How to price, contract and get paid
Practical guides for people who run their own business: what each document must include, sample wording, worked examples and the math behind the numbers.
Contractors
- How to write a construction estimate (with a template)
How to write a construction estimate step by step: line items, labor burden, overhead, profit, contingency and tax, with a worked example and a ready template.
- Construction proposal template: what to include and what to leave out
What to put in a construction proposal or bid: scope, price, allowances, exclusions, schedule, payment terms and signature. Free outline plus a linked template.
- Change order template: price it, get it signed, then do the work
When to use a change order, what it must include, how to price changes with your markup, and sample wording. Change order form template for contractors.
- Contractor invoice template: deposit, progress and final billing
How to invoice construction work: deposit, progress and final invoices, retainage, change orders and payment terms, with a contractor invoice template.
- Job costing for contractors: a spreadsheet that shows profit while the job runs
How contractors track job costs: cost codes, labor hours at loaded rates, materials, subs, change orders and margin. Job costing spreadsheet template for Excel.
Landlords
- Rental application form: what to ask every applicant
What a rental application form should include: applicant, residence and income history, background questions, screening authorization and fair-housing wording.
- Late rent notice and notice to pay rent or quit
When to send a late rent notice versus a notice to pay rent or quit, what each must include, delivery methods and sample wording for landlords.
- Move-in and move-out inspection checklist for landlords
How to do a move-in and move-out inspection that holds up: room-by-room checklist, condition codes, photos, normal wear vs damage and deposit deductions.
- Rental property spreadsheet: income, expenses and Schedule E in one place
How to track rental income and expenses in a spreadsheet: tabs to set up, categories that match Schedule E, rent roll, NOI and cash-on-cash return.
Freelancers & small business
- Invoice tracker in Excel or Google Sheets: set it up once, get paid faster
How to build an invoice tracker: columns to include, statuses, partial payments, days overdue, aging buckets and a chase list. Excel and Google Sheets.
- Small business budget and cash flow: a template you will actually update
How to build a small business budget and cash flow forecast: categories, monthly plan, actuals, variance and a minimum cash cushion. Excel template inside.
- Self-employed expense spreadsheet and quarterly tax tracker
How freelancers and 1099 workers track income, expenses by Schedule C line, mileage, home office and quarterly estimated tax in a spreadsheet.