Electrical bidding software for service work and small jobs

Two kinds of electrical bids

A residential bid usually starts at the house. You look at the panel, the routes, the access, and then quote what you can see. A commercial bid starts at the drawing, with fixture schedules, one-line diagrams and addenda, and the labor is in counting. TierMenu does the first well and does not attempt the second. This page uses plain language because the wrong tool costs hours: if you spend your week counting devices on plans, you want software that reads plans.

Build the bid from tasks you trust

Residential bids are made of familiar parts. A recessed lighting package is some number of fixtures, wire, a dimmer and a few hours. A subpanel is a breaker, a feeder, a box and a day. If those tasks are in your price book with labor hours and materials, the bid is a matter of selecting and combining them. TierMenu prices each task from your inputs, so the bid you send matches what the same job would cost next week.

Options a homeowner can compare

Good-better-best works in electrical when the choices are real. A basic circuit versus one with a longer run and added protection. A standard panel replacement versus an upgrade with room to grow. Name what changes between options and leave extras as separate add-ons. A customer who can see the choice is more likely to make one, and your crew knows exactly what was approved.

Exclusions and assumptions

A short list of exclusions saves arguments. Drywall repair, painting, permit responsibility, hidden conditions behind walls and any work the utility must do are common examples. Write them in the proposal scope in plain words. If a price depends on what is found when the panel is opened, quote an assessment first or state the assumption. TierMenu holds the text on the proposal so the customer sees it before signing.

Signature and the locked scope

The customer chooses an option and any add-ons, types a name, draws a signature and accepts. TierMenu locks the approved proposal and creates a signed PDF. If the scope changes later, duplicate the proposal or issue a change order instead of editing the approved copy. That keeps a clear record of what the customer agreed to on the day.

When to use a takeoff tool instead

Use takeoff software when the job is defined by drawings, when quantities come from sheets, or when you bid against a specification. Use TierMenu when the job is a home, the scope comes from a visit, and the main work is pricing consistently and presenting clear choices. Many shops use both, one for each kind of work, and that is a sensible way to run it.

A bid review you can do in ten minutes

Before sending, read the bid as the homeowner would. Is the scope in plain words, with the panel, circuits and devices named? Are exclusions listed? Does each option say what is different, and does the recommended one match what you saw? Is the price per option clear, with add-ons separate? Is there an expiry date? Then check the numbers: labor hours match your own timing, material costs are current, and permit fees are on a separate line. This quick review catches the mistakes that cost the most.

Keeping bids consistent between electricians

When two electricians bid similar jobs and arrive at different numbers, the customer notices, and so does your margin. A shared price book fixes the cause: both pick the same tasks with the same hours and materials, so the difference comes only from the scope, not from guesswork. Technicians can bid without seeing cost or margin, and the owner can still audit every bid. Over time you learn which tasks need better descriptions, because those are the ones where bids diverge. Fix the wording once and every future bid benefits.

How it works in TierMenu

1. Step 1

   Scope the visit

   Record what you saw and what the bid does not cover.

2. Step 2

   Combine tasks into options

   Price each option from your book. Add optional work separately.

3. Step 3

   Send for signature

   The customer approves on screen or from a link.

TierMenu, a spreadsheet and a paper price book

FAQ