Margins in residential construction are under constant pressure from volatile lumber costs, supply-chain hiccups, and late-stage client changes. When you lock yourself into a fixed-price contract, every unexpected price swing erodes profit. Cost plus billing flips that risk by invoicing the client for the actual cost of labor and materials plus an agreed markup or fee. The method is transparent, flexible, and—when powered by CountBricks—surprisingly simple to manage.
1. The builder tracks every construction expense in real time
2. A predefined markup or percentage is added to each cost line
3. The client receives routine, itemized invoices showing cost and margin
4. Payments are applied against the running total until substantial completion
Predictable Profitability Fixed-price contracts gamble on future material rates. With cost plus, your markup is protected no matter how prices fluctuate.
Client Transparency Homeowners see exactly where their money goes, building trust and reducing disputes over change orders.
Scope Flexibility When clients add skylights, extend decks, or upgrade finishes, the new scope is simply tracked as another cost line—no painful renegotiation required.
• Eliminates the need to buffer bids with large contingency percentages
• Reduces friction over mid-project changes
• Provides clear audit trails for both builder and homeowner
• Generates consistent cash flow through smaller, more frequent invoices
1. Administrative Overload Manual data entry across receipts, labor sheets, and vendor invoices quickly becomes unmanageable. CountBricks captures voice notes on-site, auto-matches them to live price catalogs, and converts the data into ready-to-send invoices.
2. Slow Approvals Waiting for clients to review each billable item can stall your schedule. CountBricks sends digital approval links in the quote document, speeding up sign-off so crews keep working.
3. Pricing Accuracy Estimators need current pricing or their markups collapse. CountBricks streams supplier APIs into the platform, updating material costs as they shift.
Real-Time Voice Capture Dictate purchase details while walking the site. CountBricks transcribes, categorizes, and assigns costs instantly.
AI Blueprint Takeoffs Upload drawings once. CountBricks quantifies materials, applies labor assemblies, and assigns your chosen markup in seconds.
Dynamic Markup Rules Set different fee structures—percentage, fixed, or tiered—for labor, subcontractors, and specialty materials. The system applies them automatically.
One-Click Invoicing Generate branded, itemized invoices directly from the logged costs, complete with project images and client notes.
• Record vendor calls through the mobile app; CountBricks appends the audio file to the cost entry for audit compliance
• Use our “work package” tag to bundle framing, MEP rough-in, or finishes and send smaller, digestible invoices
• Enable automated markup rounding to present clean numbers (e.g., $4,499 instead of $4,482.37)
• Attach warranty documents to each line so the homeowner has a single point of reference
• Link CountBricks to your accounting software via our direct API sync to avoid double entry
1. Start a voice conversation outlining project scope—framing, roofing, or whole-home remodel
2. CountBricks AI produces a baseline estimate with live supplier costs
3. Select your markup profile (e.g., 15% on materials, 20% on labor, $1,000 GC fee)
4. Convert the estimate into a Cost Plus Agreement document and e-mail it to the client
5. Log ongoing expenses via mobile, desktop, or imported CSVs
6. Generate weekly invoices; clients approve digitally, triggering immediate payment requests
7. Export the financial report to your accounting system for year-end analysis
Can I switch an ongoing fixed-price job to cost plus inside CountBricks? Yes. Import the existing budget, tag costs already absorbed, and activate cost plus billing for remaining scope.
How does CountBricks protect client trust? Every invoice includes line-item receipts, time stamps, and supplier details, viewable through the client portal.
What if my markup rates vary by vendor? Create vendor-specific markup rules in your CountBricks profile; the system will apply them automatically.
You can launch your first cost plus project in less than one hour. Visit CountBricks.com/services to book a demo, or start a free trial and see how AI-powered estimating reshapes your bottom line.
When CountBricks partner Lakeside Homes accepted a 3,200 sq ft remodel in Maple Grove, lumber inflation was running 19 % quarter-over-quarter. The team chose cost plus billing to safeguard profits while offering full transparency to the homeowner.
• 7-minute AI takeoff converted blueprints into a living budget—no manual entry
• Weekly voice logs captured $186,000 in material purchases with 99.2 % accuracy
• Automated markups generated $41,300 in predictable fees
• Client portal approvals averaged under 4 hours, cutting payment delays by 60 %
1. Define markup tiers before the first site meeting. Use CountBricks templates to avoid renegotiation later.
2. Bundle repetitive tasks—like drywall or flooring—into work packages. This keeps invoices clear and accelerates approvals.
3. Schedule weekly “cost reviews” inside CountBricks. The platform flags variance over 5 % so you can act immediately.
• Voice-to-estimate workflow eliminates keyboard time
• Live supplier feeds remove guesswork from pricing
• Integrated payment requests turn accepted invoices into cash faster
If you’re still juggling receipts and hoping contingencies hold, it’s time for a smarter approach. Visit CountBricks.com/consultation to schedule a personalized walkthrough, or browse CountBricks.com/portfolio to see more cost plus success stories. Your margins—and your clients—will thank you.
