The Trusso blog
Practical, no-fluff advice on estimating, getting paid, and running a leaner, more profitable trades business.
What Information Should an AI Receptionist Collect From a Contractor's Caller?
A good AI receptionist asks eight specific questions, not a generic greeting. Here's exactly what to collect, why each answer changes what happens next, and what should never be asked over the phone.
How to Price a Painting Job: A Step-by-Step Example
Stop eyeballing square footage and guessing at a day rate. Here's the exact math — measurements, coats, labor hours, materials, overhead, and margin — for pricing a real interior painting job.
How Do You Estimate a Job You've Never Done Before?
A customer wants a quote for work outside your usual lane. Here's how to break it into pieces you already know, price the unknowns honestly, and protect yourself with the paperwork instead of one scary guess.
7 Best Estimating Apps for HVAC Contractors
HVAC quotes mix equipment, labor, and tiered system options in a way most generic estimating apps weren't built for. Here are the 7 tools that handle it well — and what each one is actually good at.
What Should a Contractor Look for in an AI Answering Service?
A practical checklist for evaluating AI answering services: number ownership, AI disclosure, caller verification, real business data, hard limits, call transcripts, and flat pricing.
Contractor Site Visit Checklist: What to Capture So the Estimate Is Right the First Time
A printable-style checklist of exactly what to measure, photograph, and ask on a site visit — so your estimate doesn't come apart during the job.
Do Contractors Need a Price Book?
Once you've priced the same job twice from scratch, the answer is yes. Here's what a price book actually buys you — and why it's the thing that makes delegation possible.
7 Best Estimating Apps for Landscapers and Lawn Care Businesses
Landscaping estimates aren't one-size-fits-all — recurring mowing contracts and one-time installs need different math. Here's how the top estimating apps handle both.
How Much Does an AI Answering Service Cost for a Small Business?
A breakdown of what small businesses actually pay for call coverage in 2026 — from free voicemail to per-minute AI to flat-rate plans — plus the ROI math against one missed job.
Change Orders 101: How to Price and Document Mid-Job Scope Changes
Unbilled change orders quietly drain contractor profit more than almost anything else. Here's the simple describe-price-approve flow and language that keeps scope changes from becoming free labor.
Should a Contractor Give an Estimate Over the Phone?
The short answer: give a range with conditions, not a number you'll be held to — unless it's flat-rate service work priced straight out of your price book.
7 Best Roofing Estimating Apps for Small Roofing Companies
Roofing estimating really splits into two jobs: measuring the roof and pricing the job. Here's how 7 tools handle one, the other, or both — and which one fits a small crew.
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