Quote It Right: Pricing Guide and Calculator for Small Fab and Machine Shops (UK)

Most small fabrication and machining shops quote on gut feel, then find out three hours too late that the job paid less than the day job. This guide fixes that.

Written by a trade-qualified fitter/turner with fabrication experience, it is short and fix-focused. No theory, no fluff. Read the Quick Start, plug in your numbers, and quote your next job properly.

What you get:

• A short guide: shop rate, materials and markup, outsourced work, contingency, minimum job price, payment terms, and a pre-quote checklist
• Three worked examples, including a real job that was underpriced and what the right price would have been
• A quote calculator spreadsheet (Excel, in pounds) with shop rate, quote builder, customer quote and job tracker
• A one-page printable quote checklist for the workshop wall

Who it is for: home workshops, one- and two-person fab and machining shops, and tradespeople doing side jobs who want to price with confidence.

Who it is not for: large shops with an estimating department.

FAQ

• Do the numbers in the guide apply to me? No. They are placeholders to show the method. You enter your own costs and wage.
• Does the spreadsheet need special software? No. It is tested in Excel, Apple Numbers and Google Sheets, and it works on a phone. The guide also comes as a phone-sized PDF.
• Is it in pounds? Yes, all figures and formats are GBP.
• Can I get a refund? Yes. If the guide isn't useful for your shop, email me within 14 days of purchase and I'll refund you in full. No forms, no awkward questions.