Free construction estimating tool
What does each bid pursuit actually cost?
Put a dollar figure on estimator time before another takeoff enters the queue. The math is visible, editable, and runs in your browser.
Calculated result
Pursuit economics
- Cost per pursuit
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- Monthly estimating spend
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- Expected wins per month
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- Estimating cost per expected win
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- Estimating-only break-even win rate
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Calculating…
Screening scenario
Rejecting the selected share before takeoff would recover — and avoid — in monthly pursuit cost, assuming those rejected projects would not have become wins.
This is planning math, not a profit forecast. It excludes field overhead, bonding, financing, schedule risk, and the value of relationships or strategic work.
Why this matters
Estimator capacity is a constraint, even when invitations are plentiful.
Site-work estimators have described 10–15 bids per week with a 3% win rate, while another recent discussion described six weekly assignments as unsustainable and noted that one detailed horizontal-scope takeoff per week can consume available capacity.
The calculator does not prescribe a universal win-rate target. It makes your own assumptions visible so project fit, package access, buyer relationship, current stage, and pursuit cost can be checked before the expensive work begins.
Evidence note: linked forum posts are practitioner accounts, not market-wide benchmarks or endorsements of RivetScout.
Screen before takeoff
Put five real projects through the same test.
Tell us your trade and territory. Bruce will prepare a free 15-minute review with project fit, timing, contact routes, missing facts, and the recommended next action.