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How do I add labour & subcontractor cost?

Labour and subcontractor costs can be added directly from the Estimate tab.

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Written by TakeCost

Adding Labour Costs

  1. Open the Estimate tab.

  2. Find the takeoff quantity you want to price.

  3. Click + Add line item beneath the quantity.

  4. Select or create a labour item.

  5. Enter the labour details, including:

    • Quantity or hours

    • Unit cost or hourly rate

    • Markup percentage

Labour items are identified with a Labour tag.

📌 Labour quantities can be calculated automatically using production rates or entered manually.

Option 1: Add to an Existing Quantity

  1. Open the Estimate tab.

  2. Locate the quantity you want to associate with the subcontractor cost.

  3. Click + Add line item.

  4. Create or select a subcontractor item.

  5. Enter the subcontractor cost and markup.

Option 2: Add a Standalone Item

  1. Click + Add Item.

  2. Choose one of the following:

    • Manual takeoff – Creates a quantity tied to a material.

    • General item – Creates a free-text line item not tied to a drawing.

  3. Enter the item details, cost, and markup.

📌 General items are useful for subcontractor quotes such as electrical, plumbing, roofing, or permit costs.

Why keep subcontractors separate from labour?

Keeping subcontractors separate provides:

  • Better visibility into job costs

  • Independent markup control

  • More accurate profit tracking

  • Cleaner proposals and reports

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