The estimate was right. The job stopped being the one you priced.

Unbilled scope is rarely approved by anyone: it is absorbed by the person least able to price it, and it never appears as a loss anywhere.

By Steve 5 min read
Abstract bridge artwork for The estimate was right. The job stopped being the one you priced.

A margin post-mortem on a disappointing job usually starts with the estimate. Were the hours wrong? Did we underprice the materials? Did we misjudge the complexity? Sometimes the answer is yes. But in a great many cases the estimate was a reasonable description of the work as it was understood at the time, and the loss came from somewhere else entirely: the job that got delivered was not the job that got priced, and nobody ever made a decision to change that. This is not the same thing as underquoting,…

Keep reading for free

Create an account to read the rest.

The whole library is free. No card, no subscription, no trial that quietly ends. An account simply lets us know who we are writing for, and opens every article from here on.

  • Every article, in full, at no cost
  • New articles published every weekday
  • Takes about twenty seconds
Create a free account I already have one

Free means free. We will not charge you for the library, and you can read as much of it as you like.

Important: General information only. Rialto Bridge articles describe patterns and considerations that may apply to a business; they are not financial, legal, tax or accounting advice, and they take no account of your particular circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a qualified professional before acting.

More on Pricing

Scroll to Top