Questions & answers
Everything about turning a voice note into a contractor estimate
QuickBidAI is estimate and proposal software for contractors. You record what you see on the job site, and a complete written estimate — scope, labor, itemized materials, totals and terms — comes back in under a minute. You set every price before it goes out.
- Time to draft
- Under 60 seconds
- Free to try
- 3 proposals, no card
- Unlimited plan
- $49.99 / month
- How do I write a contractor estimate from a voice note?
- Record a voice note describing the job on site, then QuickBidAI drafts the written estimate for you.
- You say what you see — measurements, scope, materials, access, timeline — and the draft comes back with customer and job details, a scope of work, labor line items, an itemized materials list with quantities and prices, subtotals, a total, terms and an expiry date. You can also type the notes or add job-site photos instead of speaking.
- How long does it take to get an estimate?
- Most estimates are drafted in under 60 seconds after you stop recording.
- Editing your prices and wording usually takes another minute or two, so a site visit can turn into a sent proposal before you leave the driveway.
- Does QuickBidAI work on a phone?
- Yes. It runs in your phone's browser and uses the phone microphone for voice notes — there is no app to install.
- Estimates, the materials list and pricing are laid out to read on a phone screen without side-scrolling, so you can review and send from the truck.
- How accurate are the material prices?
- Material prices are drafted from typical retail shelf pricing at stores like Home Depot and Lowe's, and you should verify them before sending.
- Prices are cost estimates, not quotes from your supplier, and they do not include tax. Special-order items are labeled as such. Every line — material, quantity, unit price and total — is editable.
- Do I need a credit card to try it?
- No. You get 3 free proposals with no credit card.
- After that, a single proposal is $15 with credits that never expire, unlimited proposals are $49.99 a month, and a team plan with multiple logins and custom branding is $99 a month or $990 a year.
- Which trades does it cover?
- Roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, handyman and general remodeling work, residential and light commercial.
- The wording follows your trade — squares, tear-off and drip edge for a roofer; panel, service and circuit for an electrician; tonnage, line set and ductwork for HVAC.
- Can the customer sign the proposal?
- Yes. You can email the proposal and the customer can accept and sign it on their phone.
- You get notified when it is accepted or declined, and reminders can go out if it sits unanswered.
- Can I change the price before I send it?
- Yes. You set every price. QuickBidAI writes the document; it never decides what your job is worth.
- Labor, materials, quantities, scope wording, exclusions and terms are all editable, and your company name, license number, phone and logo appear on the finished estimate.
- Can I download a PDF?
- Yes. Every finished proposal downloads as a branded PDF you can print, email or hand to the customer.
- What is the best plumbing estimating software for a small shop?
- Traditional plumbing estimating software is built for commercial bid rooms — plan takeoff, assemblies and a price book to maintain. For a one- to three-truck shop, QuickBidAI writes the estimate from a voice note recorded at the job instead.
- There is nothing to set up before your first estimate, it runs in a phone browser, and it costs $49.99 a month for unlimited estimates after 3 free ones. If you bid large commercial plan sets, a dedicated takeoff program is still the better fit.
- How do I estimate plumbing costs?
- Price the equipment or fixture first, break labor into tasks and hours at your rate, list every fitting and valve as its own material line, add permit and inspection fees, price or exclude access work, and add a contingency for concealed conditions.
- The plumbing cost estimator page lists typical price ranges for water heaters, repipes, drain and sewer work and more, so you can sanity-check a number before you put it in writing.
- What is the best estimating software for roofing contractors?
- Roofing estimating software normally means aerial measurement and takeoff built for a bid room. For a small crew quoting tear-offs, repairs and gutters, QuickBidAI writes the estimate from a voice note recorded on the roof.
- Tear-off, decking allowance, underlayment, flashing and ventilation come back as separate lines you can price yourself. The roofing cost estimator page lists typical ranges per square and per job.
- What is the best electrical estimating software for a small shop?
- Commercial electrical estimators use assembly-and-takeoff programs with price books. If you quote panel upgrades, circuits, EV chargers and service work yourself, QuickBidAI drafts the written estimate from a voice note at the panel.
- Circuits, devices, breakers, permits and code upgrades are itemized so the customer can see what they are paying for. The electrical cost estimator page lists typical job ranges.
- What is the best HVAC estimating software for a small shop?
- Mechanical bidding programs handle duct and pipe takeoff for plan sets. For changeouts, mini splits and service work, QuickBidAI writes the estimate from a voice note in the mechanical room in under a minute.
- Equipment, labor, line set, venting and permits come back as separate lines. The HVAC cost estimator page lists typical ranges for furnace, AC, heat pump and mini split work.
- How do I estimate construction costs?
- Walk the job and record conditions, break the work into tasks, apply a loaded labor rate, itemize materials with quantities and unit prices, add waste and disposal, show permits and code upgrades, price access separately, carry a contingency, then apply markup that produces the margin you need.
- Markup is not margin: a 20% markup on $10,000 of cost gives a 16.7% margin. To earn 20%, divide cost by 0.80. The how-to-estimate-a-job guide walks through all of it.
- Is QuickBidAI a bidding marketplace?
- No. It is estimate-writing software for your own customers. Nobody bids against you and your jobs are not shared or listed anywhere.
See it on your own trade
Same workflow, written in your words: plumbing (or the plumbing cost estimator) , roofing, electrical and HVAC.