How do roofers estimate by squares and include materials breakdowns in software?

Bit & Grain's Estimates feature lets you build a line-item bid with squares as the quantity driver: shingles, underlayment, ice-and-water shield, ridge cap, drip edge, and labor for tear-off and install separately. Each line item has its own quantity so the total recalculates as you add squares.

How do roofing contractors handle extra layers or bad decking discovered at tear-off?

When tear-off reveals a second layer or bad decking, you create a change order in Bit & Grain on the spot: document the additional labor, extra decking sheets, and added squares. You send it for digital approval before the crew continues. The signed change order rolls into the final invoice automatically.

What is the best way for roofing contractors to track sub crews and ensure COI compliance?

Bit & Grain's Subcontractors feature keeps a record for each tear-off crew or sheet-metal sub: contact info, license, COI expiration, and scope per job. You set a reminder when a COI is 30 days from expiring. Payment status per sub is tracked against each roof for clean closeout.

How do small roofing crews compete with larger companies that use enterprise software?

Bit & Grain gives small roofing crews the same core capabilities at $29/mo that enterprise platforms charge $100-300+/mo per user for: photo estimates, materials breakdowns, sub tracking, change orders, and Stripe invoicing. An owner-operator can set it up in an afternoon and be billing the same day.

Built for Roofing pros

Roofing software for the small-crew.

Estimates with photos, materials tracking, subs, change orders, and AI receipts. Built for roofers, not enterprise GCs.

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Roofer installing asphalt shingles on a residential home

Made for roofing workflows.

Curated features that match how a small-crew roofing business actually runs, estimates by squares, sub coordination, change orders, and supply-house tracking.

Estimates & Invoicing

Build line-item roof estimates with squares, materials, and labor breakdowns. Convert approved quotes straight into invoices with Stripe payments.

Subcontractors

Track tear-off crews, gutter subs, sheet-metal subs, license + insurance docs, scope per job, and payment status across every roof.

Service Log & Change Orders

Document every scope change, extra layers found at tear-off, decking replacement, ventilation upgrades, with signed change orders that flow to the final invoice.

Suppliers

Track shingle distributors, underlayment vendors, and metal-flashing suppliers, reorder catalogs, lead-time notes, and account terms per supply house.

Equipment Tracking

Track ladders, harnesses, nailers, compressors, and tear-off shovels across crews and trucks. Maintenance schedules and depreciation in one place.

Why roofers choose Bit & Grain.

Built for the small-crew, not enterprise GCs

Enterprise roofing software (AccuLynx, JobNimbus Premium) costs $100-300+/mo per user and bakes in workflows for branch-level operations you don't run. Bit & Grain ships estimates, materials, subs, and change orders at $29/mo, built for owner-operators and small roofing crews running 1 to 5 person businesses.

Every roofing workflow in one tool

Quote work by squares, schedule subs, track materials at the supply house, log every change order, AND keep the homeowner in the loop, without bouncing between Jobber, QuickBooks, a Notes app, and a paper change-order pad.

AI handles the receipt and materials grind

Snap a photo of any roofing-supply receipt and Grain AI logs vendor, amount, items, and maps each line to the right roof. Less paperwork off the truck, more billable hours.

How a roofing contractor uses Bit & Grain from storm-damage estimate to final invoice.

Kevin runs a 4-person roofing crew in the Kansas City area. Here is how a storm-damage insurance replacement with a scope discovery at tear-off moves through Bit & Grain.

1
Storm inspection and insurance estimate
Kevin inspects a hail-damaged roof and photographs the damage from every angle. He builds the estimate in Bit & Grain: 24 squares of 30-year architectural shingles, synthetic felt underlayment, ice-and-water shield at eaves and valleys, ridge cap, drip edge, and labor for tear-off and install. The homeowner sends the estimate to their adjuster, who approves the claim. The homeowner approves Kevin's quote and pays a 10% mobilization deposit via Stripe.
2
Materials order and supply house receipt
Kevin places the shingle order at the distributor and confirms the delivery date. When the delivery receipt arrives, he snaps it in Grain AI chat: 24 squares of shingles, felt, ice shield, ridge cap, and drip edge. Every line item is on the job before the crew arrives on install day.
3
Decking discovery at tear-off and change order
At tear-off, the crew finds 8 sheets of 4x8 OSB decking that are delaminated and need replacement. Kevin creates a change order in Bit & Grain: 8 sheets of OSB, 2 additional labor hours. He photographs the damaged decking and attaches the photos to the change order, then sends it to the homeowner. The homeowner approves it digitally in under 10 minutes. The crew replaces the decking and continues the install.
4
Final inspection and invoice
Kevin photographs the completed roof from multiple angles and marks the job complete in Bit & Grain. He sends the final invoice: original estimate plus the decking change order. The homeowner pays the balance through Stripe. The job photos, the signed change order, and the complete billing record are all in one place if the homeowner needs them for a warranty or insurance claim later.

Roofing business software questions.

Roofing software questions

What does it really cost to run a roofing business?

Materials, sub labor, equipment, insurance: plug in your numbers and see your true overhead per square and actual job margin.

Real Cost of Running a Trade Business

See your true overhead per job and actual margin.

Monthly jobs

How many jobs you complete per month on average

Average job size ($)

Average revenue per job billed to the client

Monthly fuel costs ($)

Monthly tool replacement ($)

Monthly insurance ($)

Overhead per job$106

Margin per job$1,394

Margin percentage92.9%

Break-even jobs per month1jobs

Monthly net revenue$11,150

Overhead includes fuel, tool replacement, and insurance only. Labor costs, materials, and other expenses vary per job and are not included here.

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