Builder-BOS Estimator

How to
Use App

Version Log

How to deal with updates

  • The simplest way to deal with BBOS Estimator updates is to load your estimate to the same version which was used to create the original estimate. That is why the previous versions are provided.
  • If you choose to upload an estimate which was created in a previous version to a later version, check carefully to ensure that the resulting estimate is accurate.
  • To preserve the pricing database, upload your previous Company Estimating Template to the new version and carefully review the result to ensure that the information has transferred correctly.
    • Make any necessary pricing updates.
    • Save the result as a new Company Template.
    • Use the new revised Company Template for all new estimates.
  • If the pricing databases cannot be corrected, load the current version of BBOS Estimator and rebuild the pricing databases.  Save as the current Company Estimate Template and proceed.
This is the current version.
  • Revisions:
    • Click on the Home icon (⌂) in the top banner to go to the Const Budget tab from any other tab.
    • Interconnectivity from the Const Budget line item to the Detail Page has been added.
    • Some calculations have been corrected.
BUILDER-BOS
ESTIMATOR 24.02
Current Version
Use for BBOS Estimates created between 9/10/2024 and 10/10/2024
BUILDER-BOS
ESTIMATOR 24.01
Deprecated 24-1010
How to adopt
version 24.01
  • Revisions
    • Changes made at the footings and foundation section of the Take-Off to accommodate engineering specs.
Use for BBOS Estimates created between 10/15/2023 and 9/10/2024.
BUILDER-BOS
ESTIMATOR 23-1015
Deprecated 24-0910
Use for BBOS Estimates created between 9/15/2023 and 10/15/2023.
BUILDER-BOS
ESTIMATOR 23-0915
Deprecated 23-1015
File Management
Guidelines

Quick Overview

  1. The BBOS Estimator is updated periodically to improve performance.

  2. We try to minimize the impact of these updates, but structural changes to the platform sometimes introduce changes to the way data is processed.

  3. Older versions of the platform are archived on this page, and are available for use on older estimates.

  4. Start any new estimates on the most recent version of the BBOS Estimator.

  • Determine the date of the last update of the estimate you wish to work on.
  • In the archived (gray) buttons, check to see if the estimate date falls between the version date of the platform and the deprecation date.
  • Once you have established which version of the BBOS Estimator fits the date of the estimate you wish to work on, click on that version button.
  • The archived version of BBOS Estimator will load, and you can load the estimate into that platform.
  • Save the revised estimate.
  • The next time you wish to load the estimate, be sure to use the same archived BBOS Estimator.
  • Before creating project estimates, create the Company template.
  • Enter Company Information on the Take-Off tab.
  • On the Proposal, select Allowances, Transaction Notes, and Draw Schedule that will used as Company standard agreements.
  • On the Detail Pages, review Multipliers, Cost Display Mode.
  • In the Pricing Detail, review default ITEMS and add any other ITEMS desired at the “Enter …. Specification” cells. In the $$ Column, add pricing for any items added and update pricing in default items to current costs. Edit default ITEMS as needed. 
  • SAVE as “BBOS Estimator Template“, following FILE MANAGEMENT instructions.
  • Use the “Print” button at the bottom left of the app page.
  • Selecting this button will display a version of what the page will look like when printed.
  • Each app has a suggested printer setup for the page.
  • Your printer may require a different set-up than is shown. Apply different perspectives, margins, and scales to get the best results.
File Management
Guidelines

User Instructions v.24.01

Re: update in BBOS Estimator to version 24.01

Release date: September 10, 2024

In response to a subscriber request, some changes have been made in the way the Footings and Foundation Walls are calculated in the “Take-Off” tab.

There is now greater flexibility in the sizing of the Footings and the Foundation Walls.  This was done to accommodate different sized engineering requirements for different regions.

If you load an existing estimate into the updated BBOS Estimator (version 24.01), the platform is likely to throw an error in the “Footings & Foundation” and in the “Concrete Flatwork” line items in the Construction Budget tab.

If this happens, you have two options:

  1. Select the previous BBOS Estimator version on which the original estimate was created.
    • Go to the BBOS Estimator home page;
    • Select the “BBOS Estimator Previous Versions” button;
    • Select the gray “BUILDER-BOS ESTIMATOR 23-1015” button;
    • Load your existing estimate into this platform, which is the same platform you have been using.
    • You will need to access the previous platform version each time you load the existing estimate (i.e. to add Change Order or Monthly Expenditure information).
    • Use the new BBOS Estimator v24.01 platform for all NEW estimates you create.
  2. Use the new version – BBOS Estimator v24.01
    • Load your existing estimate to the new platform.
    • Check the “Const Budget” tab to see if there is an ERROR in the “Footings & Foundation” or the “Concrete Flatwork” line items.
    • If so, go to the take-off tab, at the “FOOTINGS” section, and check the “Width” and “Depth” choices. If a default is correct, you don’t have to make any changes here.  If no defaults match your use case, change the inputs to match your regional requirements.
    • Follow the same process for the “FOUNDATION WALL” section.
    • Then go to the “ConcFoundation” tab. At the “FOOTINGS” section, open the drop-down menu in the first column, and select the option that you wish to use. Check the quantities and pricing to make sure they are correct.
    • Follow the same process for the “FOUNDATION WALL” section.
    • Depending on how you use the “OTHER FLATWORK” section in the Take-Off, that section may throw an error. It is corrected in the same way. Access the “Flatwork-Landscape” tab, determine where the error is, access the dropdown menu, and select an available option.
    • Without getting too far into the weeds, all that has happened is that the options in the dropdown menu have changed, and the Detail Page just needs to be re-aligned.

You should UPDATE YOUR COMPANY TEMPLATE using the instructions in Option 2, above. The only changes you will need to make will be to the “ConcFoundation” and, possibly, the “Flatwork-Landscape” tabs. Save the new COMPANY TEMPLATE after making the changes.

I apologize in advance for this extra work, but when a subscriber makes a request which has benefit for all other subscribers, it is sometimes necessary to update the platform.  This was deemed to be the case for this revision.

If you cannot update or use previous estimates, please let me know by using the “Feedback on BBOS Estimator” link at the bottom of the BBOS Estimator page, and I will be happy to walk through the process with you.

🏅 Create a Business Worth Owning

📶 Integrated step-by-step program using all tools and systems

💡 Two coaching sessions per month

📊 Monthly scorecard to measure the journey

🛠️ Tools: All tools (Chart of Accounts, Cost Codes, BBOS Estimator, Builder Business Model Canvas, SubManager, ClientManager, Policy Handbook, Management Scorecard).

🤝 What we do together:

  • A 180+-day engagement covering financials, estimating, subcontractors, clients, and workforce.
  • Coaching sessions every two weeks to review your real numbers and coach policy implementation.
  • A monthly “Business Health Scorecard” that shows where you are strong and where to strengthen.
  • Focus on building a business system that allows you to:
    • move out of day-to-day management;
    • develop a valuable legacy enterprise; and
    • create a business with significant market value.

💲 Investment: $3,500-$5,000.

🪜 Progression logic:

  • This is the capstone — combining all five prior steps into one system that builds a business worth owning.

🎯Outcome: "Now I control my business, not the other way around."

👷 Manage Your Workforce

👷‍♀️ Put the right people in the right position

📄 Create an Organization Chart and Position Descriptions

📄 Integrate employment policies

🛠️ Tools: OrgChart, Position Descriptions, Company Policy Template

🤝 What we do together:

  • Create a Company organization chart.
  • Create Job Descriptions.
  • Implement employee policy handbook
  • Identify inefficiencies in labor margins.
  • Discover hidden labor costs.

💲 Investment: $1,250-$1,500.

🪜 Progression logic:

  • Labor is usually the last controllable variable — now you are tackling optimization and efficiency.

🎯Outcome: "Now I am in control of the work that must be completed, and my employees understand their positions and accountabilities."

🗣️ Control the Client Relationship

📄 Client log, Change Order system

📄 Notice of Completion, Draw Requests

📄 Communication templates for disputes

🛠️ Tools: ClientManager, Client Contact Log, Initial Specifications, NAHB Residential Construction Guide

🤝 What we do together:

  • Implement a structured client management system.
  • Introduce the Client Contact Log.
  • Provide templates for change order and scope adjustments.
  • Train on reducing disputes and managing client expectations.

💲 Investment: $750-$1,250

🪜 Progression logic:

  • With the business financially stable and risk-protected, control of clients and their expectations ensures smoother operations and fewer profit leaks.

🎯Outcome: "Now I can manage clients and their expectations without projects spinning out of control."

🧯Identify and Manage Risks

🏠 Project Risks:

  • Site Risks – site injuries with no primary insurance coverage.
  • Reputational Risks – You don’t deliver what you promised because your subcontractors were not on the same page.
  • Capacity Risks – You can’t deliver what you promised because you don’t have the organizational structure to support your sales.

🔍 Management Risks:

  • Company Structural Risks – You don’t have the right people in the right positions.
  • Promotional Risks – Your market doesn’t know or care about your products.
  • Competitive Risks – You haven’t differentiated your company, so lowest price is the only way you can compete. 
  • Market Demand Risks – a bad market cycle will cripple or destroy your business.

🛠️ Tools: SubManager, Organizing for Success, Builder Business Model Canvas, Budgeting Forecasts

🤝 What we do together:

  • Implement Terms and Conditions, Scopes of Work, and Inspection Reports for all Subcontractors.
  • Review how you track subcontractor insurance and compliance.
  • Analyze your organizational structure to optimize production capacity.
  • Review your business model.
  • Create “Expected Case”, “Best Case”, and Worst Case” budgeting scenarios.

💲 Investment: $1,000-$1,500

🪜 Progression logic:

  • After financial clarity and profitable estimating, risk management provides the next layer of company stability.

🎯Outcome: "Now I can reduce or transfer risk exposure; identify and appeal to my primary market; and plan for any type of economic environment."

🧮Price with Confidence

🔍 Audit your estimating process

🔎 Review all active projects monthly for budget-to-actual performance

🔍 Debrief every completed project for profitability and work flow

📶 Install a margin-tracking dashboard

🛠️ Tools: BBOS Estimator, Overhead Calculator, Completed Project Profitability Report

🤝 What we do together:

  • Audit your current estimating process.
  • Benchmark your margins against industry and market standards.
  • Optimize estimating margins for maximum profitability.
  • Track true budget-to-actual expenditures.

💲 Investment: $750-$1,250

🪜 Progression logic:

  • Once finances are stable, you can sharpen your pricing to stop leaving money on the table.
  • You’ll know the margin to use to make sure overhead is allocated profitably. 

🎯Outcome: "Now I can bid jobs knowing I'll profit, not just hoping for profit."

💰90-Day Financial Reset

🗄️ Rebuild Chart of Accounts on NAHB Model

🗃️ Rebuild Cost Codes on CSI model

🛠️ Tools: Accounting platform, NAHB Chart of Accounts, CSI Cost Codes, Management Scorecard

🤝 What we do together:

  • Access to your accounting platform is required.
  • Rebuild your Chart of Accounts for project-level profitability.
  • Create and align Cost Codes so estimating, job costing, and reporting all “speak the same language.”
  • One-on-one coaching call every two weeks during the program to interpret your numbers.

💲 Investment: $1,500-$3,000

🪜 Why start here?

  • Without financial clarity, nothing else matters.
  • The reason you are in business is to make a profit. 
  • Do you KNOW if you are doing that?

🎯Outcome: "Now I know if my business is profitable and my business model is sound."

You will be re-directed to the Home Page where you can use the menu to access Courses, Memberships, or Application Portals.