Best Free Options
- Google Sheets (with Templates) - 100% free, fully customizable, no takeoff
- Joist (Free Tier) - 5 estimates/month, mobile-first, professional templates
- Invoice Simple - Quick quotes, no account required, very basic
Hidden Costs of "Free"
- Your time (2-3x longer per estimate)
- Estimation errors (10-15% error rate vs 2-5% with paid)
- Lost bids from unprofessional presentation
- No customer support
When to Upgrade
Consider paid software when:
- Doing 5+ estimates per month
- Lost money due to estimation errors
- Need digital takeoff from blueprints
- Team collaboration becomes necessary
Break-Even Math
At $75/hour billable rate, saving 2 hours per estimate = $150 saved. At 10 estimates/month = $1,500 value. Break-even: 1-2 estimates/month.
