The Best Estimating Software For Small Builders in The UK (2024)

*This article explores solutions for Small builders and those working in the trades. If you are a larger construction business then may may want to read our article What is the Best Construction Estimating Software?

What Is The Best Estimating Software For Small Builders in The UK? 

Building companies vary greatly in the size and the scale of the work that they undertake.   

When referring to ‘small builders’, we are referring to companies or contractors that specialise in smaller-scale construction projects and may not necessarily have a dedicated estimating resource.   

Projects covered by small builders could include:  

• home renovations or extensions 
• residential build projects 
• loft conversions  
• specialised installations such as HVAC 
• infrastructure associated with building projects such as groundworks, roads and sewers 

Estimating software can help small builders by enabling them to produce accurate and timely quotations with the latest costs of labour, materials and equipment.  

Moving away from time-consuming paper-based processes and the manual errors associated with Excel and other spreadsheet software provides clear benefits for small builders in the UK.

Which Estimating Software Features Do Small Builders Need? 

Estimating software for small builders has many benefits, including:  

• Speeding up the response time for small builders to tender for work. 
• Producing quality, accurate and professional quotations/tenders that will improve win rates for new business. 
• Improving profit margins and enabling builders to spend more time on construction projects rather than administrative work. 

Small builders can benefit from many features that estimating software can provide, including: 

• Flexible cost estimating. By using estimating software that has access to the latest material costs, small builders will be able to cost accurately and amend quotations ensuring that their margins are maintained. 
• Automation. Estimating software can speed up quotations, invoicing and purchasing processes for small builders and ensure accuracy is maintained throughout. 
• Customisation. Individual customers will likely have varying needs and therefore the ability to customise from a library of quote templates enables that flexibility and adaptation. 
• Materials and labour costs. Having the ability to estimate all costs accurately across all elements of a project will help small builders to stay in control of costs and maintain their required margins. 
• Integration. Estimating software can be used in conjunction with other software packages or other inputs from excel, CAD files or pdf to simplify several processes collectively. 
• Reporting. Having software that can summarise data and automatically produce reports will help track expenses and saves time spent on putting together reports manually.  
• Mobility. Being able to complete tasks whether onsite or in the office will enable a speedy demonstration to potential customers and even provide a fast estimate whilst on a site visit. Cloud hosting can also be a significant benefit so that all those involved can see real-time updates to any estimate. 
• Improved Communication. Estimating software provides clear documentation of estimated costs, making it easier for small builders to communicate with customers, suppliers and subcontractors. 
• Improved project management.  Estimating software can give small builders a competitive advantage by allowing them to provide accurate and detailed estimates quickly, increasing their chances of winning bids. 

In summary, using estimating software can help small builders streamline their processes, reduce errors, mitigate risks and improve the bottom line. 

Estimating Software For Small Builders

In the same way that no small building project is exactly the same, estimating software packages available on the market vary greatly in terms of capability, ease of use and price. 

There are numerous estimating software options available to small builders in the UK, and many of these providers have additional software options that will complement the estimating process. 

Takeoff software and construction ERP software are two examples of additional software which can complement estimating software depending on the size and complexity of your companies’ needs. 

Popular estimating software packages for small builders include –  

Estimator Xpress 

Used by over 10,000 tradespeople, Estimator Xpress is a popular package for small builders. Advanced features include live price tracking for material costs and range of quote templates to work from.  

The software is available in a range of tiers suitable for different company sizes and needs, including specialised modules for specific jobs like shop refits. It is available wither as a single licence product or as a yearly subscription.   

Esti-Mate 

With the ability to import from Excel files, Esti-Mate helps generate professional bills of quantities for small builders using standard pricing libraries.  

This single licence product comes at a one-off cost and provides a ‘no frills’ estimating solution for small builders in the UK to generate industry-standard BOQ. Additional modules and sepcialised pricing libraries are also available for an added cost.  

Price-A-Job 

Developed for small to medium businesses within the construction industry, Price-A-Job is a cloud-based estimating solution with regularly-updated materials prices which cuts down the time spent estimating for smaller building businesses. It is both low-cost and easy-to-use, with additional modules available to help small businesses handle their project management and compliance.    

Which Estimating Software Is Best For Small Builders?  

Deciding which estimating software to choose needs to factor in several considerations. 

Hosting 

Cloud-based software will be hosting a lot of sensitive data around your company. Make sure your software includes secure hosting with disaster recovery and data backup services included to avoid losing your estimates and client data.  

Training 

Having sufficient training and support to ensure that you get the most out of your estimating software is key. While most software includes training libraries, in-person training from experts will come at an extra cost.  

Customer support 

While hopefully customer support should not be needed often, it is worth noting how easy it is to reach customer support when troubleshooting is needed. Note availability, hours and whether a webchat option is available to solve queries quickly.  

Company reputation and reviews  

Ensuring that you select a provider who has a good reputation and the ability to provide not only the initial, but the ongoing support will help small builders getting the best return on their investment. 

There are many providers of estimating software, however some are clearly more well-established and have the experience to provide the necessary support.  

Like any new purchase, recommendation of existing customers can help and therefore reviewing websites for these testimonials can be an easy way to seek that reassurance. 

Access ConQuest Estimating Software  

Access ConQuest has been developed over 30 years, adapting to evolving changes and requirements within the construction industry and developments in technology.  

Access ConQuest is trusted by over 1,000 contractors across the construction sector and not only offers all the key benefits that building companies need to produce accurate estimates, but can also offer ongoing post-sale training and support to maximise the potential that it can offer your business.