How to Bid on Flooring Jobs: The Best Practices
FEB 10, 2025 | LAST UPDATED ON FEB 10, 2025 BY ANGELICA NAIDU
Are you waiting for your dream flooring project? Is this the bidding time for it? But confused about how to make your bidding proposal worthy of catching attention and getting the project?
If these are your problems, then Super Proposal is here to guide you on How to bid on flooring jobs perfectly.
The first step in bidding on flooring works is to select the right project. You can use online sources to find your locality’s projects or use your network. After you have chosen the right project for you to bid on, you need to go over the bid documents and do a material takeoff.
Once, you have done a material takeoff, get pricing from your suppliers, and flooring job estimates. Now add overhead and profit, and write your proposal.
Seems like writing the proposal is harder than finding the project, but not anymore!
With Super Proposal, you can now effortlessly craft interactive proposals with real-time tracking and signing.
Let’s take a closer look at how to bid on flooring jobs to get you the dream client!
“Take a look at yourself before looking at the floor.”
That’s the best advice you could ever get before bidding on a flooring contract.
Before you quote on a flooring project, make sure you are analyzing your company. Some key points for analysis are: the bandwidth you have, whether is it something familiar to your company, is your company equipped to face any possible challenges that might arise, etc. Although most flooring projects are similar in scope, you may encounter existing conditions or new products that you are unfamiliar with. The key is to be prepared. You should do the right kind of research within your industry to know the possible challenges.
Make yourself educated about what you are getting into. Before putting together a flooring job estimate, make sure that you have the necessary experience to bid on the project. Whatever the work is, such as tiling, carpeting, old or new flooring, ceramic tile, hardwood, etc., you should be the master of that floor.
Review Bid Documents or Make a Site Visit
Reviewing bid documents or making a site visit is an important part of your flooring bid because you need to understand the requirements thoroughly before making a decision. For new construction projects, you will likely be addressing 3 things:
- An invitation to bid (ITB)
- A request for qualifications (RFQ)
- A request for proposals (RFP)
You will get a clear picture of the scope and plan from these documents. The specifications give details regarding the materials to be utilized and the methods of execution. Don’t forget to pay particular attention to Divisions 01 and 09.
Division 01 contains information on qualifications, payment conditions, bonding, insurance, and more. Division 09 provides detailed information about the project finishes, including specifications for flooring products and methods of application.
If it is a case of a remodel or renovation, it’s advisable to conduct a site visit to assess the working conditions (Yes, it’s worth it). That will help you understand the project on a bigger canvas. Installation timelines can be significantly influenced by the obstacles and conditions present at the job site. You can also verify surface measurements while you are at the location.
Pro Tip: Make a note of everything you notice during your site visit and compare it to the project plans.
Perform a Quantity Takeoff
A material takeoff, also known as a quantity takeoff, is a count of the supplies or materials needed to finish the assigned task.
It contains supplies like adhesives and flooring. While you do the flooring, the first step is to determine the floors’ dimensions. You can do this by going over the plan with a ruler and highlighter, an electronic scale, or estimation software. To determine the necessary square footage, measure the length of each wall and multiply the result. After the takeoff is complete, you need a thorough inventory check of all the supplies and materials needed to finish the project.
How to calculate Square footage = Length of Wall×Height of Wall
Price your materials and supplies
Material Takeoff – Done
List of Inventory – Done
Now, it’s time to price the materials and supplies. Verify the costs of each flooring material and the installation materials with your suppliers/Vendors. It is important to note that before a project is put out to bid, the owner may not have decided on their flooring. A quote based on an allowance might be requested from you; that’s why you need to have your calculations handy to proceed. A budget amount that serves as a standin until the product is chosen is called an allowance. A change order can be used to correct the discrepancy between the allowance and the material’s actual cost after a decision has been made.
Estimate labor
The amount of labor required to complete the project will then be estimated using your material takeoff. Using historical project data is the most popular and reliable method of labor estimation.
This entails estimating the duration of a prospective project using labor and cost data from prior projects. You can use a labor guide to estimate your labor hours for flooring jobs if you don’t have previous project data. You can get an idea of how long painting a certain area will take by using guides.
Add overhead and profit
This stage is your profit safety net. The costs necessary to keep your business operating but not directly related to completing project work are referred to as company overhead. Speak with an accountant if you are unsure of your overhead percentage.
Typically, profit is computed as a percentage of the job’s overall cost. The majority of projects don’t go as planned. A small buffer assures you that unforeseen expenses, like last-minute material changes or equipment repairs, won’t arise.
Fun Fact: Typically, 25–35% of a successful commercial flooring bid is made up of profit and overhead.
Write Your Proposal
Here comes the game changer.
A good proposal sells itself. You need to include flooring contractor pricing, timeline, materials, terms, and conditions, etc with the sales price. The project’s sales price is determined by adding the costs of labor, supplies, materials, overhead, and profit. In order to make sure you have included everything, it is best to develop a standard form for all of your proposals.
Super Proposal is here to help you with your proposal problem. From the pre-defined templates, you can choose your own and fully customize it for your client.
Review Your Proposal
It’s always a good idea to have someone review your proposal, math and all, before sending it. Ask them to review the price calculation and your material takeoff. Make sure everything appears the way you want it to be by proofreading your proposal and checking the formatting.
If you are using Super Proposal, it’s easy for you to review and track client activity. You can easily share it with people and get it reviewed.
Pro Tip: Clients are more comfortable working with contractors who provide organized, easy-to-read proposals.
How to Price a Flooring Job
Most of the frequently asked questions about flooring jobs are regarding the price per square foot. Usually, there are two schools of flooring contractor pricing: one is a set price per box, and the other is square footage. Choose the method you usually follow and communicate it clearly with the client.
A thorough method that goes beyond a basic flooring job estimate is required to determine the cost of a flooring project. It’s important to take several factors into account when creating job bids in the flooring industry. Be precise and affordable. Start by determining the project’s scope, accounting for the kind of flooring material, labor costs, and any other expenses.
Investigate current market prices to properly set a flooring job, then modify your quote to account for both industry norms and the caliber of your work. Transparency is essential – give thorough flooring quotes that include labor, material, and any related service costs broken down.
Be transparent with your clients by talking about their needs and providing options that fit within the allocated budget.
This is important not only for gaining expertise in flooring contractor pricing but also for creating client trust, which opens your path for future clients in the flooring sector. Your work speaks better than any of your advertisements.
Finding More Flooring Jobs
To succeed in the flooring business, continuously seeking new projects is essential. PlanHub and other bidding platforms help flooring subcontractors find opportunities quickly. Winning flooring bids requires a strategic approach to understanding the project scope, providing detailed cost breakdowns, and maintaining clear communication. You can also expand your client base through networking and referrals.
Another successful method is to create an online presence to attract more bids. You can build a website, use social media, and even make use of listing services.
How Super Proposal Helps You Create Winning Flooring Proposals
Are you interested in working on commercial flooring projects? Fantastic! The problem is that obtaining such roles is a marathon rather than a race, and preparation is necessary for a marathon. Your greatest advantages when placing a bid on a commercial flooring project are your readiness and expertise. Your expertise and proposal from Super Proposal – that’s a killer combo to get the floors.
Here is how Super Proposal stands out from the rest:
Unlimited Proposal: With Super Proposal, you can create and send unlimited proposals without any restrictions. Say goodbye to restrictions and welcome new clients.
Real-Time Collaboration: You will get real-time notifications, audit trails, client interaction tracking, etc for teamwork and efficient decision-making. Everything is faster with Super Proposal.
Customization: Customization is aligning your brand according to your client’s needs. Access 100+ reusable templates, a pre-built library, and custom branding options for a tailored proposal experience.
E-Signatures: You will also benefit from advanced e-signature features like signing orders and multi-recipient approvals for a legally binding process.
Value for Money: Enjoy advanced features at a flat $19 per user per month (billed annually), ensuring cost-effective and high-quality proposal management.
Closing the Deal with Right Follow-Up
Now that the proposal is prepared, it’s time to ensure that it is accepted and makes an impact.
- Be on Time (No Excuses!): Many commercial clients have unique requirements for submissions, including deadlines and formatting. If you follow these, you won’t be eliminated.
- Emphasize Your Experience (That is Relevant): Include case studies or client testimonials that help people identify you. It creates a small amount of trust, much like a strong recommendation letter.
- Be Prepared to Bargain: Clients may have inquiries or requests for modifications. To be profitable, you must first be adaptable and then adhere to your bottom line.
Quick Tip: The right time to follow up is a few days after your client views your proposal. It’s a simple method to stand out without even examining the numbers.
FAQs
How to bid on flooring jobs with an estimate?
Start by detailing all materials needed with their costs. Then, calculate labor expenses and add a profit margin to cover overhead.
What's the best way to bid on a flooring job?
Scrutinize project plans, meticulously estimate material and labor, and don’t forget to include your overhead costs and desired profit.
How can I find flooring customers?
Boost local networking, consider online ads, and actively search for projects on construction bidding sites.
How should I determine my flooring installation prices?
Carefully calculate material costs, assess labor time based on complexity, and add a profit margin reflecting your skill and desired income.
How helpful is Super Proposal in getting flooring bids?
Super Proposal proposal software is SUPER helpful for getting your flooring bids. Super Proposal’s features enable you to create visually stunning documents that impress clients while also simplifying your workflow.
The best thing about the super proposal is that it includes all of the features in a single, affordable price plan.
Increase your close rates today!
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