A practical checklist for Australian tradies to make sure every estimate covers labour, materials, overheads and margin — so nothing slips through the cracks.
Missing a single cost line in an estimate can wipe out the profit on a job. A structured checklist helps you catch every cost before you send the quote, so you are not absorbing expenses you forgot to price in.
Labour costs — including your own time, subcontractors and casuals
Materials — all supplies, consumables and waste allowance (typically 10–15%)
Plant and equipment hire — excavators, scaffolding, mixers, etc.
Permits and council fees — development applications, building approvals, inspections
Insurances — public liability, workers comp, contract works insurance
Site preparation — demolition, clearing, temporary fencing, amenities
Transport and cartage — material delivery, tip fees, equipment transport
Overheads — phone, fuel, admin time, software subscriptions, utilities
Margin — your profit percentage applied after all costs
GST — included in the final figure shown to the client
Provisional sums — for items you cannot price exactly yet (e.g. unknown site conditions)
Prime costs — for items where the client has not finalised their selection (e.g. tapware)
Forgetting to include your own labour time — it is a real cost
Underestimating waste on materials like tiles, timber and paint
Not factoring in travel time between sites
Leaving out permit fees and council inspection costs
Applying margin to materials but forgetting to apply it to labour
Not reviewing the estimate against the final invoice after the job
FMN's Smart Estimates tool helps you build accurate quotes faster. You can save reusable recipes, pull from supplier pricing data, and apply consistent margins across every estimate. Supplier pricing keeps your material costs current, and project costs lets you track actuals against your estimate once the job starts.
Use this before you submit any residential construction quote. It covers all the commonly forgotten line items that can turn a profitable job into a loss.
Site establishment and fencing
Temporary power and water connection
Portable toilet hire
Council permit and DA fees
Building surveyor / private certifier fees
Geotechnical report (if required)
Sediment control and site management
Traffic management (if required)
Strip-out and demolition of existing structures
Asbestos testing and licensed removal (pre-1990 buildings)
Excavation and disposal
Bulk fill and compaction
Rock breaking (allow a provisional sum)
Skip bin hire and tipping fees
Concrete footing and slab (check soil classification)
Termite protection system
Timber or steel frame supply and erection
Roof framing, purlins and battens
Fascia, guttering and downpipes
Roof cladding supply and fix
Structural engineer certification
Waterproofing to AS 3740 (mandatory)
Waterproofing inspection certificate
Floor and wall tiling (separate m² rates)
Tile adhesive, grout and trim
Tile waste allowance (10–15%)
Shower screen / bath supply and install
Hydraulic rough-in (drainage, hot and cold supply)
Plumbing fit-off (fixtures, tapware, shower valves)
Plumber's inspection certificate
Electrical rough-in (conduit, cabling, switchboard upgrade)
Electrical fit-off (powerpoints, switches, lighting)
Electrical compliance certificate
Solar and battery (if applicable)
Internal painting (walls, ceilings, trims)
External painting or cladding seal
Floor coverings (carpet, timber, vinyl)
Door and window hardware
Final clean and rubbish removal
Practical completion inspection
Defects and handover documentation
Builders margin (your profit — often the most forgotten)
Site supervision time if you are project managing
Insurance (project-specific cover on larger jobs)
Temporary protection for finished areas
Provisional sums for unknown conditions
Skip the manual work
A construction estimate should include all labour costs (including your own time), materials with a waste allowance, plant and equipment hire, permits and council fees, insurances, site preparation, transport, overheads, your profit margin, GST, and any provisional sums or prime costs for items not yet finalised.
Most Australian tradies allow 10–15% for material waste. Tiles, timber and paint commonly have higher waste rates. It is better to overestimate slightly than to absorb the cost of additional material runs.
A provisional sum is an allowance for work you cannot accurately price at quote time, such as unknown site conditions. A prime cost is an allowance for materials the client has not yet selected, such as tapware or tiles. Both should be clearly labelled in your quote.
Add up all your direct costs (labour, materials, subcontractors, plant, permits). Then add your overheads as a percentage of direct costs — typically 15–25%. Finally, apply your profit margin on top of that total — typically 15–30% depending on your trade and risk.