3 Common Quoting Mistakes That Cost Electricians Profit
Quoting electrical work isn’t just about throwing out a number. Done wrong, it can drain hours, chew up margins, and turn solid jobs into slow-motion losses.
Here are three of the most common mistakes small electrical businesses make in their first years — and how to avoid them.
1. Pricing to Land the Job Instead of Pricing for Profit
Chasing every lead and dropping prices at the first sign of pushback is a fast track to working for free.
Undercutting may fill the schedule, but it also fills it with low-margin jobs that eat time, burn fuel, and wear down the crew without building the bank account.
Fix it: Price for the true cost of labor, materials, and overhead — plus the profit needed to grow. If the customer can’t accept it, let the job go.
2. Ignoring the Value of Non-Tool Time
Too many quotes only account for hands-on install hours. That leaves out site visits, planning, sourcing parts, waiting on suppliers, or dealing with change orders — all of which consume billable hours.
Fix it: Include every stage of the work in the price. If the business is moving on it, the clock is running — and it belongs in the quote.
3. Leaving the Scope Wide Open
Vague quotes invite scope creep. What starts as “a few outlets” can snowball into circuit changes, breaker swaps, and troubleshooting old wiring — all under the assumption it’s “included.”
Fix it: Put the full scope in writing. Detail exactly what’s included, what’s excluded, and what will require a change order. Clear boundaries keep jobs on track and protect the bottom line.
Bottom line:
Accurate quoting protects both profit and reputation. A well-built quote covers every cost, defines every deliverable, and sets expectations from the start. Skip these steps, and even the most skilled electricians can end up working overtime for free.