quote document, copy over exceptions, write out a rough scope of work, drop in the amounts you just calculated, and download it. Finally. You draft an email and are about to hit send when you realize your bid didn’t account for equipment rentals. Now you have to update the sheet, then the document, burning even more time. There has to be a better way, right?
This is why we created VoltPro. It is a fast and easy way to create professional estimates based on your actual historical material costs. Best of all, it’s free to get started. It has already been a game-changer for many modern contractors. No more juggling multiple spreadsheets and documents. No more wasting precious hours that could be spent growing your business.
Our goal is to create the most user-friendly, best-in-class material tracking and estimating software for individual contractors and small teams. Seamless integrations with other tools mean it will effortlessly grow and scale with your business.
The Challenges of Traditional Estimating
When you’re memorizing material costs, you risk underbidding and losing profit. If you are searching for material prices online for every estimate, you’re spending a lot of time. You might spend hours updating your spreadsheet, but keeping it organized is a pain. And creating estimates? That’s another story. You open up documents, trying to format everything just right, making sure every cost is accounted for. It’s a tedious process that takes you away from what you could be doing—running your business.
Leverage Your Time as a Business Owner
As a new contractor business owner, you often wear many hats. You’re the project manager, accountant, and sometimes even the marketer. Balancing these roles can be overwhelming, but VoltPro lightens the load. By automating the tracking of material costs and streamlining the creation of estimates, VoltPro frees up your time and reduces stress.
No more staying up late to finish an estimate. No more second-guessing your numbers. With VoltPro, you can deliver accurate, detailed estimates that showcase your professionalism and attention to detail. Your clients will notice the difference, and you’ll build trust from the very first interaction.
Join the Future of Contracting
The days of relying on outdated methods are over. It’s time to embrace technology that works for you. VoltPro is designed with the modern contractor in mind—those who are ready to innovate, grow, and succeed.
Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Create a VoltPro account and start estimating for free today. See for yourself how easy it is to streamline your material tracking and estimate building processes. Don’t let old-school methods hold your business back. Embrace the future with VoltPro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VoltPro free to use?
Yes. VoltPro is free to get started. Create an account and start building estimates right away with no credit card required.
How is VoltPro different from a spreadsheet?
Spreadsheets require you to manually track material costs, format documents, and update everything when something changes. VoltPro stores your material catalog with your actual prices, calculates markup automatically, and generates professional PDFs in one workflow — saving hours per estimate.
Can VoltPro help with tracking material costs?
Yes. VoltPro stores your full material catalog with your real-world pricing. When you build an estimate, you’re pulling from your own historical costs rather than guessing or searching a distributor website every time.
Does VoltPro work for small teams?
Yes. VoltPro is built for individual contractors and small teams. As your business grows, it scales with you — supporting multiple users, shared material catalogs, and integrations with tools like QuickBooks Online.
Resources
- Create a free VoltPro account and start estimating today.
- VoltPro Help Center: Step-by-step guides for getting started with estimates and material tracking.