Bid Template

Bidding for a job is a process often employed by independent contractors to find work. Bids can be a part of finding work in any number of fields when the bidder, or job applicant, is not seeking standard, long-term employment, but rather bidding to do a job or a project. Other titles for independent contractors who may bid for jobs include consultant or freelancer – the designations differ depending on the field, but the result is similar: a written contract with a person or company to perform a job or a service. Industries that often use the bid process range from construction to publishing, with positions from general contractor to freelance writer undergoing the bid process.

Why would the hirer or the applicant want to go through a bid process versus a traditional employer/employee arrangement? For the company, it may be a matter of short-term need – a nonprofit organization may need a grant writer for one project, for example, or the nature of different construction jobs requires different specialties for each project. Independent contractors often like the flexibility, working on a number of simultaneous projects, or having the ability to switch employers and locations.

The bid process itself involves the hiring company putting forth a set of specifications. Applicants will review these and then offer their price, estimated time for completion, and any other information needed to complete the scope of work. Although price is an important factor, it’s not the only factor – time, quality, and confidentiality are other factors that may come into play. Learning to bid is essential for independent contractors; it’s important to learn the balance between overbidding and losing a contract and underbidding and finding you’re losing money on the job. To help make sure you get it right, look for resources, like a bid comparison template or a bid form download. A bid form template or a bid plan template will give you an outline of everything you need to take into consideration before submitting a real construction bid proposal PDF, for example, so you can do the estimates in advance. A project estimate template allows you to keep track of everything you need for the project. Look for templates specific to your industry; free printable contractor bid forms, for example, or a subcontractor bid proposal template, or a Google Docs grant proposal template.

Painting is another job type that is often up for bid. Both homeowners and commercial project managers may need to get multiple bids on painting projects. Painting rates take a number of factors into consideration: not just the cost of the paint, but of all the materials used for painting, as well as labor costs and time. Different types of paint and finishes can also change the overall cost significantly, so it’s a good idea to find an Excel estimate for painting or a job bid sheet template to ensure you factor in all the items needed. A simple invitation to bid template will help make sure you get everything in writing, so you’re covered, and check the job bid template to make sure there is language about the job being binding.

Many painting companies are required to provide bids or estimates by the government or other large organizations, which usually have a minimum requirement for the number of bids they must get for each job. If you’re wondering how to find painting jobs to bid on or if you’re looking for more specific job types, like how to bid on apartment painting contracts, that minimum requirement makes them a good place to start, as they will be looking for several options. Don’t worry too much about how to write a painting estimate – just visit Proposable and check out our free Painting Proposal Template.  Whether you need a basic painting bid template or something more complex, this is a great starting point.