Contractor Bid Comparison Worksheet

How this worksheet works

Enter the line items from each proposal you have received, grouped by category. Mark allowances and exclusions exactly as they appear in each document. The worksheet then surfaces where scopes do not line up — the gaps that make two totals impossible to compare directly. It never ranks bids, never declares a winner, and nothing you type leaves your browser unless you export a file yourself.

No lines yet. Add one per scope item from your proposals — for example "foundation and footings", "kitchen cabinetry", or "electrical panel upgrade". Blank amounts are meaningful: they mark scope a proposal did not price.

Reconciliation findings

No comparability issues detected yet. As you enter lines, this panel flags scope gaps, exclusion mismatches, allowance-versus-firm mixes and implausible zero amounts.

Questions to ask every bidder

• Which scope items in your proposal are allowances, and what happens to the contract price if my selections cost more or less?
• What is explicitly excluded from this proposal that you would expect another trade or the owner to handle?
• How are change orders priced and approved, and what documentation accompanies each one?
• What is the payment schedule, and how does each milestone relate to completed, inspectable work?
• Which permits does your price assume, and who is responsible for pulling them in my jurisdiction?
• Can you provide your CSLB license number and proof of insurance, and may I verify them?

Decision checkpoints before signing

• Every proposal covers the same written scope — gaps reconciled before comparing totals
• Allowances identified and compared separately from firm figures
• Exclusions listed side by side — the cheapest bid is often the one that excluded the most
• License and insurance verified through official state resources, not documents the contractor supplied
• Contract terms reviewed by a qualified attorney before signing — this worksheet is not legal review

When to involve professionals

• Architect or designer of record. To confirm each proposal actually prices the same documented scope — the single most common source of bid divergence.
• Construction attorney. Before signing any contract. This worksheet organizes numbers; it does not review legal terms, and no checklist substitutes for counsel.
• Owner's representative or independent estimator. On large estates, to normalize proposals line by line when scopes are genuinely complex.

What this tool deliberately does not do

• This worksheet never ranks bids or declares a winner — the lowest total is frequently the proposal with the most exclusions.
• No legal or contract review: payment terms, warranties, dispute clauses and lien protections require a qualified attorney.
• No verification of contractor claims: license and insurance status must be checked against official state records.
• No price guidance: this tool compares the numbers you enter; it does not judge whether any figure is fair market value.
• Nothing you enter leaves your browser unless you explicitly export a file.

Official verification resources

• Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — consumer resources — Official California guidance on hiring contractors, contracts, payment schedules and dispute rights.
• CSLB license check — Verify any contractor's license status, bond and workers' compensation directly with the state.
• California Department of Consumer Affairs — license verification — Verify architects, engineers and other licensed professionals involved in your project.

Links verified October 2026. Official state resources — not a substitute for attorney review of your actual contract.