What Is The Best Estimating Software For A Very Low Budget

[electriciansnet]

Hello Everyone. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!
My question today is very basic.
I have been using a certain estimating software for a couple of years. My partner and I paid a nice chunk of change for it and, even though I'm familiar with the ins and outs of it, I'm ready to try something different.
What is the most popular and what is the best solution for a very low budget?
I was thinking of an online solution but either way, I would like to find one that is easy to use and doesn't cost a small fortune for price updates.

Oh yeah! I would also like it to come up with the winning number leaving nothing on the table every single time!!!

 

[sparky=t]

have you looked at Jaffe software, it can link to trade service or you can manually update your pricing as you get it from your supplier

 

[chris1971]

Can you export supplier pricing into Jaffe software electronically without doing manual data entry? How would you rate this software for a small EC?

 

[Rockyd]

Bill Rufner of Turbobid is here in the forum, perhaps he could direct you

 

[Bill Ruffner]

Bill Ruffner of Turbobid is here in the forum, perhaps he could direct you

(When a door is opened for you, it is only polite to walk in.)

The following is from Mike's site regarding estimating software:

Here is a list of the major estimating software companies:

Designated as the "Best Buy": TurboBid [http://www.turbobid.net ] Plainfield, IL 1-888-417-2458 (Includes free copy of Mike Holt's Estimating book) - Please use discount code: Holt) View Demo

Con-Est [ http://www.conest.com ] Manchester, NH 1-800-662-7687

McCormick [ http://www.McCormicksys.com ] Chandler, AZ 1- 800 444 4890

QuantumXP Professional [www.electricalresources.com] Titusville, FL 1-800-766-1045

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating [ http://www.hardhatis.com ] Irvine, CA 1-866-444-7411

Vision InfoSoft [ http://www.visioninfosoft.com ] Carlsbad, CA 1-800-258-7752

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electriciansnet,

It can be a daunting task when you start to look for an estimating software program that is best suited for your own particular needs. Every company is saying the exact same thing: Our software is easy to use, it is the most accurate, it is the most consistent, it will help you win more bids??? In fact, you might even start to think that they are all pretty much the same. This couldn?t be further from the truth.

Every estimating program has it's own strengths and weakness'. It really comes down to what application is the best fit for your company and the type of work that you do.

Visit the above referenced websites and see if any of them look like they might be a good fit for your company. Most of them offer free trials. I know that time is always in short supply but go ahead and give the trials a test drive.

After you've had a chance to get a good feel for the programs, contact the companies that still interest you and set up a time to get together in an on line meeting. This will allow you and company's representative to see each others screens while you talk to each other on the phone.

In addition to watching the rep show you how to use their program, see if the rep can view your screen and have him go over one of your actual bids with you. Without using the software in real life situations, on real bids, you are just making a decision based on what others are saying.

Good luck in your search.