Getting Started with ScopeTakeoff | Support
Getting started

Up and running in under 10 minutes

Watch the walkthrough, follow the steps, build your first estimate.

Start here

Full walkthrough — watch first

This video covers everything from logging in to exporting your first SOV. Watch it once, then use the step-by-step guide below as a reference when you’re building your first real estimate.

Chapters — click to jump
Step by step

Build your first estimate — start to finish

Follow these steps in order. By the end you’ll have a complete estimate with a proposal or SOV ready to send.

1

Create a new project

From the dashboard click New Project in the top right. Enter the project name, GC, bid due date, and select your trade. The trade you select determines which assembly library loads — pick your primary trade here.

If the job crosses multiple trades — concrete and masonry for example — start with your primary trade and add additional assemblies inside the estimate after it’s created.

💡 Tip: Use the GC’s project number in the name — “Walmart #4821” instead of just “Walmart job.” When you have 20 bids going you’ll thank yourself.
2

Select assemblies and enter quantities

Inside the estimate you’ll see the assembly library on the left. Browse by category or search for the assembly you need. Click an assembly to add it to your estimate.

Enter your quantity — SF for flatwork, LF for linear items, EA for each — and ScopeTakeoff calculates everything else automatically. CY from SF and depth for concrete. Board count from SF for drywall. Tonnage from SF and depth for asphalt. Every trade has its own automatic calculations.

💡 Tip: Build your first estimate with the default unit costs before customizing. Get the quantities right first, then adjust pricing to match your market.
3

Take off quantities from PDF plans

If you have plan sheets, upload them directly into the estimate. Click Plan Takeoff, upload your PDF, and measure areas and lengths directly on the drawing. Quantities push straight into your estimate — no retyping.

Scale the drawing first using a known dimension — a door width or column spacing works. Once scaled, every measurement is accurate to the drawing.

💡 Tip: If you don’t have plans yet, enter quantities manually from your site measurements. You can add the plan takeoff later and the quantities will update.
4

Adjust costs and set your markup

Unit costs in the assembly library are pulled from the ScopeTakeoff cost database with regional pricing applied. Override any unit cost to match your supplier pricing or crew rates — click the cost field and type your number.

Set your markup percentage in the estimate header. The bid total and per-unit margin update across every line item automatically.

💡 Tip: Save your adjusted costs back to your assembly library so they pre-populate on every future estimate. You only have to set your pricing once.
5

Export your proposal or SOV

When the estimate is complete click Export in the top right. Choose Proposal for a professional client-facing document with your company branding, or SOV for a GC-formatted Schedule of Values ready to submit.

Both outputs generate from the same estimate in one click. No reformatting, no copying numbers into Word, no separate spreadsheet for the GC.

💡 Before your first export: Make sure your company profile is set up — Settings → Company Profile. Your name, logo, and license number populate on every proposal automatically.
FAQ

Common questions

How do I add my own unit costs to the assembly library?+
Inside any estimate, click the unit cost field on any line item and type your number. To save that cost back to your library permanently, click the save icon next to the line item — it will pre-populate on every future estimate for that assembly. You can also edit assemblies directly from the Assemblies tab in the left navigation.
Can I estimate jobs across multiple trades in one estimate?+
Yes. When you create a project you select your primary trade, but inside the estimate you can add assemblies from any trade in the library. If you’re doing a remodeling job that includes drywall, painting, and flooring — all three assembly libraries are accessible from the same estimate.
How do I set up multiple company profiles?+
Go to Settings → Company Profiles. Add a profile for each licensed entity — each one has its own name, logo, license number, address, and signatory. When you create a new estimate you select which company profile to use and that entity’s information populates on every proposal and SOV automatically.
Can I add additional estimators to my account?+
Yes. Go to Settings → Team and invite additional estimators by email. Each estimator gets their own login at $100/person/month. Estimators can be assigned to specific projects and you can review bids before they go out from the dashboard.
What file types can I upload for plan takeoff?+
ScopeTakeoff supports PDF plan sheets. Upload single-page or multi-page PDFs directly into the plan takeoff tool. If your plans are in a different format — DWG, DXF, or image files — convert them to PDF first using a free tool like Adobe Acrobat or Smallpdf before uploading.
How do I change the status of a bid from Estimating to Submitted?+
Inside the estimate click the status badge at the top — it shows Estimating by default. Click it to open the status dropdown and select Submitted, Awarded, or Lost. The dashboard updates immediately and the project moves to the correct filter column.
Can I duplicate an estimate to use as a template?+
Yes. Open any estimate and click the three-dot menu in the top right — you’ll see a Duplicate option. The duplicate creates a copy of the entire estimate including all assemblies, quantities, and costs. Rename it and adjust quantities for the new job. This is the fastest way to estimate similar jobs — build one well and duplicate it.
What’s included in the 14-day free trial?+
Everything. All 10+ trade assembly libraries, PDF plan takeoff, unlimited projects and estimates, SOV export, proposal export, team estimating, and multi-entity company profiles. There are no feature restrictions during the trial — you get the full product from day one.

Still have questions?

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