General contractors on commercial work often compete on thin markups, and one underpriced division can erase the profit on the entire job. A dedicated commercial estimate accounts for general conditions, bonds, insurance, permits, and supervision alongside direct trade costs. That full picture is what separates a winning bid from a costly one.
Fire suppression, ADA compliance, energy codes, commercial kitchens, and large MEP systems add costs that residential estimating simply does not cover. Our estimators know how these requirements affect pricing in each building type. For the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing side, our MEP estimating team prices systems down to equipment and labor units.
Commercial owners, developers, and banks review estimates closely before awarding contracts or releasing funds. A well-structured estimate with a clear schedule of values builds credibility and speeds up approvals. It also becomes the reference point for pay applications and change requests throughout construction. Explore our full range of construction estimating services for support beyond commercial work.
We price new commercial structures from foundations to final finishes, including site work, structure, envelope, interiors, and building systems. Each estimate includes general conditions, overhead, and fee. This gives general contractors a complete, competitive number for new build commercial bids.
Speculative office and retail buildings are often built as core and shell, with tenant spaces finished later. We price the structure, envelope, roofing, vertical transportation, restrooms, and base building MEP separately from future tenant work. Developers get a clear picture of base building cost before leasing begins.
We estimate interior buildouts for offices, retail stores, restaurants, and medical suites, including demolition, partitions, ceilings, flooring, millwork, and MEP modifications. Our pricing accounts for working inside occupied or partially finished buildings. Contractors and tenants get accurate TI costs to compare against landlord allowances.
Renovating existing commercial spaces involves hidden conditions, phased work, and after hours schedules. We price selective demolition, upgrades, and code corrections with realistic allowances for unknowns. This helps contractors bid renovation work without absorbing surprise costs later.
For negotiated and design-build commercial contracts, we prepare Guaranteed Maximum Price estimates that include contingencies, allowances, and clear qualifications. Our estimates evolve with the design, from early pricing to final GMP. Contractors enter negotiations with defensible numbers and well-documented assumptions.
Before full drawings exist, commercial developers need reliable budgets to test feasibility. Our preliminary estimates provide cost per square foot and system-level budgets for office, retail, and hospitality concepts.
Public and private commercial bids demand strict compliance with bid forms, alternates, unit prices, and addenda. We prepare complete hard bid estimates aligned with the project manual and deliver them before your deadline. You submit a compliant bid with every requirement addressed.
Rooftop units, VAV systems, sprinkler systems, switchgear, lighting controls, and commercial plumbing drive a large share of commercial budgets. We price each system with manufacturer equipment data and trade labor units. General contractors also use these estimates to check mechanical and electrical subcontractor bids.
Commercial sites involve parking lots, stormwater systems, utility connections, lighting, and landscaping requirements set by local jurisdictions. We price these scopes from civil drawings, supported by accurate quantity takeoffs. Developers and site contractors get realistic budgets for work outside the building footprint.
Commercial GCs often receive subcontractor bids with different scopes, exclusions, and assumptions. We compare each bid line by line against the drawings and our own estimate, identifying missing scope and pricing gaps. This helps you select the right subcontractor and avoid scope disputes after award.
Each commercial building type has its own systems, finishes, and code requirements that shape the final cost. Our estimators price these sectors regularly and understand what drives the budget in each one.
GCs use our estimates to bid more commercial work, prepare GMP proposals, and level subcontractor pricing with confidence.
Electrical, mechanical, drywall, and glazing subcontractors rely on us to price large commercial scopes on tight bid schedules.
Developers use our numbers for pro formas, lender packages, and early go or no go decisions on new commercial properties.
Tenants planning a buildout use our TI estimates to negotiate improvement allowances and compare contractor proposals.
Facility teams use our estimates to plan renovations, capital repairs, and building upgrades within annual budgets.
Commercial bids move fast, so our process is built for speed without cutting corners. Here is how your project goes from plan set to finished estimate.
Share the drawings, project manual, bid form, addenda, and due date, or give us access to the project on your bid platform.
We review the commercial scope, confirm the divisions and alternates to include, and send you a fixed fee with a delivery date.
Our commercial estimators price every division, and our estimating manager reviews general conditions, markups, and bid form compliance.
You receive the estimate with a schedule of values and clarifications, and we stay available to update pricing if late addenda arrive.
Browse real samples of our takeoffs, cost estimates, and drafting work to see the level of detail you can expect on your own project.
The fee depends on building size, number of divisions, drawing complexity, and whether you need a full project estimate or specific trades. A small tenant improvement costs far less to estimate than a multistory hotel. After reviewing your bid documents, we send a fixed-fee proposal, so you know the exact price before any work begins.
Tenant improvements and small commercial projects are usually completed in two to three business days. Larger new builds, core and shell buildings, and mixed-use projects typically take four to seven business days depending on scope. Share your bid due date when you send the plans, and we will plan our schedule around it.
Yes. Our commercial estimates include general conditions such as supervision, temporary facilities, equipment, cleanup, permits, insurance, and bonds where required. We apply overhead and fees based on your preferences. This gives you a complete, bid-ready number, not just direct costs.
We price materials using current supplier quotes and market data, then apply escalation factors based on the project's schedule and the volatility of key materials like steel, copper, glazing, and electrical gear. Long lead items are flagged separately. This helps protect your bid from price increases between submission and buyout.
Core and shell estimating covers the base building, including structure, exterior envelope, roofing, main MEP systems, elevators, and common areas. Tenant improvement estimating covers interior buildouts within leased spaces, such as walls, ceilings, finishes, lighting, and HVAC distribution. Many commercial projects require both, and we can price them separately or together.
Yes. We prepare Guaranteed Maximum Price estimates that include direct costs, general conditions, contingency, allowances, and fee, supported by detailed qualifications and assumptions. We can also update the GMP as drawings progress from design development to construction documents.
Yes. We can organize your estimate into a schedule of values formatted for AIA G702 and G703 pay applications. This makes billing easier throughout construction and gives owners and lenders a clear view of how the contract amount is distributed.
Yes. For publicly funded commercial buildings, we apply the correct Davis-Bacon or state prevailing wage rates for each trade. We also follow public bid requirements such as unit prices, alternates, and specific bid form structures to keep your submission compliant.
Yes. For design-build projects or early budgeting, we can price from schematic or design development drawings using clearly stated allowances and assumptions. As the design progresses, we update the estimate so your numbers stay aligned with the latest drawings.
Yes. Our bid leveling service compares each subcontractor proposal against the drawings and specifications, highlighting exclusions, scope gaps, and pricing differences. You get a side by side comparison that makes it easier to select the best value subcontractor with confidence.
Yes. Franchise and multi-location brands often build the same prototype in different cities. We adjust labor rates, material prices, site conditions, and local code requirements for each location, giving you accurate budgets for every market.
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815 BRAZOS ST STE 500 AUSTIN, TXCall Us
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