Practical tips for builders who want to earn more and waste less.
Most builders underestimate extensions by 15–20%. The main culprits are overlooked groundwork costs, underpriced labour days, and forgetting to account for skip hire and scaffolding. Here's a step-by-step method to build an accurate estimate that protects your margin from day one...
Track your costs with JOBELate invoices, missing details, and vague line items are the three fastest ways to delay payment. If your invoice just says "building work" with a total at the bottom, customers will sit on it. Here's how to write invoices that get paid within 14 days instead of 60...
Send professional invoices with JOBETimber is down 8% from last year's peak, but cement and aggregates are still climbing. Plasterboard has stabilised but merchants are tightening credit terms. We break down the numbers and show you how to build price fluctuations into your quotes so you don't get caught out mid-job...
Track material costs in real-timeYou've won the job, bought the materials, and started on site — then the customer wants changes, the merchant invoice arrives early, and suddenly you're dipping into next month's rent money. Here's how to structure payments, stage your invoicing, and build a cash buffer...
Manage job costs with JOBEDay rates feel safe — you get paid for your time. But fixed-price jobs can be far more profitable if you estimate well. We look at the pros, cons, and when to use each approach, with real examples from plasterers, bricklayers, and general builders across the UK...
Build accurate estimates with JOBEHomeowners compare quotes side by side. A scruffy text message loses to a clean PDF with itemised costs every time — even if your price is higher. First impressions matter, and your quote is your first impression. Here's what a winning quote looks like...
Create professional quotes with JOBE