Estimate versus actual
A comparison for each project, with the same cost categories and a clear definition of the margin being measured.
PROJECT PROFIT REVIEW
Understand what your projects actually earn.
A busy schedule can hide weak margins. Start with two completed projects: one that felt normal and one that caused problems. Review the records before deciding what to change.
A FOCUSED START
Two projects. A clearer next decision.
This review is for owners of service and project businesses whose quotes, purchasing, delivery, and job costs live in different places. Contractors, cabinetry teams, design and installation businesses can use it when a job looks profitable on paper but the final result is unclear.
You choose the two projects. Together we confirm which records exist, what can be reconciled, and whether the review is useful before agreeing on scope and fees.
For the first conversation, describe the jobs without sending confidential records. We agree on confidentiality, access, and the records required before the review begins.
THE OUTPUT
A review you can act on.
Evidence and gaps
Which findings the records support, which depend on assumptions, and which need better data before a conclusion.
A priority decision
A practical next step in pricing, purchasing, change approval, scheduling, or cost capture, with an owner and a way to check it.
A repeatable review
A simple structure your team can use on future jobs so the same questions do not begin from scratch.
FOLLOW THE MONEY
Separate the causes before fixing the workflow.
| What to compare | What it can reveal |
|---|---|
| Quoted scope and approved changes | Work delivered without a matching price adjustment |
| Estimated and actual purchased costs | Price changes, substitutions, freight, or missed credits |
| Planned and recorded labor | Extra visits, installation overruns, or incomplete time records |
| Invoiced revenue and collections | Billing or payment issues that need a separate cash-flow decision |
Job contribution, gross margin, net profit, and cash collected answer different questions. We agree on the definition before comparing numbers. Two projects can identify a useful hypothesis; they do not prove a pattern across the whole business.
Read the guide: markup, margin, and missing job costsBEFORE WE START
Questions worth asking.
What if our records are incomplete?
We first check whether the available information can answer a useful question. If key costs are missing, the first project may be a better cost-capture process rather than a claim about profitability.
Does this include implementation?
The review defines the next improvement. Any workflow, tool, or process implementation is agreed separately with its own deliverables and acceptance checks.
How much does the review cost?
The written proposal defines the two projects, required records, review output, timing, and fee before work begins. Extra projects or implementation require an additional agreed scope.
Can you guarantee a margin increase?
No specific improvement is assumed in advance. Recommendations depend on your records, and any implemented change is checked against an agreed baseline.