# Build a detailed budget in minutes, not hours

Organize costs by section, set markup per line item, and hit Generate to turn your budget into a client-ready proposal. No reformatting, no copy-paste.

BUD-004 Northside Commercial Site

**Total: $280,580**

### Cost Breakdown

| Name                              | Qty  | Unit | Unit Cost | Total     |
|-----------------------------------|------|------|-----------|-----------|
| Site Work                         |      |      |           |           |
| Clear & Grub                      | 1    | LS   | $12,500   | $12,500   |
| Excavation & Grading              | 3,200| CY   | $8.75     | $28,000   |
| Concrete & Foundations             |      |      |           |           |
| Spread Footings                   | 24   | EA   | $1,850    | $44,400   |
| Grade Beams                       | 480  | LF   | $125      | $60,000   |
| Structural Steel                  |      |      |           |           |
| W-Shape Columns                   | 36   | EA   | $2,400    | $86,400   |
| Wide Flange Beams                 | 12,800| LB  | $3.85     | $49,280   |

### Section-based cost breakdown

Organize your budget by trade or phase: framing, electrical, plumbing, finishes. Clients see clean line-by-line detail.

### One click to a branded proposal

Hit Generate and Foreman turns your budget into a professional PDF proposal with your logo, ready to send and sign.

### Custom markup by line item

Set markup on materials, labor, and subs independently. Foreman calculates your margin automatically.

## Organized Estimating

### Build section by section, not line by line

Group your costs by trade or phase — Framing, Electrical, Tile — and add line items under each. Clients see a clean breakdown, you see your full cost picture.

| Section | Item            | Qty | Unit | Total   |
|---------|-----------------|-----|------|---------|
| Framing | 2x6 Lumber      |     | bd/ft| $2.40   | $288    |
|         | Labor           | 16  | hrs  | $65     | $1,040  |
| Electrical| Panel upgrade  | 1   |      | $1,800  | $1,800  |
| **Subtotal** |              |     |      |         | $3,128  |

## Instant Proposals

### One click turns your budget into a proposal

Foreman takes your cost breakdown and wraps it into a branded, client-ready proposal. Your logo, your scope, your terms — formatted and ready to send.

### Project Proposal

**Your Company Name**  
**Project: Riverside Kitchen Remodel**  
**Prepared by: Sarah Riverside**  
**Date: Apr 13, 2026**  
**Total: $42,800**

### Markup Control

#### Set markup independently on labor, materials, and subs

Different trades carry different risks and overhead. Set your markup by line item or by section — Foreman shows your gross margin in real time.

| Category        | Markup | Cost   | Final Cost |
|-----------------|--------|--------|------------|
| Materials       | +30%   | $1,300 | $1,690     |
| Labor           | +45%   | $3,200 | $4,640     |
| Subcontractors   | +15%   | $8,000 | $9,200     |
| **Gross Margin** |        |        | 28.4%      |

## How it works

Three steps. That's it.

1. **Add your costs by section**  
   Create sections for each trade or phase, then add line items with quantities and unit prices. Foreman does the math.

2. **Set your markup**  
   Apply markup per line item, section, or the whole budget. Your margin is calculated automatically.

3. **Generate and send**  
   Hit Generate to create a client-ready proposal. Send it directly from Foreman and track when it's viewed.

## Frequently asked questions

- Can I reuse budgets from past jobs?  
- How do sections work in a budget?  
- What does the generated proposal look like?  
- Can clients sign the proposal directly?

## Ready to run your jobs from bid to built?

Free to try. No credit card required.