About Contractor Estimate Generator

Contractor Estimate Generator is a free web tool for writing itemized estimates and invoices and saving them as PDF files. It is built and published by Cornelia Cove LLC, a small independent software company at 418 Broadway, Ste N, Albany, NY 12207. There is no signup, no credit card and no watermark on the PDF.

Who it is for

The tool is meant for owner-operators and small crews: roofers, painters, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, landscapers, handymen and general contractors who need to send a clear, professional quote without paying for a monthly field-service subscription. It also works for anyone who bills for labor and materials, such as cleaners or auto repair shops, which is why the site includes invoice pages for those trades as well.

Why we built it

When you are quoting a job from the truck or the kitchen table, you want three things: a document that looks credible, totals that add up, and a PDF you can text or email to the customer before you leave. Many estimate apps provide that, but they ask for an account first and then put the PDF download, the logo or the invoice feature behind a paid plan. We wanted a version that does the core job for free, in the browser, with nothing to install.

What the tool does

• Estimates and invoices from one form. Fill in your business details, your client and the job address, then add line items with a quantity, unit and unit price. Switch the same document from estimate to invoice mode when the customer accepts; saved invoices get an INV- number prefix.
• Automatic math. Line totals, the subtotal, optional tax and the grand total update as you type, so there is no separate calculator step.
• Trade templates. Eight templates (roofing, painting, general construction, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, landscaping and handyman) start you off with five or six sample line items in the units each trade usually quotes in, such as roofing squares or linear feet of flashing.
• Your branding. Add a logo and a license number so the PDF looks like it came from your business.
• PDF export. One click produces a PDF. The PDF uses the Inter typeface, which we host ourselves under its open font license so names and phone numbers with special characters print correctly.
• Local drafts. Drafts are saved in your browser so you can close the tab and come back later on the same device.

Your data stays on your device

Everything you type is processed in your browser and saved only in your browser's local storage. Your business details, client names, addresses and prices are not sent to us, and we cannot see them. The flip side is that clearing your browser data deletes saved drafts, so download a PDF of anything you need to keep. Our privacy policy explains the small amount of standard request data our hosting provider handles to deliver the site.

How we keep it honest

The sample prices in the trade templates are placeholders that show the format of a line item. They are not market rates and they are not a quote for your area. Replace them with your own material costs, labor rates and markup. Our methodology page explains how the templates, calculations and comparison pages are put together, and what we will and will not claim.

When we compare our tool with paid apps, as on our Joist alternatives and Invoice Simple alternatives pages, we list the date we checked each competitor's public pricing page and name those companies in plain text. We do not accept payment for placement on comparison pages.

What we are not

We are not an accounting firm, a tax adviser or a lawyer. The tool does not file taxes, collect payments or create a binding contract on its own. Whether an estimate becomes a contract, and which sales tax applies to your work, depends on your state and your agreement with the customer, so check with a qualified professional if you are unsure.

How the site is paid for

The tool is free. We may add clearly labeled affiliate links or advertising in the future. If we do, we will update the privacy policy first, and the core estimate and invoice features will stay free.

Contact

Contractor Estimate Generator is published by Cornelia Cove LLC, 418 Broadway, Ste N, Albany, NY 12207. Email hello@corneliacove.com with bug reports, feature requests or corrections. If a PDF looks wrong, tell us your browser and device and, if you can, which fields were affected. Use of the site is covered by our terms of service.