HeavyBid allows as many Master estimates as you need but consider the downside of multiple master estimates:

  • Each master estimate has to be maintained.
  • For example, if an equipment price changes in one master you have to copy it to all the other masters since equipment usually is the same rate no matter where it is used. Same example with revisions to crews.
  • Over a period of time the master estimates might unintentionally have different resource prices and even setup information. I call this “a bookkeeping problem”.
  • The reason most companies setup multiple master estimates is that the labor wages change due to the location of the project.

There is a better solution to the problem of maintaining multiple masters.

  • Have one main master that has labor, equipment and crews and all default setups. The labor in this master is defaulted to where your company bids the most work.
  • For other locations where the labor wages differ have Labor Master Estimates using the same labor code as in the master but with another rate (or tax/fringe). The mechanics of copying in these labor rates will be covered in Part 2 of this blog.

Why would you want completely different masters? Some companies have different crew setups due to union rules so this might justify more than one complete master. But for most companies one main master with separate labor masters will simplify the maintenance of master estimates.