Free Spreadsheet Tool for Contractors

Markup vs. Margin: They Are Not the Same.

Mix up the math of what you add (markup) with what you actually keep (margin), and your profit can disappear into a hole you didn’t see coming. Test your own numbers and get the math straight.

Grab the calculator and follow along with Joni for a quick 5-minute walkthrough.

Markup and margin get confused all the time in construction. Neither concept is hard on its own—they just get mixed up.

Because sometimes people think that a 50% markup means a 50% margin, and that’s just not how reality works. A 1.5 markup actually leaves you with a 33.3% margin. If you treat them as the same thing, your projects end up not being worth nearly as much as you expected.

That's why I built this simple calculator.

You can plug in your own costs and see the differences between markup and margin in action. Here’s what you can do inside the sheet:

We kept it nice and simple so you can stop guessing and decide the markup that actually works with your numbers.

Faster decisions you can stand behind

If you’re a contractor who wants your bids and your profit to make sense in the same sentence, this is for you.

If you are ready to get off the bank-balance rollercoaster and want a second set of eyes to take a look at your situation, let's talk.

Need a second set of eyes on your numbers?

A brief phone call to talk about what’s happening in your business, your goals, and any concerns you have about your numbers.

From there, I’ll run a Do We Have a Problem?™ System Scan of your QuickBooks file and current reporting, and we’ll talk recommendations for next steps.