Transparent Commercial Estimating Fees
Flexible Retainers & Risk-Free Pilots
Stop paying $80,000+ base salaries plus benefits for junior in-house estimators. Scale your bidding volume on demand with guaranteed 24-hour turnaround.
Entry Wedge
Book Single Pilot ($350)
Single-Trade Pilot
$350
/ bid
Test our dual-verified accuracy on a live or completed project benchmark.
- ✓ Single Trade (Flooring or Drywall)
- ✓ Guaranteed 24-Hour Delivery
- ✓ Color-Coded Plan Markups (PDF)
- ✓ Editable Excel Quantities Sheet
- ✓ Projects up to 15,000 SF
Best Value for Active Subs
Hybrid Tier
Start Growth Retainer
Growth Retainer
$1,500
/ month
Ideal for subcontractors bidding 4 to 8 commercial jobs each month.
- ✓ Includes 4 Takeoffs / Month
- ✓ Extra Bids discounted at $350 each
- ✓ Priority 24-Hour Queue Placement
- ✓ Minor Addenda Revisions Included
- ✓ Direct Estimator Communications
High Volume
Join Core Retainer
Core Retainer
$2,500
/ month
For commercial contractors with heavy weekly bid pipelines.
- ✓ Up to 8 Takeoffs / Month
- ✓ Guaranteed 24-Hour Capacity
- ✓ Full Division 09 (Flooring & Drywall)
- ✓ Dedicated Senior Estimator
- ✓ Direct Slack / WhatsApp Hotline
Cost Comparison: In-House Estimator vs. SurfaceQTO
| Cost Driver | Full-Time In-House Estimator | SurfaceQTO Retainer |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Base Salary | $85,000 / year | $18,000 / year ($1,500/mo) |
| Benefits, Payroll Tax & Workers Comp | +$18,000 / year (approx 22%) | $0 |
| Software Licenses (Bluebeam, OST, MeasureSquare) | +$3,600 / year per seat | $0 (Included in service) |
| PTO, Sick Days & Holiday Downtime | Zero bid output for 4–6 weeks | 100% Guaranteed 24h SLA year-round |
| Total Annual Cost | $106,600+ | $18,000 (83% Cost Reduction) |