subcontractor
Create Detailed Bids & Win More Jobs
Create more detailed, organized, and competitive construction bids you’re confident in using our Bid Builder tool and submit them directly to general contractors, all in one platform. Save time while increasing both bid volume and quality to make strong first impressions and start winning more work.
Go beyond PDFs and Excel documents with easy-to-review bids created directly on PlanHub, easily formatted for your specific purpose. Our tool automates total cost calculations and formatting once you enter unit costs and quantities. Our cloud-based platform lets you collaborate with your team and submit bids directly to general contractors
Trusted by Thousands of Construction Professionals Nationwide
Effortlessly Create Professional Bids
Set yourself apart from your competition while more easily submitting bids with PlanHub’s Bid Builder, allowing you to move faster and increase win rates compared to manually building your bids using general purpose office software.
How It Works
The Bid Builder works by providing subcontractors with a suite of tools to create more detailed, organized, and consistent bids. Once you find a project you are interested in bidding on,
Select the project and click Submit Bid to access our Bid Builder tool
Create a bid template or use an existing one
Select and add your trade using the dropdown
Plug in the necessary proposal information
Add cost line items
Send your complete bid directly to general contractors in a format that is easy for them to review.
The Bid Builder is just one component of our subcontractor bid management software to optimize your bidding process from start to finish.
Key Features
Our Bid Builder tool allows subcontractors to optimize their bid creation process so they can get work faster and in fewer steps. Save time on repetitive bid creation tasks and develop a repeatable format for future wins by relying on our tool to help you create quicker bids with all the required information.
Create Professional, Easy-to-Read Bids
Build strong bids that you can send directly to general contractors without leaving the platform.
Quickly Compile Professional Bids: Create comprehensive, lump-sum or itemized bids that stand out to prospective clients in less time
Allow Simple Review: Create more competitive bids organized line by line for easy readability and quick review by general contractors
Optimize Tedious Processes: Streamline your bidding process with a repeatable template that lets you submit more bids with less effort
Powerful Keyword Search With One Click
Find opportunities worth bidding on by searching for keywords across project documents, so you can focus solely on creating strong bids.
Find Relevant Projects: Search keywords through active bidding opportunities to find the most relevant projects for your business specialty and trade
Increase Win Rates: Easily choose the projects that are the best fit for you so you only pursue those you already have a chance of winning
Search Faster: Let our tool scan through project files in just a matter of moments and highlight your keywords, so you can easily find your scope
Quickly Integrate Supplier Information
Integrate supplier information into your bids for a comprehensive, cohesive bidding experience
Reinforce Your Estimates: Conveniently plug in cost items from supplier quotes for accurate estimates to bolster your bids with all the necessary information
Request Estimates Directly: Request material estimates from suppliers and receive estimates back on the platform for a one-stop-shop bidding experience
Receive Proactive Estimates: Easily supplement your bids with estimates suppliers proactively send to subcontractors displaying intent to bid
Professional Proposal Templates
Our easy-to-use platform allows you to create multiple itemized bid templates for every scenario that you can quickly customize for each unique bid opportunity and prospective client. Using our foundational template builder, you can add in necessary items for your trades as well as your own custom messaging to stand out to general contractors.
Mention inclusions, exclusions, and qualifications to make bid evaluation easier for general contractors and meet the specific criteria for each project. Add information like terms and conditions or warranty language in the text box provided while also being able to add attachments like marked-up drawings, estimate sheets, and supporting documents to clarify and protect your scope.
Clear Cost Estimation
Plug in material or labor items, specify types & descriptions, indicate taxability, enter quantities, unit prices and units of measure,, and Bid Builder calculates the total amount for each line item automatically. Or use PlanHub’s Estimation tools to get access to a cost item library to ensurethat you have reference values to work with, while you account for markup, margin, and profit controls.
Takeoff & Estimation tools integrated directly into the platform allow you to more easily take off quantities from plans, spend less time building complete estimates & bids, and win more work. Then carry over your estimates to our suggested proposal template to create a winning proposal that you can upload in Bid Builder along with your bid pricing.
Seamless Collaboration Across Teams
Build bids with your team directly on PlanHub with easy-to-use collaboration tools. Streamline communication and keep everyone on the same page without disconnected systems or documents fragmented in various locations. Our cloud-based platform makes creating winning bids fast and convenient.
Submit Bids, In Any Format Required
Adapt your bid for the specific client and the format they prefer. Whether the client requires a Word document, PDF, or Excel sheet, our plug-and-play system allows you to enter the necessary information for the bid and upload supporting materials in any format.
Comprehensive Bid Creation to Match Your Needs
The Bid Builder allows you to create bids that address your specific needs and the project you are bidding on, whether it’s for lump sum type projects or for time and materials. Upload supporting documents directly to your bid in our platform, including credentials, proposals, and estimates.
Altogether, our Bid Builder does more than just help you get started; it allows you to build and complete the full bid all in one place. Save time and energy on the bid-building process so you can send more bids and win more work in less time with a greater ROI.
Send and Review Bids in One Place
Send finished bids directly to one, or all general contractors listed on any project with just one click, and receive online acceptance without having to print or switch between platforms or tools. Subcontractors enjoy faster acknowledgments for their bids in fewer steps and a more streamlined and professional experience.
A clear online acknowledgment of the bid creates a record of what was submitted to maintain accountability on both sides and reduce scope disputes down the line.
Track Your Bids and Follow Up with Confidence
After building and submitting your bids, you can see the status of every bid at a glance, knowing when a general contractor has opened or viewed your submission. Convenient view tracking and ability to send reminders help subcontractors follow up on submitted bids at the right times, both improving your win rates while saving you time for other tasks.
Your bids and their status live alongside your projects in the Bid Board so nothing slips through the cracks and you can stay on top of workflows without a second thought.
Build Bids in Minutes by Reusing Your Past Work
Build and submit bids faster with reusable templates and saved line items. Store templates you have used before to keep important information like pricing and scope consistent across each one, setting you up for a smooth transition into future bids.
By reusing your past work, you can build bids in a matter of minutes, instead of hours, allowing you to increase the rate at which you submit bids as well as improving the ROI on those you do win.
Part of Your Complete Bidding Workflow
PlanHub supports your entire workflow, refining your entire process from start to finish, with the Bid Builder being just one piece of it. Prior to building your bid, PlanHub helps you find projects to bid on, matches you with projects that best fit your business, and provides market intelligence to guide your bidding strategy.
Meanwhile, our Takeoff & Estimation tools help reinforce your bid accuracy while collaborative tools and integrated task management allow you to work together on bids with your team and carry your efforts over into the project management phase. Our complete toolkit supports all your bidding efforts and empowers you to move seamlessly between the most important steps of the bidding process.
PlanHub Relationship Management Software vs Competitors
PlanHub creates a streamlined workflow, allowing you to find actively bidding and early-stage opportunities and break through the noise to find those that are the most relevant to you. PlanHub provides you with all of the following features:
- One of the largest construction networks in the industry, with 500,000+ construction professionals
- Automatic matching with relevant projects
- The ability to submit bids to multiple general contractors with a single click
- One platform for downloading plans, finding projects, creating accurate takeoffs, and submitting bids
- Available takeoff and estimation tools
While many competitors may offer a few of each of these features, PlanHub is everything all in one. Our platform supports you throughout the entire pipeline of the process, from searching for relevant bids in our active marketplace to submitting a professional, complete bid with accurate estimates.
Subcontractors on PlanHub win their money back with as few as one project won, with some even seeing as much as a 62% increase in revenue and return on their investment in the platform.
Testimonials
PlanHub users appreciate the convenience of being able to create and submit bids all in one place with our Bid Builder and the related tools to support it.
“We have been very pleased with the addition of PlanHub to our project bidding process. It has increased our bidding footprint and has led to some new relationships with contractors we had no experience with. We appreciate the communication piece and the ease of use for the website. It saves us time and helps keep things organized in our day-to-day process”
- Kurt W. Capterra; May 21, 2026 |
“We plan to continue using PlanHub because of the time savings with finding projects in our area and the ease of presenting bids to contractors. PlanHub gives you access to projects and contractors that you might not be aware of in your area. You can quickly review each project and decide if you want to bid on it..”
- Kerry L Capterra; May 21, 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the PlanHub Bid Builder do?
The PlanHub Bid Builder empowers subcontractors to build strong, comprehensive, and professional bids and submit them directly to general contractors, all in one place. The Bid Builder helps you:
- Build professional line-by-line cost items with accurate totals
- Save previous bids as templates for quick revisions to adapt to future opportunities
- Collaborate across your team to create a comprehensive bid
- Add supporting documents
- Send your complete bid directly to general contractors
Who is the PlanHub Bid Builder for?
The PlanHub Bid Builder is for subcontractors interested in submitting a higher volume of bids in their area of expertise while optimizing their bidding workflows. The Bid Builder is perfect for growing subcontractors looking to increase their bid volume, improve bid consistency, and scale their business without having to drastically drain time and resources to do so. The Bid Builder allows these subcontractors to stay agile and submit bids for projects shortly after they are added.
Does the Bid Builder have ready-made bid templates?
No, the Bid Builder does not have ready-made bid templates, but it does allow you to create your own templates and reuse them from bid to bid so that you can save time on entering information about your business or pricing if there is little change.
Can I save and reuse my own bid templates?
Yes, you can save and reuse your own bid templates in our Bid Builder tool, allowing you to easily transfer important information like pricing or company details across each one. This feature allows you to move quicker and increase the volume of bids you submit.
Can clients review and accept or sign a bid online?
Clients can review and award a bid online through our platform, although they must sign the bid separately for final confirmation off the platform.
Can I track when a general contractor views my bid?
Yes, PlanHub allows you to track when a general contractor views your bid, providing you with information when they view it and allowing you to communicate directly with the contractor and important stakeholders through the platform.
What file formats can I send my bid in?
You can send your bid in any format you prefer, including PDF files, Word documents, Excel sheets, and more. Our platform also allows you to attach supporting documents to your bid in any format, so you can add marked-up plans, estimate sheets, and other important information.
Does the Bid Builder cost extra with the PlanHub subscription?
The Bid Builder tool does not cost extra or even require a Premier subscription; instead, it’s integrated in our Basic free plan and available in all of our plans as a standard part of the PlanHub experience. However, PlanHub’s paid plans can give you access to additional tools that support the bid-building process, such as Takeoff & Estimation tools and an increased location search radius.
Is the Bid Builder available with all PlanHub subscriptions?
The Bid Builder is already integrated into PlanHub’s most basic feature offerings, available with all subcontractor subscription levels. When you select a project you would like to bid on, you can enter the Bid Builder tool to plug in labor, materials, and business information to create a comprehensive bid directly in the platform.
How does PlanHub’s Bid Builder compare to other bid creation software?
PlanHub’s Bid Builder is completely streamlined to create an all-in-one experience to support subcontractors in every step of the bidding process. While other software may offer disjointed tools or only some of the tools, PlanHub does all of these things in one connected experience.
Surrounded by a suite of other already-included as well as optional Premier tools, PlanHub gives subcontractors access to a complete solution throughout the entire bidding process, from finding relevant opportunities to submitting bids directly to general contractors.
Send More Bids, Win More Jobs
Take weight off your team, increase your bid volume, and win more work all at the same time. With PlanHub, you can build bids, input accurate cost estimates, and share the completed bid directly with general contractors conveniently, all without overextending your resources. Sign up for PlanHub and start building more competitive bids in less time.
