Guides for solo tradespeople
Every Pencilslip guide on one page, grouped by topic. Each one is free to read, with wording you can copy. For printable forms, see all estimate templates and all invoice templates.
Estimates
- How to write a contractor estimate: What to put on an estimate, how to split line items, exclusions, valid-until dates, and change orders.
- Should you charge for estimates?: When a free estimate makes sense, when to charge for one, and how to word the fee.
- Estimate vs. quote vs. bid: What each word means, which one to send, and what to write on it.
- Estimate vs. invoice: What goes on each, when to send it, and how to turn an approved estimate into an invoice.
- Estimate follow-up texts you can copy: Texts for following up on an estimate, from the same day to a final check-in.
- Change orders: How to get extra work approved in writing mid-job and add it to the next invoice.
- Estimate template or estimate app?: When a free template is enough, when an app earns its fee, and what to check before you pay.
Getting paid
- How to write an invoice that gets paid on time: What goes on an invoice, deposits and balance due, payment terms, and making it easy to pay.
- Invoice payment terms: What to write for due on receipt, net 15, net 30, deposit and balance, and a late fee line.
- How to ask for a deposit: When to ask, how to put it on the estimate, and how to show it on the final invoice.
- Progress invoicing: How to bill a bigger job in stages and show the balance on every invoice.
- How to follow up on an unpaid invoice: When to send a reminder, what to say in each notice, and how to offer a payment plan.
- Let your AI assistant fill in an invoice: Have a chat assistant build a link that opens a free template filled in, then check every line.
Pricing
- Material markup: Markup vs margin math and ways to show materials on an estimate or invoice.
- When a customer says your estimate is too high: What to ask first, how to explain the price, and options to offer instead of a discount.
- How to tell customers about a price increase: What the letter needs, when to send it, and wording you can copy.
Switching from Joist
- Leaving Joist: A checklist for exporting your records before you cancel, and where to cancel.
- How to export your Joist data: Where Joist's exports are and what they don't include.
- Joist alternatives for solo contractors: What Joist and some alternatives charge, from their own pricing pages.
Doing this from your phone
Pencilslip is an estimates and invoices app for solo tradespeople. The free version works today in a web browser, including at phone size (tested in Chrome at phone width; testing on a real iPhone is still to come): estimates, invoices, job photos, your own payment link, and a PDF you can send. No account needed. Free: no cap on the number of estimates or invoices on this device. It saves only in this browser on this device, so download a backup from Settings now and then.
The full app isn't out yet. Founding access is open: pre-order your first year of Pencilslip for $29, with a full refund automatically if early access isn't open by December 15, 2026 and you haven't agreed to a new date. Your year starts the day early access opens, planned for no later than December 15, 2026. See Pencilslip pricing for both options. Not ready to pre-order? Join the free waitlist below to get an email when the full app opens. You don't need it to use the free version.