General Contractor Proposal Template
The short answer
A remodel proposal that gets signed reads like the job schedule. Group the lines by phase so the customer can follow the work: demolition, framing, the rough-ins your licensed subs handle, inspections, drywall, finishes. Put each allowance on its own line with a dollar figure, and say that picks over it are billed at cost plus markup while picks under it come back as a credit. Upgrades the customer has not settled on, like heated floors or a better shower door, go in as optional lines they can tick when they accept. State the draw schedule tied to milestones, not dates, and check your state's cap on home improvement deposits. Write down how hidden conditions found after demolition are handled, that every scope change is signed before it is built, the start date, the expected duration, and what the price leaves out.
A general contractor proposal is a priced scope of work with a signature line. Start from this template, or let the AI draft one from a plain-English description of the job, mark the add-ons optional, and send a link the customer accepts on their phone. The invoice, and the deposit invoice if you set one, are created the moment they accept.
What belongs in a general contractor proposal
A construction proposal from a general contractor is the contract the whole job runs on. Break the work into phases the customer can follow (demolition, framing, rough-ins by your licensed subs, drywall, finishes), name every allowance with its dollar amount, and list the upgrades the customer is still deciding on as optional lines. Spell out the draw schedule, what happens when you open a wall and find rot, and how changes get priced and signed, because a remodel always changes once it starts.
What a general contractor proposal should spell out
Most disputes on general contractor jobs trace back to something the proposal left vague. Write each of these down before the customer signs.
| Part of the proposal | What to spell out |
|---|---|
| Scope by phase | Demolition, framing, each rough-in, drywall and finishes as separate sections, with the rooms and square footage each one covers. |
| Subcontracted trades | Which work goes to licensed plumbing, electrical and HVAC subs, and that their permits and inspections are part of the price. |
| Allowances | Each allowance as its own line with a dollar amount (tile, fixtures, cabinets, lighting) and how overages and credits are billed. |
| Exclusions | What is not included: painting, appliances, furniture moving, asbestos or lead abatement, and work in rooms not named. |
| Hidden conditions | That rot, mold, termite damage or code violations found after demolition are priced as a written change order before work continues. |
| Permits and inspections | Who pulls the permit, the permit fee at cost, and that drawings or engineering are billed separately when the building department asks. |
| Draw schedule | The deposit on signing and each draw tied to a milestone such as rough-in inspection passed, drywall hung, and final walkthrough. |
| Schedule and changes | The target start date, expected duration, what can delay it, and that every scope change is signed before it is built. |
Sample line items
Realistic 2026 US pricing for a typical job. Every number is editable; optional items are the ones the customer decides on.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition: gut hall bathroom to studs, haul debris | 1 | $1,200.00 | $1,200.00 |
| Framing and carpentry labor, 2 carpenters x 16 hrs | 32 | $75.00 | $2,400.00 |
| Plumbing rough-in and fixture set, licensed plumbing sub | 1 | $3,400.00 | $3,400.00 |
| Building permit and inspections, at cost | 1 | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Electric heated floor mat with programmable thermostat optional | 1 | $950.00 | $950.00 |
| Upgrade to frameless glass shower door optional | 1 | $1,400.00 | $1,400.00 |
Required items: $7,450.00. Optional items if all are chosen: $2,350.00. Rate ranges vary by region; price from your own costs and margin.
Terms that belong in a general contractor proposal
Promise extended coverage on the bid: a longer warranty on labor is often what wins general contractor work against a cheaper number, and it costs nothing on the day you offer it. Set the terms on the proposal and they print with the scope the customer accepts, carry through to the invoice, and start counting down when that invoice is paid. From there warranty tracking keeps the coverage dates, an estimate of the labor and parts you could still owe, and any callback filed against the job.
Need something lighter? Use the general contractor estimate template for a quick number, or the general contractor invoice template when the work is done.
Jobs change once the work starts. When general contractor work grows or shrinks after the customer has signed, send a change order: they approve the added or credited work and the new total on their phone, and the unpaid balance invoice updates itself.
How the proposal gets accepted
Send the link. The customer sees the scope, ticks the optional items they want and watches the total update, types their name, agrees to the terms, and accepts. The acceptance is recorded with the timestamp, IP address, browser, and a hash of the content. The invoice is generated from exactly what they selected, with the deposit invoiced first when you set one.
Frequently asked questions
What goes in a general contractor proposal?
The scope broken into phases, a price for each phase or trade, allowances with dollar amounts, exclusions, the permit line, the draw schedule, the start date and duration, and how changes and hidden conditions are handled. A customer who can see each phase can agree to the whole job.
Should allowances be listed on a construction proposal?
Yes, on their own lines with the dollar figure, such as a $2,800 tile allowance. Say in the terms that selections over the allowance are billed at cost plus your markup and selections under it are credited. Vague allowances are the most common source of end-of-job arguments.
How much deposit can a general contractor take?
It depends on the state. California caps home improvement deposits at 10% of the price or $1,000, whichever is less, and several other states set their own limits. Where there is no cap, 10–30% is common, sized to cover early materials. Tie the remaining draws to milestones the customer can see.
How should a contractor proposal handle change orders?
Say in the terms that no change is built until it is priced and signed. Each change order gets a number, a description, the added or credited amount, and the new contract total. Sending it as a signed online change order keeps the record clean and updates the unpaid balance invoice.
What should a remodel proposal say about hidden damage?
That the price covers the conditions visible at the walkthrough, and anything found behind walls or under floors, such as rot, mold, old wiring or termite damage, is documented with photos and priced as a written change order before work goes on in that area.
Can customers accept this proposal online?
Yes. Send the link, and the customer ticks the optional items they want, types their name, and accepts on any device. The acceptance is recorded with the time, IP address, and a hash of the content, and a signed PDF is produced. See how e-signature works on Numulo.
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