Tired of losing electrical bidsto faster competitors?
Pocket Boss helps electricians create professional estimates with tiered pricing, material markups, and permit fees — from your phone at the job site. Stop underbidding panel upgrades. Stop waiting until you're back at the office. Quote the job and get approval before you leave.
Estimating Challenges Electricians Face
Accurate, fast estimates are the difference between winning and losing a job.
Underbidding Electrical Work
The problem: Forgetting permit fees, underestimating wire runs, or miscounting boxes means you eat the difference on every job.
Our solution: Saved templates with your actual costs, material lists, and markups ensure every estimate accounts for the full scope. Track actual vs. estimated to refine pricing.
Slow Turnaround on Bids
The problem: Going back to the office to build estimates means GCs and homeowners get quotes from faster competitors first.
Our solution: Build and send estimates from your phone at the job site. Pull up a template, adjust for the specific job, and email it in minutes.
Competing on Price Alone
The problem: When customers only see one number, they shop for the cheapest electrician.
Our solution: Tiered good-better-best proposals let customers choose their comfort level. The "better" option often wins — and it's higher revenue for you.
Estimate-to-Invoice Errors
The problem: Re-typing estimate details into invoices wastes time and introduces billing mistakes.
Our solution: One click converts an approved estimate to an invoice. All line items, prices, permit fees, and customer info carry over automatically.
Used by Electrical Contractors For
Panel Upgrades and Replacements
Quote 100A to 200A upgrades with accurate material lists, permit fees, and labor rates.
EV Charger Installations
Build estimates for Level 2 charger installs including circuit runs, load calculations, and permit costs.
Whole-House Rewires
Template full rewire jobs with wire footage, device counts, and drywall patching as separate line items.
Lighting Retrofits and Packages
Offer tiered lighting packages with recessed cans, dimmers, and smart switches at different price points.
Generator Installations
Present good-better-best generator options with transfer switch, fuel line, and permit costs included.
Commercial Electrical Bids
Build detailed proposals for commercial work with phased pricing and contractor markup.
Outlet and Switch Additions
Quick-quote outlet, switch, and dedicated circuit additions from a saved template.
Service Call Quotes
Send professional quotes for troubleshooting, repair, and diagnostic service calls on the spot.
Maintenance Contract Pricing
Price recurring maintenance agreements with annual inspection schedules and priority service terms.
Estimating Features Built for Electricians
Professional Proposals
Send polished estimates with your logo, detailed line items, permit fees, and multiple pricing options to homeowners and GCs.
Tiered Pricing Templates
Present good-better-best options for panel upgrades, lighting packages, and EV charger installs. Close more jobs at higher ticket values.
Built-In Markup Calculator
Set material markups and labor rates once. Every estimate automatically calculates your target margins on wire, breakers, and fixtures.
One-Click Invoice Conversion
Convert approved estimates to invoices instantly. No re-entering line items, labor hours, or customer details.
Photo Documentation
Attach photos of existing panels, wiring conditions, or code violations to support your pricing and build customer trust.
Mobile Estimates
Build, send, and track estimates from the job site. Quote the work and get approval before you leave the customer's property.
Common Electrical Estimates You Can Template
Save your most frequent job types as templates. Pull them up in seconds at the job site.
| Job Type | What to Include | Tier-Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Panel Upgrade (100A to 200A) | New panel, breakers, wire, permit, inspection | |
| EV Charger Installation | Charger supply options, circuit run, permit, load calc | |
| Whole-Home Rewire | Wire by footage, boxes, devices, panel, drywall patching | |
| Outlet/Switch Addition | Wire run, box, device, cover plate, patching | — |
| Ceiling Fan Install | Fan supply option, brace box, wiring, switch | |
| Recessed Lighting Package | Number of cans, dimmer, wire, switch, cutting | |
| Generator Installation | Generator options, transfer switch, fuel line, permit | |
| Smoke/CO Detector Upgrade | Hardwired detectors, wire, interconnect, battery backup | — |
How Electricians Estimate in Real Life
From phone call to scheduled job in five steps.
Customer calls about a panel upgrade
You schedule a site visit to assess the existing panel, service entrance, and load requirements.
Visit the site, open Pocket Boss
Pull up your panel upgrade template, adjust for this specific job — breaker count, wire gauge, permit fees for this jurisdiction.
Build a tiered estimate
Good (basic panel swap), Better (panel + whole-home surge protection), Best (full electrical system modernization with smart panel).
Send before you leave the driveway
Customer gets a professional proposal on their phone with line items, pricing tiers, and an approval button.
Customer approves, you schedule the job
One click converts the approved estimate to a scheduled appointment. Deposit collected, materials ordered, crew assigned.
Purpose-Built Estimating vs. Generic Tools
Spreadsheets and accounting software weren't built for job-site estimates.
| Feature | Pocket Boss | Spreadsheets / QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $19.99 | $0-75+ |
| Tiered Good-Better-Best | Built in | Manual workaround |
| Mobile Estimate Creation | Full support | Limited |
| Photo Attachments | Included | Not supported |
| One-Click to Invoice | Included | Re-enter manually |
| Customer Portal | Included | Not available |
| Permit Fee Tracking | Line items | Manual notes |
| Scheduling + CRM | Included | Separate tools |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is electrical estimating software?
Electrical estimating software helps you build accurate job estimates for wiring, panel upgrades, installations, and service work. It lets you create professional proposals with labor rates, material costs, permit fees, and multiple pricing tiers — then send them to customers or general contractors instantly.
Can I create tiered estimates for electrical jobs?
Yes. Pocket Boss supports good-better-best estimate templates. For example, offer a basic panel upgrade vs. a panel upgrade with whole-home surge protection vs. a full electrical system modernization. Tiered pricing helps you close more jobs at higher ticket values.
Does it include templates for common electrical work?
You can build reusable templates for panel upgrades, outlet additions, ceiling fan installs, EV charger installations, lighting retrofits, and any other recurring job type. Save your labor rates and material markups so every estimate is consistent.
Can I convert an estimate to an invoice?
Yes — one click converts an approved estimate into an invoice. All line items, pricing, permit fees, and customer details carry over automatically.
How much does electrical estimating software cost?
Pocket Boss is $19.99/month with no per-user fees. Estimating, invoicing, scheduling, CRM, and inventory are all included. Compare that to $65-500+/month for competitors that charge per user.
Can I include permit fees and inspection costs in estimates?
Yes. Add permit fees, inspection costs, and any other line items to your estimates. You can mark items as pass-through costs or add your handling markup.
Can electricians create estimates on-site?
Yes. Build and send estimates from your phone or tablet at the job site. Pull up a saved template, adjust quantities and materials for the specific job, and email the estimate before you leave.
Does it handle material takeoffs?
You can build detailed line items with wire footage, boxes, breakers, conduit runs, and any material needed. Save common material packages as templates for faster estimating on repeat job types.
Can general contractors view and approve estimates?
Yes. Send estimates via email with a link to your customer portal. GCs and homeowners can view, approve, and pay deposits online — no printing or scanning needed.
How does this compare to electrical takeoff software like ConEst?
Dedicated takeoff tools like ConEst are built for large commercial electrical contractors doing complex bid work. Pocket Boss is built for residential and small commercial electricians who need fast, professional estimates plus scheduling, invoicing, and CRM — all in one tool at $19.99/month.
Know Your Margins Before You Bid
Accurate estimates start with knowing your numbers. Use our free calculators to set labor rates and material markups that protect your profit on every electrical job.
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Get paid from the job site
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Stop Losing Jobs to Slow Estimates
Build professional electrical estimates in minutes, win more bids, and convert to invoices with one click.
$19.99/month • No per-user fees • No contracts • Cancel anytime