How to Write a Cost Guide for Your Construction Business Tips and Tricks

A cost guide helps potential clients understand your pricing structure before they get a formal quote. It builds trust, sets expectations and helps filter the right kind of enquiries. If you’re a construction or trade business, having a clear and well-designed cost guide can save time and win you more work.

At CBM, we design editable cost guide templates that make your pricing easy to understand and visually professional. This guide walks through how to build one that supports your brand and improves how you sell.

What is a Cost Guide?

A cost guide is a branded document that outlines typical rates, service pricing or starting estimates. It’s not a quote, but a reference that gives clients a general idea of what to expect.

Use it to:

Help pre-qualify leads
Share with clients before quoting
Include in capability statements or proposals
Reduce time spent repeating price ranges

In construction, cost guides are also useful for tender addendums, early-stage planning and upsell discussions.

The business.gov.au pricing guide is a helpful resource if you want a framework for setting prices in small businesses.

What to Include in a Cost Guide

Our CBM Cost Guide Template is structured to give flexibility while staying professional. Here’s what to include.

Services or Packages

Group your offerings into clear sections. Use icons, headings or categories like “Hourly rates”, “Fixed fees” or “Common service types”.

Price Ranges or Starting Prices

Give realistic ranges. For example:

Site inspection from $350
Bathroom renovation between $10,000 and $20,000
Excavation work $95 to $135 per hour

You don’t need to be exact, but you should be honest and clear.

Billing Units

Explain how your pricing works. Are you charging per hour, per job, per metre or per day?

Inclusions

Mention what’s typically covered in the price. That could include labour, basic materials, travel or inspections.

Common Add-Ons or Extras

List popular upgrades or scope extensions. This is a great way to support upselling.

Disclaimers or Variables

Be upfront about what could affect pricing. Things like access, materials or site prep can all change the final number.

Tips for Writing and Design

Use Simple Language

Clients aren’t always technical. Make it easy to understand your rates, inclusions and any conditions.

Keep It Visual

Use spacing, icons and bold headers. A good layout makes your pricing feel more trustworthy. Our templates are built with this in mind.

Be Brand Consistent

Don’t send out a cost guide that looks like a spreadsheet. It should feel like part of your brand, just like your quotes or proposals.

File Formats You Can Use

Our cost guide templates are available in:

✅ Canva
✅ PowerPoint
✅ Google Slides
✅ Adobe InDesign
✅ Figma

Each version is editable and ready to export to PDF for printing, emailing or adding to your website.

Mistakes to Avoid

Being too vague with pricing
Forgetting to explain billing terms
Using poor formatting that makes prices hard to read
Leaving off disclaimers and terms

A good cost guide positions you as clear, transparent and professional. That’s what clients remember.

Why Cost Guides Work in Construction

Not every client is ready to get a quote. Some want a ballpark figure before engaging. A cost guide fills that gap. It also saves you time by reducing back-and-forth and helps you attract clients who understand your value before seeing your pricing.

Ready to Build Yours?

Our CBM Cost Guide Template helps you show your pricing confidently and professionally.

You’ll get:

✅ A layout that’s easy to edit and even easier to read
✅ Editable files in Canva, PowerPoint, Google Slides, InDesign and Figma
✅ Matching design to the rest of your CBM documents
✅ Sections for pricing, inclusions, terms and extras

👉 Download your cost guide template and start setting better expectations with every job.

Need Help Writing It?

You can also access the Brand Voice Assistant GPT to make sure the tone matches your other documents.

👉 Try the Brand Voice Assistant GPT

No signup. No lock-in. Just tools that save you time.

How to Write a Cost Guide: Tips + Tricks