Job costing for renovation contractors

Renovation margins disappear one small yes at a time: an extra outlet, a different tile, a pot filler. JobFigure makes each of those a variation before the work is done, and shows materials, subs, and crew hours against the job while you’re still on it.

What renovation builders track in JobFigure

• Quotes homeowners accept online. Send a private link; the homeowner types their name and taps Accept, and the bid turns Won.
• Add-ons as variations. Every homeowner request goes in as a variation, add or deduct, straight into the contract value.
• Receipts from the merchant. Snap a receipt and the AI reads the vendor and amount, then it posts to the job.
• Hourly work, too. Handyman and service work can be bid and tracked by the hour (HR).

Set up for renovation from the first day

When you pick Remodeling & Handyman as your trade, JobFigure loads these cost categories for budgets, receipts, and job costs. You can rename or add your own at any time.

• Materials
• Labour
• Subcontractor
• Equipment Rental
• Permits
• Disposal
• Supplies
• Fuel
• Other

Bid line items use the units renovation actually bid in: square metres (m²), metres (m), each (EA), hours (HR), and lump sum (LS).

Example: what a renovation job looks like mid-way

Gut and rebuild a kitchen: new cabinets, quartz tops, tile backsplash, LVT flooring, and lighting, with subs for electrical, plumbing, and countertops. The cabinets are in; the tops are being templated.

The cabinets and flooring are bought, so materials at 84% is expected. Labour at 73% is the one to watch, with the backsplash, trim, and punch list ahead. Homeowner add-ons are where renovation margins disappear: if they asked for under-cabinet lights or a pot filler, log it as a variation before the electrician runs it.

Invoices the Australian way

Set your company to Australia and every progress invoice is a GST tax invoice with your ABN and retention. Tick one box to make it a payment claim under your state’s security of payment Act, and at year end the TPAR report totals what you paid each contractor. Prices are in Australian dollars. More in our guide: Payment claims under Australia’s security of payment laws.

Guides and tools for renovation builders