Estimated vs Actual Plumbing Job Profit: A Simple Review Workflow
A quote records what you expected before a job. A completed-job review records the figures you have afterward. Keep those two views separate so a change in actual cost does not erase the original estimate. 1. Preserve the estimate Retain the quoted job details and the original cost and labor assumptions. Record scope changes separately so the comparison has context. Do not replace an estimated figure with an actual figure simply to make the estimate match the final result. 2. Collect actual figures Use your own records to establish the costs and labor associated with the completed job. Check that each figure belongs to the job being reviewed. If a figure is missing, resolve it from your records rather than inventing a value to finish the review. 3. Compare the two views The ToolHarbor workbook supports recording actual job costs and comparing estimated with actual profit and margin in its Dashboard. Review the difference in costs alongside the profit and margin figures. A difference sh...