Best estimating software for commercial work?

R

RoyB

Member
Location
Chicago
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
We currently use Bidwinner Plus, formally Accubid. Problem 1 is they won't let me add any more licenses. Problem is they keep telling me it's obsolete and will be going away this year. They want us to upgrade to Accubid Classic. Accubid Classic is 2 x the price we are paying for Bidwinner. Last year Accubid Classic was $2,200 per user and we need 3 licenses. That's a large pill to swallow.

What is everyone else using and is that pricing in line with other software? We turn $12-15MM in revenue and most projects we bid are under $5MM.
 
RoyB said:
We currently use Bidwinner Plus, formally Accubid. Problem 1 is they won't let me add any more licenses. Problem is they keep telling me it's obsolete and will be going away this year. They want us to upgrade to Accubid Classic. Accubid Classic is 2 x the price we are paying for Bidwinner. Last year Accubid Classic was $2,200 per user and we need 3 licenses. That's a large pill to swallow.

What is everyone else using and is that pricing in line with other software? We turn $12-15MM in revenue and most projects we bid are under $5MM.
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bestbidestimating.com

bestbidestimating

bestbidestimating
bestbidestimating.com bestbidestimating.com

Buy it once, unlimited users, no fees, I think you can do anything with it if you understand bidding software.

I don’t have much experience with software but it’s pretty solid, and great customer service.
 
AKElectrician said:
bestbidestimating.com

bestbidestimating

bestbidestimating
bestbidestimating.com bestbidestimating.com

Buy it once, unlimited users, no fees, I think you can do anything with it if you understand bidding software.

I don’t have much experience with software but it’s pretty solid, and great customer service.
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Interesting. I see a couple different options. Best Bid Next Gen ($2,500), Best Bid Hybid Pro ($1,999), and Best Bid Next Gen Server Addition ($3,500). At worse case looks like we would be $6K invested. Does the program have any type of trade link or real time material pricing like Accubid?
 
I use an excel sheet that I helped develop. It has unit prices for devices, lighting, mechanical, homeruns, conduit/wire runs, cable tray, lighting controls, does all the math for you, adds tax, profit, overhead. Even adds 5’ of wire per run on each side of the pull. All prices can be easily adjusted including labor rates, taxes, unit numbers, etc.

Currently trying to develop it in some not so expensive fashion as the other guys. This is my first post. I did not come here to sell this. I have nothing to sell. This was the top first post, and I just had to comment. I would post a screenshot but I dont know how to yet.

I have 25 years of electrical experience, and I only joined this site to advance my knowledge, and hopefully give some. 1st post baby! Ty Mike! Ive been using this for years. Hope to contribute.
 
RoyB said:
We currently use Bidwinner Plus, formally Accubid. Problem 1 is they won't let me add any more licenses. Problem is they keep telling me it's obsolete and will be going away this year. They want us to upgrade to Accubid Classic. Accubid Classic is 2 x the price we are paying for Bidwinner. Last year Accubid Classic was $2,200 per user and we need 3 licenses. That's a large pill to swallow.

What is everyone else using and is that pricing in line with other software? We turn $12-15MM in revenue and most projects we bid are under $5MM.
Click to expand...
How many mistakes do you need to make before you lose $6,000? How many man hours do you save in a year using the estimating program vs. doing it by hand? Does you estimating program also assist you in justifying you change orders? How much have you already modified the database to work with your company? My point is that $6,000 for three seats, or even $10,000 for three seats is not overly expensive.
 
Wattz said:
I use an excel sheet that I helped develop. It has unit prices for devices, lighting, mechanical, homeruns, conduit/wire runs, cable tray, lighting controls, does all the math for you, adds tax, profit, overhead. Even adds 5’ of wire per run on each side of the pull. All prices can be easily adjusted including labor rates, taxes, unit numbers, etc.

Currently trying to develop it in some not so expensive fashion as the other guys. This is my first post. I did not come here to sell this. I have nothing to sell. This was the top first post, and I just had to comment. I would post a screenshot but I dont know how to yet.

I have 25 years of electrical experience, and I only joined this site to advance my knowledge, and hopefully give some. 1st post baby! Ty Mike! Ive been using this for years. Hope to contribute.
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I have created a pretty decent spreadsheet of my own. It's based on sq ft and previous project completion history. It's generally within 3-5% of a full take-off bid once I plug vendor pricing. We have enough history that those numbers are pretty easy to auto plug too. Not sure how I would feel using excel as a full on estimating program on a sizeable job.

Strathead said:
How many mistakes do you need to make before you lose $6,000? How many man hours do you save in a year using the estimating program vs. doing it by hand? Does you estimating program also assist you in justifying you change orders? How much have you already modified the database to work with your company? My point is that $6,000 for three seats, or even $10,000 for three seats is not overly expensive.
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I am not sure your point. Estimating by hand was never an option I brought up. I am unsure if, moving to Accubid Classic would require rebuilding databases or not. I know it will import the job files. Beyond that, I don't know much about either program because I am not an estimator. If there are other or better programs out there, I would surely like to explore the options.
 
RoyB said:
I have created a pretty decent spreadsheet of my own. It's based on sq ft and previous project completion history. It's generally within 3-5% of a full take-off bid once I plug vendor pricing. We have enough history that those numbers are pretty easy to auto plug too. Not sure how I would feel using excel as a full on estimating program on a sizeable job.



I am not sure your point. Estimating by hand was never an option I brought up. I am unsure if, moving to Accubid Classic would require rebuilding databases or not. I know it will import the job files. Beyond that, I don't know much about either program because I am not an estimator. If there are other or better programs out there, I would surely like to explore the options.
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My point was that the price isn't exorbitant, not specifically comparing using an estimating program vs. not. So I will address this comment a little.
I have used multiple programs including my own Excel and by hand. There are programs I like more and less, but all of them have advantages and disadvantages. The main thing is that many, many hours needs to be invested in customizing any estimating program I have used for the company using it. The biggest "mistake" I have observed is the belief that you take it out of the box and it works. The next issue is what you need from the program. If you are bidding High rises, motels, multi-family, etc. with a lot of "typical rooms" Accubid, or Con Est. Basically those two are the most rounded programs that can be modified to do anything accurately and repeatedly. If you want to spend a little more time on your estimate and the set up, then I highly recommend EBM by Visionsoft, but that is probably because I used it for years and have modified it in so many ways a new user probably wouldn't recognize it. I personally can't stand the other most popular estimating software program out there, but I won't mention it here and diss it.
 
They have a YouTube page check them out.

I have the middle package, you get the software license and it’s yours to do with what you want.

They have very fast customer support also.

Edit to add that it has the takeoff sheet to measure runs and count your stuff included on the price and it’s buy once also
 
RoyB said:
I have created a pretty decent spreadsheet of my own. It's based on sq ft and previous project completion history. It's generally within 3-5% of a full take-off bid once I plug vendor pricing. We have enough history that those numbers are pretty easy to auto plug too. Not sure how I would feel using excel as a full on estimating program on a sizeable job.



I am not sure your point. Estimating by hand was never an option I brought up. I am unsure if, moving to Accubid Classic would require rebuilding databases or not. I know it will import the job files. Beyond that, I don't know much about either program because I am not an estimator. If there are other or better programs out there, I would surely like to explore the options.
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If it sq ft only I know MCC modules would break that type of pricing in half, it’s 20x40 and stuffed with gear and wire.
 
RoyB said:
Mine is tailored to multi-family housing. They are pretty cookie cutter. Beyond that, they go to estimators to take-off.
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Don’t get me wrong I got a excel sheet with a list of prices for like fishing a recep or light, appliance hook ups simple stuff I can ask a couple questions about and had a ball park number to give a customer.

I feel like it’s quicker and easier to pull it up and show the customer the number already made up, not leave get distracted and give them a price two days later seems way to easy to loose the customer. I always say it’s a rough ball park if I find something stupid I’ll eat it, if it’ll take more than half a hour and 50$ I’ll bring it up and say that wasn’t part of the game I was playing
 
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