9 Examples of Construction Forms for Contractors [+ Templates]

Posted on June 15, 2021March 13, 2025 by Danny Kanev

9 Examples of Construction Forms for Contractors [+ Templates]

The construction industry uses forms to collect and share information at every stage of a project. Traditionally on paper, these forms are now being converted into digital forms that enable workers to share information via mobile devices and tablets on the job. There are many benefits of moving to a digital form rather than paper:

Reduction in manual work and costs
Greater business insights
Data loss prevention
Lowered risk and liability
Better client and employee experience

Bringing construction forms online is one step in digitization for construction firms and contractors, bringing information online into a secure cloud location for real-time and accessible data to use in reporting.

What are the top forms used by construction firms and contractors?

As a leading provider of mobile forms for the construction industry, GoCanvas has seen many different types of forms created using our no-code platform to launch apps and forms in the field. All of this can be done without advanced technical knowledge and our platform is highly customizable to meet all of the construction industry’s needs for mobile forms.

This blog article compiles the 9 common types of forms that are used by contractors to streamline their workflows and create business efficiencies. Continue reading for a summary of how these forms are used and follow the links in this article to dive into our free templates and examples.

#1 Inspection Forms

Construction companies are required to perform routine inspections for many different purposes. The construction inspection form is a template with all of the fields that need to be filled out by an inspector. Common inspection forms include:

Safety inspections
Building inspections
Machinery or equipment inspections
Vehicle inspections
OSHA inspections

The common workflow for companies is to dispatch jobs to workers to perform the inspection, collect required signatures on the job, and automatically generate a report that is sent after the inspection is completed.

Find Inspection forms and templates here on the GoCanvas App Store.

#2 Construction Checklist Forms

Often included with inspection forms, construction checklists are very widely used in the construction industry. A simple construction checklist provides employees with a common template that is used to ensure the proper items are all being covered. Digital forms provide the added benefit that required fields can be used to make sure that information is completed, cutting down on the need for re-work and mistakes. The digital construction checklist can also have dynamic fields, meaning that certain form fields can be added or removed depending on the responses. This helps save time for workers by reducing the number of form fields to be only what is required for that specific job.

Find Checklist forms and templates here on the GoCanvas App Store.

#3 Work Order Forms

Work order forms are widely used in the construction industry to help automatically dispatch workers to perform a job or task. Using digital forms for work orders, contractors can streamline the process and eliminate manual work. Using work order templates and forms, contractors can complete work orders offline and have them sync back to the cloud once internet service is available. Using digital forms allows workers in the field to take advantage of automatic calculations for things like labor and material costs and it enables digital signatures and automatic reports to be generated. If change orders are required, all of this can be done from the same platform and brings greater efficiency and visibility into job operations in the field and on job sites.

Find Work Order forms and templates here on the GoCanvas App Store.

#4 Construction Timesheet Apps

Contractors are using construction project management apps to track employee hours worked. Having this information online allows for more efficient operations, with the ability to integrate with payroll and HR applications that your business already uses. Construction timesheet apps make it easy for workers to fill out their timesheets from anywhere using a mobile device to complete the form. Construction timesheet apps have other advanced features like GPS monitoring to automatically track arrival and departure times from a jobsite or to create a record that the work was performed at the correct location.

Find Construction timesheet forms and templates here on the GoCanvas App Store.

#5 Safety Forms

Safety is a top priority in the construction industry and there are many types of safety forms that are used to help track and manage these safety programs. Some common examples include:

Digital toolbox talks to ensure workers engage with safety programs and management can track compliance across job sites.
Forms to complete job safety analysis
Digital copies of safety data sheets
Incident and accident reports and other forms to ensure compliance with OSHA

Safety forms allow companies to track and report in real-time on the progress of their safety programs, giving safety managers the opportunity to understand trends and take the appropriate next steps. This helps to reduce a company’s risk and liability, leading to greater workplace safety and productivity.

Find Safety forms and templates here on the GoCanvas App Store.

#6 Construction Daily Reports

Construction daily reports are essential for capturing the progress and details of a project. Digital forms are used by construction companies to digitize their logs and give managers the ability to capture all of the required information through a mobile device for the construction daily report. Mobile logs help with project management, helping to eliminate paperwork and other manual tasks for workers. For complex projects, digital logs can help to keep projects on schedule and provide greater transparency into your operations for all stakeholders that need this information. Simply log all of the details from a job site and mobile apps help to digitize this information for reporting purposes.

Find Log forms and templates here on the GoCanvas App Store.

#7 Estimate Forms

Digital forms are useful for contractors that need to provide estimates on the job. Using a mobile phone or tablet contractors can generate estimates in the field and have the information digitized for records. Most commonly, contractors use estimate forms to help them calculate the exact pricing for materials, parts, and labor costs using data that is stored in the mobile application. All of this information is updated in real-time with the latest pricing information, helping to ensure that estimates are accurate for clients. With digital signatures, clients can sign off and reports can be generated to document the entire process for your business.

Find Estimate forms and templates here on the GoCanvas App Store.

#8 Invoice Forms

Similar to the use case for creating an estimate and work orders, digital forms can also be used when your business needs to generate an invoice for a customer. Once the work has been completed, an invoice can be generated using mobile forms and apps for contractors. This digital experience allows you to manage the entire process from a mobile device. Integrated with payment processing via services like Square or Stripe, mobile forms provide an easy way to generate invoices and collect payment from the field.

Find Log forms and templates here on the GoCanvas App Store.

#9 Contract Forms

Contracts are widely used in the construction industry as legal forms to document an agreement between the contractor and client. Instead of managing this process using paper forms that can be easily lost or damaged, companies are switching to digital forms for contracts and proposals.

Contract forms can be customized to include all of the relevant information, including client project needs, budget information, solution details, and project timeline. Make changes in real-time as the project progresses and collect signatures to track updated agreements.

Find Contract forms and templates here on the GoCanvas App Store.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers.

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

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See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…

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Free Material Schedule Template for Construction

Posted on June 13, 2021October 8, 2024 by Danny Kanev

Free Material Schedule Template for Construction

Business Operations | Forms

What is a material schedule in construction?

The material schedule in construction is a document that lists all of the building materials that are required to complete the project. Material schedules are often organized based on the category for the building, with different schedules for each component. The material schedule often will include additional information such as the quantity, description, unit price, total price, and other relevant information related to the building materials.

How to prepare a material schedule in construction

For complex construction projects, there are enterprise software solutions that allow you to create a material schedule. But if you don’t have a large IT budget for technology, there are many low-cost alternatives for preparing a material schedule in construction that can help with project management. One such option to consider is using the GoCanvas material schedule template that can be built using our no-code platform for mobile forms and apps.

Why you should avoid Excel templates for a material schedule

Excel templates are available for material schedules, but this is not always the best option for businesses today. Excel is a powerful tool for analysis, but not always the right tool for every job. Some of the pitfalls of Excel templates include:

Human error. Information can be overwritten by mistake and it becomes hard to recognize these errors when dealing with larger volumes of data.
Incorrect calculations. It can be difficult to perform calculations in Excel and a formula error can lead to incorrect pricing calculations that are hard to notice.
Lost data. If documents are stored locally on your PC, it’s always possible that the document gets inadvertently lost or destroyed before you can save it.
Data is not dynamic. Most of the time in Excel the information being input is updated at a given point in time. Should prices change, the data has to be manually updated, and this can be time-consuming to keep up with.

Your contracting business can’t afford to waste time or lose money – Excel templates can become a hidden cost and drain on your business. That’s why contractors are turning to mobile apps and forms that create business efficiencies and cost savings.

Top Reasons to use GoCanvas for Material Schedule Templates

GoCanvas templates are simple for anyone to use. Using our drag and drop editor, you can create digital documents that can be used for all types of construction forms.

Instead of using paper sheets, Google Sheets, or Excel, you can convert these documents into digital forms and apps that elevate your business operations. This can be material schedules, work orders, contracts, safety reports, and any other important documents your business uses throughout all phases of a project. Some of the top reasons to use GoCanvas templates include:

Secure, cloud-based data. Ensure best practices are met for data collection, using secure mobile forms and apps that digitize key business information. Ensure material schedules are accessible by anyone that needs them in real-time.
Integrations with other apps. Once your information is digitized, you can enrich this information with data from any other cloud-based apps your business already uses. Dynamically populate pricing information in real-time to ensure the material schedule created always has the current numbers.
Automatic report generation and sharing. Generate reports, gather signatures, and share documents automatically via PDF templates for material schedules.

Customizable form fields. Customize the form fields based on your unique business needs and do it all without any coding required. Create separate material schedules for different projects or customize the type of information that is included.
Embracing mobile technology. With mobile apps and forms, you can keep track of material design and parts shipments no matter where you are. Work offline from any remote location and have any information sync back to the cloud once you are able to access the internet again.

Going digital with GoCanvas can save your construction business time and money, increase productivity, and create a competitive advantage.

Download the free material schedule template

When it comes to construction management and placing purchase orders, it can be difficult for builders to stay on top of everything that a construction project and building contract require. Use this template provided by GoCanvas to help with scheduling construction projects and tracking building materials. GoCanvas customers have found that by going digital they can save time and lower costs with apps designed for the construction industry. Management can use this app to ensure the appropriate material resources are tracked and available. The app is designed to be a planning tool to ensure the complete delivery of your construction project to your client on time through proper site preparation.

Get started with this template or simply request a demo to see how it can work for your business.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Connect with an Expert Today.

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The Ultimate Guide to Construction Contracts [Examples + Templates]

Posted on June 10, 2021March 13, 2025 by Danny Kanev

The Ultimate Guide to Construction Contracts [Examples + Templates]

Business Operations | Forms | Project Management

No contractor and no client should begin a substantial construction project without a contract. What does “substantial” mean, here? First, that the complexity and duration of the project leave room for disagreements about the scope of the work. Second, that the amount of money involved for both the contractor and the client warrant legal protection.

The essence of a construction contract is often described as the contractor and client “being on the same page” about the project. That means the scope of work, timetable, payment, payment schedule, quality of work, penalties for late completion or late payment, and emergency situations.

Creating a contract with a client, and getting approval, take time. But it is safe to say no time is ever better spent on a construction project. What follows is a description of what a construction contract should include, why different types of contracts fit different projects, and some required details for any contract.

What is a construction contract?

A construction contract, of course, is a legal document. It can be enforced in a court. It outlines the scope of a project, the agreed-upon payment, and how to handle unexpected developments. Because the contract states objectively what both parties agree on, it represents a layer of protection as important to the contractor as to the client. Every contractor has run into a demand for work, without additional payment, that was not included in the original plan and run into arguments about the schedule of payments.

A contract has two great virtues:

It enables the work to begin with the client and contractor “on the same page” about what has been agreed.
It defines the legal recourse of each party if during the project they are not on the same page.

Types of construction contracts

There is no single type of contract for all construction projects. For example, a contract for a residential client will look different from a contract for a commercial client. But for any client, there are contracts with different structures that largely depend upon now payment is calculated. Here are the four most common:

Lump sum/fixed price: The client asks “How much will it cost?” and wants a single figure or lump sum for the entire project. This provides the client with an assured expenditure they are ready to accept; it provides the contractor with an incentive to get the project done fast, done right. But contracts allow for contingencies. What if the contractor finishes before or after the completion date? Is there an incentive for the former and a penalty for the latter? The contract should specify that.

Cost plus: This means that the client agrees to pay all costs of the project and, on top of that, a fixed amount or percentage of cost for the contractor’s profit. Often, this is viewed as full protection for the contractor, but it also can produce a project cost that does not include a contractor’s “just cover myself for any problems” boost in the fixed price.

Time and materials: In this type of contract, payment is tied to an hourly or daily rate charged by the contractor and actual costs for materials. But consistent with the principle of a contract, clients pay additional, unexpected costs that arise during the project. One may be the contractor’s overhead or the contractor’s markup on materials the contractor obtains.

Unit pricing: Unit pricing contracts view the project in terms of measurable units—the type of task or its scope or work and the materials required.

The construction contract that is best for you, for the type of project, and for your client, depends largely upon how the contractor and the client want to structure payment.

The essentials for your construction contract

Any type of construction contract for your project will have certain key elements:

Identifying/Contact Information

Who is entering into this agreement?

For the client, that means a name (or business name), phone number, email address, and the specific location of the property where the construction project will be taking place.

For the contractor, that means a name, business name, phone number, email address, company address, and any relevant license and insurance information.

A title for the project with its description

Your contract both names the project–“Two-Car Garage with Second Story Studio”–and describes the scope of the work. The scope of work could be a description, with dimensions and other specifications. But a blueprint or other plan could be attached to the contract to pin down the scope of work. In that case, the attachment would be signed, as well, by the contractor and the client.

What is essential is the size, components of the project, and materials to be used. Again, that may require blueprints and other attachments.

Any required licenses and permits for the project must be specified.

Projected Timeline and Completion Date

Of the essence, in any project, is the expected time to completion. Make sure to include the starting date (when the contract goes into effect) and the projected completion date.

You should be clear about what happens if you cannot complete the project by the specified completion date. That means at least that you, as the contractor, inform the client and give a new projected completion date.

Cost Estimate and Payment Schedule

In any type of construction contract, you will want to include your cost estimate and the schedule of payments for the project. Of course, before reaching the contract stage, the client will want an estimate. If that is agreed, then it can be included in the contract.

No project ought to begin before payment of a non-refundable deposit.

The additional required payment should be tied to milestones in completion of the project.

And, lastly, the contract should include late fees to protect you, as the contractor, so that late payment of what is owed includes, for example, an interest rate to be paid on the balance due.

Stop Work Clause and Stop Payment Clause

Because the contract requires you, as the contractor, to complete the work on a given schedule, you will need a clause that gives you the legal right to stop the work if the client fails to pay. At the same time, the clause will have to give the client the right to withhold payment if the project milestones are not reached on schedule.

Act of God Clause

Naturally, you will not “re-invent” the language of a contract. You will rely on one of the many templates available, now in digital form. Your construction contract template will include language that you need for protection against the unexpected. In other words, how will the work continue in circumstances beyond your control?

Such a clause outlines how you and the client will proceed if faced with a hurricane, earthquake, or drastic shortage of a given material. To some extent, this will depend upon your location and the possible exigencies. The standard language, or boilerplate, in most construction contract templates should cover this.

Change Order Agreement

As projects proceed, ideas may change. Your client may want to make some changes or additions. This means enlarging the essential “scope of work” of the project. That, in turn, means changing certain elements of the contract. The contract must specify how that will be done. A “change order” agreement makes such changes in scope, and, of course, payment, easier to handle.

Warranty

A client entering into a contract will need to know that you stand behind the quality of your work and will be responsible for correcting problems. A warranty clause addresses this issue by guaranteeing that for a certain period of time, you will correct any problems. Typically, the warranty period is one year. Contractors who do quality work will gain from offering this warranty, which addresses many vague client concerns and gets the project going.

Dated Signature from Both Parties

Your contract with the client becomes official, legally binding, when both of you have signed and dated the contract.

Your contract in today’s digital era

You will want to choose a high-quality, flexible “template”–or standard form–for your construction contract app. This gives you a contract expressed in precise legal language into which to insert all the required specifications of your project.

You can download, print, and fill-in such a construction contract template, but, today, construction contracts, like so much business, are digital documents filled out via mobile forms and apps. They are readily adaptable to the specifics of your construction project and easily shared with your client for alterations.

Going digital helps to avoid the hassles of lost or misplaced paper contracts, and your digital version is saved automatically. For definite legal agreement, you have authorized digital signatures.

For the construction contract of any type that you need, your first step can be GoCanvas, where the forms you need at any step in the contractor-client relationship are available, can be modified, or can be created from scratch to suit your distinctive needs. Follow the links below to learn how GoCanvas can reduce your paperwork and make all your business documents more professional.

Construction Contract Templates and Examples

Prime Construction Contract

With the Prime Construction Contract app, general contractors, project managers and others in the construction industry have access to electronic versions of all building contracts in one location. Add details about the prime construction contract directly into the form, including design and construction planning costs, bid details, dispute resolution information, payment requirements, the scope of work, and more. All parties can sign off on the agreement once all requirements have been reviewed.

Cost Plus Fixed Fee Contract

The cost plus fixed fee contract app can be customized by the project owner or contractor, making it easy to manage all types of work and price details. Construction managers and general contractors can edit the total cost, manage the contractor price and add in their cost plus fixed fee details for the scope of work. Once the cost-plus fee contract has been completed, both parties can sign off on the details electronically.

Project Management Contract

Just about every element of a successful project in construction involves a project manager coordinating the various change orders and working directly with the general contractor to keep project team members on track with the work.

This construction project management app makes it easy to track all of the important construction contract details, including project owner contact information, general contractor name, pre-construction outline, task list, project milestones, and more.

Time & Materials Contract

Similar to cost-plus contracts in construction projects, the time and materials contract template includes cost estimates and markup in the hourly labor rate in the Overhead and Profit section. In construction projects, it’s critical to stay on top of the details to ensure that projects stay within the scope of work, and in case there are questions down the road about the contract document and terms, the general contractor or the construction services provider.

Cost-Plus Percentage Contract

Under a cost-plus construction contract, the client agrees to reimburse the contractor for the direct cost of the work, plus a percentage of all costs incurred, to cover overhead and profit. Unlike a fixed-price contract, cost-plus contracts guarantee the contractor a fair return, while allowing for various changes in the scope of work. As a construction manager, use this form to efficiently establish cost-plus pricing for long-term contracts with multiple change orders. With this design-build contract type for an agreement, use this app to best assess the estimated cost or fee according to a percentage of completion.

Looking for something different?

We have hundreds of pre-built forms with a variety of features to fit all of your business needs. Discover more inspections in our Application Store.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Read the blog

Constructions Digital Transformation

see for yourself

See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

read their story

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Let’s Build A Plan Together

Job Card Apps – Examples & Templates

Posted on May 25, 2021November 19, 2024 by Danny Kanev

Job Card Apps – Examples & Templates

Business Operations | Field Operations

What is a job card?

Job cards are used to record all of the pertinent information that workers need to know about a job or task to be performed as part of a work order. Many industries leverage job cards, including construction and contractors, manufacturing, engineering, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other similar types of field service organizations.

What should a job card include?

Job cards should include any of the necessary information that will be needed to complete the job assigned. Typically, this would include:

Client information and project-specific details
Scope of work and what is being done
Form fields to note the time, materials, stock, and total cost of work
Signature lines to be signed by worker and project manager or client
Relevant images and additional notes

All of the fields on a job card will be custom to the work being performed and the job at hand. While these have historically been managed using paper forms for job cards, more companies are switching to apps for job cards to digitize their workflows.

Why use an app for job cards?

Construction Management Software for job cards are gaining popularity with businesses because they can be completed via a mobile device or tablet from anywhere. Instantly having all of the information digitized is a time-saver for teams and businesses benefit from eliminating paper forms. Some of the main drawbacks of using paper forms include:

Incomplete or illegible data
Lost or misplaced documents
Inefficient workflows that require manual work

Mobile apps are designed to simplify the process for everyone involved. Job card apps can be customized to include all of the key details, form fields, and automatic calculations for time and material costs, digital signatures, and image capture for additional context. All of the information is created as a report or PDF and sent automatically to anyone that needs the information.

Seamless process for job management

Beyond just the basic use case for a job card app, many companies also benefit from integrated job card apps with other business processes related to the job card app. App platforms today are designed to automate work and fit into many of the workflows that happen on a job site or out in the field.

This means that apps for job cards can be one part of the entire process for job management. You may also want to design the app platform to have other components like quotes, contracts, work orders, dispatching systems, invoicing, and payment processing.

Modern app platforms like GoCanvas can enable your business to streamline how this work gets done, with a completely seamless process for handling all of these different components from start to finish. Using our no-code platform for apps, companies are able to digitize their operations and enable employees on job sites and in the field to easily enter data using their mobile devices.

These tools are designed to be simple, giving businesses of all sizes the ability to embrace digital technologies to save time, reduce risk, and create a competitive advantage for the business. Learn more about how it works by visiting our website, or you can get started for free using one of our job card templates listed in the next section.

Getting started with one of our templates, you will see how easy it is to build and customize apps for job cards and many other key business processes.

Job Card App Examples and Templates

Material and Labor Job Card Mobile App

The material and labor job card app is used to record all of the materials used for a project. The app also has a worksheet for recording all the labor work used for the same project. The material section covers both the acquired materials at the course of the project and the offcuts which were left out after the project.

Subcontractor Job Card Mobile App

This subcontractor job card app is used to collect all the relevant information required by the general contractor for an ongoing contract or job. This includes project requirements, the scope of work. estimated cost, estimated completion date, risk analysis, and more. Once the contractor requirements form is complete, the job card sheet is stored for your records and can be edited as needed. This makes it easy for general contractors to maintain current records for construction projects and all other jobs that require the help of subcontractor employees.

Engineering Job Card: Service Installation Mobile App

The engineering job card app enables the professional engineer to record excavation and reinstatement information. This mobile application can be modified to meet your customer expectations, including preventative maintenance and quality assurance.

Looking for something different?

We have hundreds of pre-built forms with a variety of features to fit all of your business needs. Discover more inspections in our Application Store.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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3 Reasons to Invest in Safety Apps for Construction

Posted on May 23, 2021October 14, 2024 by Danny Kanev

3 Reasons to Invest in Safety Apps for Construction

Business Operations | Compliance and Safety

Safety programs managed on paper are difficult to track. That’s why construction companies are going digital with their safety programs to gain more visibility into safety and track compliance. With digital training or toolbox talks, employees have an easier time accessing information through mobile devices. A digital record is created for documentation purposes within a safety meeting app.

Beyond safety meetings, apps for contractors can act as a comprehensive safety management solution. With robust reporting that’s visible in real-time, organizations can address potential hazards and limit OSHA violations and fines.

This article covers some of the top reasons why construction companies and contractors are moving away from paper-based processes to modern, construction project management apps and digital operations using safety apps.

#1 Modern Operations

Safety apps like GoCanvas are designed to empower businesses of all sizes to completely digitize their operations and business processes. There are many components of a safety program that can be moved away from paper sheets, including things like incident reporting, inspections, safety data sheets, safety meetings, job safety analysis, and much more.

Safety apps for the construction industry take these paper-based processes and convert them into digital programs that are completely accessible to employees via a mobile device on a job site or on a computer.

Making this type of investment in digital technologies is good for workers and the company’s bottom line.

For businesses, investing in worker safety means lower direct and insurance costs, lower legal fees, more competitive bids, and better overall company performance. An article from Construction Executive even cited that an effective safety program “will increase business value and return between $2 and $6 for every $1 invested in injury prevention.”

And for employees, an investment in digital apps brings a modern solution for construction safety. This helps to formalize the programs, makes them accessible for everyone, and promotes best practices in the workplace. All of this can lead to greater employee satisfaction in the long run when employees see a clear investment in programs that benefit their well-being.

#2 Greater Insight into Safety Trends

Data and analytics have historically been underutilized in the construction industry. Research from FMI suggests that 96% of data in the construction industry goes unused.

With mobile apps for safety, construction firms and contractors can have a better understanding of the data that is collected across job sites, automatically rolling this information up for easy reporting.

The end result is time saved on manually manipulating data for reporting purposes and greater insights into trends. A survey of GoCanvas customers found that going digital with forms and apps for construction has saved their teams 50+ hours per week that was historically spent on manually creating reports.

When thinking about greater insights and visibility into the business, take safety meetings as an example.

By digitizing safety meetings through apps, management can get real-time visibility into who has attended required safety training and which job sites are underperforming compared to others, in terms of compliance.

Having the data rolled up instantly for analytics and the ability to drill down into specific job sites or other demographic data can be incredibly useful for spotting safety trends, so your organization can take the appropriate next steps.

#3 Ensure Compliance and Lower Risk

Safety apps are designed to help construction companies and contractors stay in compliance with OSHA and other regulations.

With digital and mobile apps for safety, GoCanvas customers have reported and 18% reduction in their risk and liability. Some of the most common risks with paper forms are data loss, errors on paper forms, and missing or lost information.

Moving from paper to mobile apps can make your OSHA compliance efforts much easier and more effective. With digital technology you can:

Enter data in real-time and that data is not only stored in the cloud but can be immediately shared with a supervisor or manager, minimizing response times
Create a variety of inspection checklists for various tasks and sites – all accessible from a smartphone or tablet
Update your mobile apps as OSHA guidelines evolve and change to reflect changes and immediately deploy the information across your organization

Your mobile safety apps will help to ensure that your business is in compliance with the latest regulations and employees won’t have to rely on paper sheets and inefficient processes.

To learn more about digital apps for safety, check out the GoCanvas website and sign up for a free trial of our no-code platform with app templates designed for the construction industry. Go digital with safety apps for incident reports, inspections, safety data sheets, safety meetings, job safety analysis, and more.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Free Construction Estimate Form Templates and Examples

Posted on May 19, 2021March 13, 2025 by Danny Kanev

Free Construction Estimate Form Templates and Examples

Analytics and Data Collection | Business Operations

Construction estimate form templates are used as a way to approximate the cost of a project. Estimate templates are used in different ways and what’s included in the estimate will depend on the type of project. For example, general contractors and subcontractors have specific estimate templates they use for residential or commercial projects and construction firms have specific templates used in commercial and building projects. Estimates are also used in the bid process for selecting who is awarded the project business.

At a very high level, estimates are created by construction companies to deliver to the client so that all parties can sign and agree to what the approximate cost could be.

Typically an invoice, bill, or quote would be used when giving the actual cost, whereas an estimate just accounts for what the expected cost would be given the scope of work. Of course, the estimate can not account for all of the hidden costs that arise – so the actual cost of the project is different from the estimate.

Getting an accurate estimate is critical for construction companies to set reasonable expectations and gain the confidence of the owner or customer. That’s why many companies are starting to leverage digital technologies to streamline the process for estimates.

Software platforms can provide digital forms that simplify the estimate process for everyone involved and provide free templates that can be used to get started. Continue reading to learn more about digital templates for estimates and how construction firms and contractors can benefit from modernizing their operations.

How do you write a construction estimate?

Estimates are used by construction companies and contractors for various purposes and at different stages of projects. While there are many types of estimates that exist, most estimates will include some basic information about the project.

Here are some of the common form fields that you might use on a construction estimate form template:

Basic project information. Examples include things like company name, client name and information, type of project, estimate number, and more.
Scope of work. Description of the work to be performed and setting expectations on what is included within the scope of work.
Cost estimates. Detailed line items for material costs, expected labor costs, additional fees or permits, and any other relevant details related to the expected project costs.
Summarized cost. Total of materials, labor, and additional costs as a summarized view including taxes and the total project cost. Be sure to also factor in profit and overhead costs in your calculations.
Signatures. Estimates are designed to be signed by both the company representative and the client involved, so signatures are required to ensure an agreement has been reached on the estimate for the project.

Templates should provide a basic framework for what to include in the estimate, but ultimately they should be customizable to suit your specific project needs. Starting from a template can be useful to bring in standard calculations, but you will likely need to customize the template to fit your needs.

Why You Should Avoid Excel, Word, and Google Sheets for Free Estimate Templates

There are many options for free construction estimate form templates available for Excel, Word, or Google Sheets. Although these options are free to use, there are many hidden costs and risks involved when using spreadsheets or word documents. Here are some things to consider:

Risk #1: Human Error

When working with any of the free tools like excel spreadsheets, Google Sheets, or Word documents, there is a very real risk of human error. Research actually shows that almost 90% of all spreadsheets contain errors.

Using these free tools for construction or contractor estimates can lead to errors unknowingly ending up in the spreadsheet. For example, you may accidentally mistype the formula for calculating labor cost and not notice that the final calculation is wrong.

With a spreadsheet or document, there’s really no way to ensure that human error doesn’t happen and they can often be hard to find.

The hidden cost: When we’re talking about an estimate given to a client for work to be performed, there is no room for error. This can lead to an inaccurate estimate that takes away from your profit or cause frustration from the client that the initial estimate was inaccurate and now over budget.

Risk #2: Lost Work

The second common risk involved with excel spreadsheets, Google Sheets, or Word documents is the risk of lost work. This happens many times by accident when a computer crashes and the document isn’t saved, or similar cases where the data gets lost or deleted by mistake.

The hidden cost: Your business can’t afford to lose important documents. In case of an audit or dispute, you need the information to be readily available. Additionally, re-work is often needed when work is lost by accident, creating additional time spent by staff to re-create the lost paperwork.

Risk #3: Version Control Issues

One of the biggest challenges with using free tools like Excel or Word documents is the potential for version control issues. If you have multiple versions of the same document being used, it can be difficult to keep track of the latest version.

This becomes more of an issue when you have multiple people or subcontractors that need to collaborate on the same document. It becomes difficult to manage the different versions of each Excel file and make changes to the documents over time.

The hidden cost: Your business can’t afford to lose productivity when it comes to managing estimates and other forms of paperwork. While it may seem like a simple solution to use free tools like Excel and Word, they can also drain staff time by creating additional busy work to manage the documents and issues with multiple versions.

Apps and Forms for Construction Estimates

With all the risks and hidden costs associated with some of the free tools available for construction estimates, many companies are moving their operations to using construction apps and forms that are designed specifically for construction and contractor estimates.

These types of platforms provide estimate templates for construction firms and contractors to use. Instead of using a paper form or a word document to generate a PDF, companies are turning these into digital construction forms that can be completed from a computer, mobile device, or tablet.

Digitizing construction estimates can bring a number of benefits to an organization, including:

Secure Cloud Platform for Estimates. Using software and mobile forms for estimates can help contractors and construction firms create a secure and centralized platform for managing digital forms. Leverage templates and store estimates in the cloud so that your team can review and update them anytime, anywhere. This helps to limit risk, create accurate estimates, and streamline the process for everyone involved.

Automatic Calculations. You can automatically calculate materials and labor costs using software and forms for estimates. Contractor and construction estimates can be quite complex in terms of the different calculations involved. Pre-build the calculations and ensure that they are always accurate so that all you need to do is input fields and have the calculations performed by a computer program.

Digital Signatures. With digital signatures available for estimates, simplify the process for the client by giving them a digital PDF and digital signature field to complete from anywhere. Streamline the process even further by sending them a copy automatically via email to retain for their records.

Image Capture. For contractors, it can be helpful to provide an image as part of the estimate process. Software and mobile forms allow contractors to capture images and attach them to the estimate, clarifying the work to be performed and providing an additional level of detail within the estimate.

Reference Data. Auto-populate data like material costs and labor to reduce manual input time and eliminate errors. This data can be dynamically pulled from any database, ensuring that you have the most up-to-date information for estimating. Should costs change in the future due to inflation, this information can be pulled in automatically so estimates account for current prices and jobs are estimated accurately.

Modernizing your processes for estimates can simplify the process for staff and clients. This helps to ensure that estimates are accurate and profits are maximized by avoiding the common pitfalls that happen with free tools like Excel, Word Documents, or paper sheets. The next section covers free templates you can use to get started with GoCanvas for estimates.

GoCanvas is a mobile platform that makes it simple for businesses to automate how work is done, replacing outdated processes and expensive paperwork. The GoCanvas App works on smartphones and tablets, helping companies easily collect information across their organization, share it instantly with others, and gain real-time insight into their business. Construction firms and contractors rely on GoCanvas to streamline their processes for estimates, work orders, inspections, and much more.

Free Templates for Construction Estimates

GoCanvas has many types of estimate templates for contractors and construction firms. Simply choose from one of the templates listed below or check out our application store for a full list of customizable templates you can use to get started for free.

Basic Estimate Template

The basic estimate template provided by GoCanvas allows you to create a professional-looking estimate that includes labor, material, and equipment costs. No job is too big or too small. Provide transparent estimates that allow the customer to see the full breakdown of costs, including: hours of work and cost per hour; number of materials units and cost per unit; fixed costs; tax rates; and more.

Subcontractor Estimate Template

Subcontractor Estimate template allows project managers, general contractors, and subcontractors to complete a paperless construction subcontractor estimate for subcontracted services, labor, and construction subcontractor work, using a smartphone or tablet to complete a competitive bid and construction proposal. The app also allows construction subcontractors to act as a material supplier and include construction industry materials in the construction proposal.

Handyman Bid

Start with this simple handyman job bid template, including job specifications and estimated costs, and email the estimate to the customer before leaving the site. Include all the required legalese to protect you and your company and collect everything you need right from your smartphone.

General Building Contractors Estimate Template

The General Building Contractors Estimate is a template that allows general contractors to produce estimates for construction projects right then and there on the job site. Enter specifications such as customer details, materials needed, labor hours, unit rates, and material costs, and the app will provide the total work estimate calculations for you.

Roofing Contractors Estimate Sheet

Designed for any contractor or business that provides roof repair, this roofing contractors template makes it easy to estimate the cost of the service, which may include materials and labor costs, warranty information, and square footage of the area to be repaired. It’s easy to customize the Roofing Contractors Estimate templates to include the type of roof being serviced, which could be a flat roof, asphalt roof, shingle roof, or one made of slate or wood shake. You can also create fields that will affect the price, such as roof slope and pitch, or the extent of leak damage. Once all the information is entered, this app uses a calculator to provide a free estimate quote in a PDF format. This roof cost estimate may be emailed directly to the customer, who may use it in an insurance claim.

Painting Estimate Template

Painting companies can customize the estimate template form to include the square footage of the areas to be painted, a list of services to be performed by the painting contractors, estimated gallons of paint to be used, specialty materials needed, labor, and other details for the customer. The business can also add more specific details about the job as needed, including paint colors to be used and the number of coats to be applied.

Remodeling Subcontractor Estimate Template

The Remodeling Subcontractor Estimate template allows project managers, general contractors and subcontractors to complete a paperless remodeling subcontractor estimate for subcontracted services, labor and remodeling subcontractor work, using a smartphone or tablet to complete a competitive bid and construction proposal.

Electrical Contractors Estimate Template

The Electrical Contractors Estimate template makes it easy to provide free estimates for electrical work while in the field. Use this form to process the client’s contact information, details about the materials required, labor rates, final costs, and additional information. This reporting app automatically calculates job costs for you, making it easy to determine the final estimate, get customer approval and begin work. Save time on each electrical services estimate, get to work faster and complete more jobs over time with this handy app for residential contractors, licensed electricians and electrical contracting companies.

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AG Water Chemical Fosters Growth with GoCanvas

How AG Water Chemical Fostered Growth with GoCanvas

The Case for GoCanvas

Ag Water Chemical has been in the agricultural water treatment business since 1999. Based out of Fresno, California, they specialize in water quality and servicing the many issues that can impact irrigation systems, making sure that farms can provide proper hydration to their crops.

Prior to GoCanvas, Ag Water Chemical was using paper forms for sales orders. On a daily basis, sales reps would complete multiple handwritten sales orders with customers, faxing every form to the home office before a certain time, so their Dispatch Manager could plan schedules and send out job details to technicians.

Because sales reps in the field were struggling to balance finding new customers and submitting sales orders in a timely manner, Ag Water Chemical was looking for a way to digitize their forms and remove roadblocks.

Implementation

Doing research into multiple options, Ag Water Chemical landed on GoCanvas because it was completely customizable to their business. They moved their sales orders to a single digital form that can be sent out and completed by their sales reps at multiple locations. This form has been updated by Ag Water Chemical across 50 different versions, regularly tweaking and molding the form to suit their processes.

‘It’s been fantastic for us,’ says Raj Dhillon from Accounting/Grower Relations. ‘We use the auto-email feature for our Dispatch Manager, so he doesn’t have to be at the home office to view PDFs and plan deliveries for the next day. He can do all his work remotely to make sure the necessary chemicals are delivered up and down the state of California.’

The Results from Going Digital

GoCanvas has taken off for Ag Water Chemical. Implementing GoCanvas in 2017, Ag Water Chemical estimates they have saved roughly $150,000 across three years.

Since digitizing their sales orders, they have added transport paperwork, bills of lading, and field reports. Previously sent via mobile text, Ag Water Chemical is proud to send professional PDFs of their field reports directly to customers, so they can clearly see the value of the service.

Ag Water Chemical has also used GoCanvas to seamlessly upload their sales order data to Google Sheets, providing management with automatically updated daily sales totals. They can analyze and organize these values by daily sales per representative, sending out emails to recognize great employee achievements and goals.

As Raj says,”GoCanvas has been the perfect tool to help foster AG Water Chemical’s growth over the last few years. We are excited to see where we will be with the platform in the future!”

Ready to Rethink How You Work?

GoCanvas has helped a variety of businesses across multiple industries transform their safety processes and rethink their efficiency, ultimately saving them money. Why not do the same? Reach out to one of our experts today to kickstart your process revolution.

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Free Template for Roofing Certificate of Completion

Posted on May 16, 2021March 31, 2025 by Danny Kanev

Free Template for Roofing Certificate of Completion

Business Operations | Forms | Workflow Management

What is a contractor certificate of completion?

A certificate of completion is used in roof installations once a job has been completed. The certificate is an agreement between the contractor and the client that the work has been successfully completed. It creates a record that the client is completely satisfied with the roofing work done.

Using a certificate of completion is a best practice for roofing contracting businesses. It ensures that there is a documented agreement and the certificate is signed by both parties involved. In case a dispute arises, there is a clear record that the roofing work was completed and met the quality standards agreed to by the client.

Clients and homeowners also benefit from having a certificate of completion. This document can be submitted to insurance companies when processing claims and used in real estate transactions to certify work that has been performed on a property.

Benefits of Using Digital Apps for Roofing

With a distributed workforce in the field and on job sites, it has become increasingly popular for contractors to use roofing apps for the certificate of completion. Paper forms can also be used to document a certificate of completion, however paper forms are not the most reliable for businesses. Some of the common pitfalls with paper forms include:

Incomplete or illegible data
Lost or misplaced documents
Inefficient workflows that require manual work

Instead of using paper forms, digital certificates of completion can be created using mobile apps and forms that streamline the process for everyone involved. While paper forms are prone to issues, digital certificates can be backed up in the cloud to ensure that they are always accessible for roofing contractors and their clients.

Key features of a digital certificate of completion for roofing

Mobile forms and apps are making it easier for roofing businesses to manage their processes for certificates of completion. Here are some of the top features of mobile forms and apps that help to make the process as easy as possible:

Mobile forms. With workers that are located across job sites and different geographic locations, mobile forms and apps ensure that workers can submit data from the convenience of their mobile phones.
Standard data. Templates can be created to ensure that data collected from the field is consistent, accurate, and complete. Required form fields ensure that data isn’t missing or left off by mistake.
Digital experience. Streamline the process and modernize how data is collected by using simple forms that make it easy to collect digital signatures, generate PDF reports, and automatically send the documents to anyone else that needs them.
Integrated ecosystem. Mobile apps are also designed to help contractors with many operational tasks, including work orders, inspections, contracts, and much more. Integrate mobile technology with the other cloud services your business uses today to create a modern and connected digital experience.

GoCanvas for Roofing Certificates of Completion and Mobile Forms

GoCanvas provides an app for contractors to document the successful completion of roofing for a building. This mobile form can be used as a template with many of the fields needed for documenting work completed in roofing repairs. One of the advantages of using the GoCanvas platform is that all of our templates are easy to customize to fit the exact needs of any roofing business. Using our no-code platform, anyone can customize the mobile forms and apps without needing advanced technical knowledge or help from an IT resource. Simply drag and drop to customize our roofing apps to suit your business needs. Organizations have found that going digital instead of paper forms has saved their staff time, created a better customer experience, and created a competitive advantage for the business.

roofing certificate of completion example

Here’s what you can expect to find with the GoCanvas app:

Roofing installation and repair app capture all the most important details of completed roof replacements, general roof repair jobs, and installation of roofing solutions.
Simply enter the details of the residential and commercial roofing company job into the roofing completion form app, including roofing materials used, roof inspections, and more. Use the electronic signature capture feature to get customer approval.
Once the roofing installation and repair template has been completed, the commercial roofing app automatically saves the data in an electronic format for your records.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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What Is Near Miss Reporting?

Posted on May 15, 2021October 8, 2024 by Danny Kanev

What Is Near Miss Reporting?

Business Operations | Reporting

It’s impossible to stress how important workplace safety is for a successful business. Proper safety protocols and procedures not only protect your valuable team and assets but prevent costly disruptions to efficiency and production. Even the safest workplaces have incidents and accidents, though. Routine reporting of any accidents to analyze risk and safety procedures is an essential step in tackling issues and refining policies to provide a safer workplace.

Though “near miss” incidents –incidents where no one harm was done but potentially could’ve been– reveal the same vulnerabilities in safety procedure, they are often neglected in reporting. Below, we’ll discuss the advantages of diligently reporting near misses, and the advantages an organization can gain by taking all incidents seriously while developing its safety ecosystem.

What is a near miss report?

OSHA defines a near miss incident as a close call in which a worker might have been hurt if the circumstances had been slightly different. Beyond the scope of the OSHA definition, many organizations also include potential harm to valuable equipment or infrastructure as near miss incidents. Near miss reports should be filed with the same diligence as every other incident, as they still shed light on vulnerabilities in safety protocols.

Near miss incidents are often reported through the same means for normal incident reports. An organization should account for these reports and be able to accept both while still being able to differentiate between the two. If your company is using a comprehensive safety management solution, users are able to quickly and anonymously submit reports of either near miss, or typical incidents from a mobile app.

Near miss reports should be taken seriously, and they should be treated with the same importance as harmful incident reports. Near miss incidents not only can shake up workers’ morale when they see vulnerabilities in safety protocols first-hand, but they can shed valuable light on problems allowing them to be rectified before serious harm occurs. Organizations that have a healthy reporting system for near miss reports will not only suffer less costly incidents but increase morale by proving to workers that safety is important if proper attention is applied to reports.

The advantages of near miss reporting

Organizations can’t afford to neglect near miss reporting. Near misses can easily be early warning signs of problems to come and represent vulnerabilities in safety that can’t be overlooked. Incorporating reporting for near miss incidents into safety and operations planning can have many advantages that can be leveraged by organizations to increase safety and efficiency overall.

Identify and control risks before incidents happen

Near miss reporting can be important warnings of more serious issues. Paying the same attention to investigating near miss incidents as you would a serious injury can yield valuable insights into safety issues without the monetary cost of serious injury or incident.

OSHA outlines the importance of root cause analysis during incident investigation in a 2016 fact sheet, saying “By conducting a root cause analysis and addressing root causes, an employer may be able to substantially or completely prevent the same or similar incident from recurring. Conducting the same root cause analysis on near miss incidents informs your safety policy, potentially preventing harmful incidents before they occur.

Near miss reporting is often described as a free lesson because it enables companies to proactively resolve hazards before a tragic or costly incident occurs. When a worker discovers a potentially dangerous situation, completing a near miss report means the risk can be resolved before it causes harm to their teammates.

Create a culture of safety

When your crew knows that their safety is a priority within your business, morale inevitably goes up. Providing your workers with the resources and training to identify and report near misses helps them know that their well-being is an important aspect of daily operations. This encourages them to be more safety-minded in all their duties and can increase compliance and reporting across your entire organization. Safety culture develops from example. As your employees see that safety is an organizationally fundamental value for your company, it will become a culturally important value to them.

It is vitally important to train your crew on what defines a near miss, why it is important to report such hazards, and to lay out a clear reporting process. Many organizations streamline the reporting process with safety management software that includes established checklists and forms for near miss reports. Using a digital solution gives workers the opportunity for anonymous reporting and improves efficiency and mistakes by limiting paperwork.

If cultivating a culture of safety within your organization starts with training and example, it ends with trust. The goal of near miss reports is to keep your workers safe and get them looking out for possible risks. Positive safety culture comes when your team trusts that you are looking out for their best interest, but if your investigations are focused on blame rather than root cause analysis and risk mitigation, your safety culture can quickly begin to feel like a witch hunt to your employees. This discourages their participation in safety reporting and procedures and disengages them as a whole from safety culture.

As near miss incidents have no damage or accident, they are an excellent opportunity to show your team that reporting is about focusing on their safety in the future, not about assigning blame and punishing mistakes. This promotes a culture where employees feel comfortable reporting incidents and safety shortcomings, which promotes a safer and more efficient business.

Inform protocols and training

Safety managers can use data from near miss reporting to improve training programs, develop safer work processes, educate personnel at daily safety meetings, and fix any faulty equipment that could lead to an accident. Prevention is the core of safety, and proactive safety programs can be developed from compiling near miss data, giving employers the opportunity to resolve systemic risks and provide their crew with the latest safety measures on a daily basis.

Workplace safety is impossible without sufficient training to inform workers of possible risks and how to safely manage tasks. Near miss reporting gives important data about possible incidents and accidents, allowing the development of more comprehensive training to prevent issues in the future.

Without adequate near miss reporting, systemic safety issues don’t become obvious until costly accidents already occur. Near miss reports give an organization the opportunity to address close calls as warning signs to refine their procedures going forward.

Communication, transparency, and compliance

Maintaining, investigating, and acting on reports for near miss incidents can ensure compliance with various human resources and safety regulations. While regulatory requirements will vary greatly depending on location, more transparency and a documented history of an effort to improve safety will always be of benefit to compliance.

More data potentially could shield you from liabilities in the future. History of acting to rectify safety issues revealed by near miss incidents can be a strong refutation of future negligence suits or fines. Transparency is important in communication with investors as well and proving that you have a track record of promoting safety as an organization is promising for them to see.

Safe workers for a successful business

Safe workers are much more likely to be happy workers in the long run. If no action was taken on a near miss incident, workers will be more worried and timid, and may actually find temporary solutions to the problem that are even less safe. If near miss incidents aren’t taken seriously or even accepted at all, it can make workers feel like their employer does not care about their safety. This can destroy morale and make productivity and profitability suffer. Worst, it puts the people who make your organization run at risk. Employers have a responsibility to protect their employees. Employees are happier, more engaged, and more productive when they see this duty being met.

A comprehensive safety management program

A safety management program that neglects near miss reports is missing one of its biggest assets to develop sustainable solutions. Such a system will never reach its potential in preventative safety. Near miss incident reporting is absolutely required to see problems before they arise to better craft safety procedures that avoid those issues in the future.

Near miss incident reports can also serve to engage employees in safety programs. This personnel is your first line of defense against risks, and they should know it. Communicating to your team that they can help manage risk with reporting of near miss incidents along with showing them that the organization will act to improve safety based on those reports will help build a culture of safety that can vastly improve the effectiveness of a safety management program.

Streamlining a safety management program to accommodate near miss reporting can be easily accomplished with safety management software. These solutions offer standardization of documentation and convenient reporting for all types of incidents. The increased accessibility of remote access and mobile compatibility not only make personnel more likely to document incidents but also make it more efficient to process and compile data from reports.

GoCanvas offers comprehensive security management software solutions that can give you the tools you need to increase safety and efficiency. Incident reports can be entered remotely and fielded immediately, cutting out any time-consuming red tape, so you can react to risks more quickly, more efficiently, and more effectively. Click here to see how safety management software can help you today.

About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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How Digital Work Orders Impact Your Key Business Outcomes

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Free Construction Change Order Forms and Templates

Posted on May 9, 2021March 13, 2025 by Danny Kanev

Free Construction Change Order Forms and Templates

Analytics and Data Collection | Business Operations | Forms

What is a change order form?

Change order forms are used in the construction industry when changes to the contract are required. Change orders happen when a client or contractor decides that changes are needed to the initial agreement. This could be to add time and material costs or other similar changes to the overall scope of work.

Change orders happen on almost every construction project to account for additional work that is needed along the way. This article summarizes the purpose of construction change order forms and provides several free templates that can be used by contractors for different types of change orders in construction.

What are the causes of a change order?

Companies do their best to avoid change orders, but there are many circumstances in which change orders become necessary in a construction project. Some common reasons include:

Ambiguities in the original contract or design drawings
Unforeseen circumstances that could not have been known
Challenges with materials or supply chain issues
Poor project management

Regardless of the reason to initiate a change order, it’s important that all parties involved have clear documentation included in the construction change order form.

What to include in a construction change order form

The construction change order form will be different depending on the company and project needs. Here are some of the basic types of information included in many scenarios:

Project-specific details. All of the basic information needed to know about the project.
Changes to be made. Detailed changes to the scope of work and any justification for the changes to be made.
Updated timeline and pricing. Change orders usually cause changes to the initial pricing and timeline, so clearly documenting expectations is needed in the change order.
Line for signatures. Most change orders will require signatures as proof that both parties agreed to the updated agreements.

While most of this can be captured using paper forms, there are some clear benefits to managing the process with digital forms and apps for change orders.

Key Benefits of Using Digital Forms Rather than Paper

Changes to the scope of work can cause delays and overruns on budget, so it’s important to have clear documentation for record-keeping. Should litigation arise, it’s important to have these documents available.

Instead of using paper forms or one-off Word documents or PDF documents, companies are starting to leverage mobile app platforms to provide secure, digital forms for change orders. This benefits construction firms and clients in a number of ways:

Increased efficiency. Instead of employees traveling between the office and job location to submit paperwork, all of this can be managed digitally. With construction change order forms managed through a mobile device or tablet, changes can be made from anywhere and digital signatures can all be collected through one platform.
Increased visibility in the field. Digital construction change order forms allow you to instantly transfer in-progress change orders from one person to another to review, approve, or reject then sync to the cloud for easy access. PDF copies and reports can be generated in real-time and shared with the appropriate parties via email or notification.
Avoid expensive storage volume, costs, and searchability. Store all of your completed change orders in the cloud for easy access from anywhere, anytime.
Avoid damaged or lost paperwork. Electronic submissions eliminate the risk of damaged and lost paperwork. Access your data anytime from anywhere from a mobile device. Solutions for digital forms can prevent data loss and avoid version control issues that create confusion.

Getting Started with Construction Change Order Forms on GoCanvas

GoCanvas is a mobile platform that makes it simple for businesses to automate how work is done, replacing outdated processes and expensive paperwork. The GoCanvas App works on smartphones and tablets, helping companies easily collect information across their organization, share it instantly with others, and gain real-time insight into their business. Construction firms and contractors rely on GoCanvas to increase productivity, streamline business operations, and create a competitive advantage.

Below you will find some of our most popular templates that can be used for digital change order forms for construction firms and contractors. You can get started for free using our templates and customize them to fit you specific business requirements.

Construction Change Order Form Templates and Examples

Construction Change Order Form

Change orders happen on almost every construction project to account for additional work that is needed along the way. Whether you have small changes to the construction project’s estimated costs or need to scope out the overhead costs for more substantial work, this construction change order form template can quickly generate the form for you.

Subcontractor Change Order Form

The subcontractor change order form is similar to the basic change order that tracks the running changes to the project. However, this template is designed to be used solely between a contractor and subcontractor. This template can be used when there is a change to a subcontract purchase order that would require a change to the scope of work and updated documents.

Time & Materials Change Order Form

When extra work is needed on a construction project, the general contractor or construction manager can create a change order form using this time and materials change order form. Change orders are often done on a time and materials (T&M) basis, even if the original contract is fixed-fee. It’s faster and easier than calculating all the materials and their cost, estimating the labor, then adding overhead and profit.

time and materials change order template

Change Order Log

As a general contractor in construction management, this construction change order log will help you save time, work, and money on every owner-contractor agreement. When everyone has access to the same construction documents, you can avoid breach of contract terms, contract disputes, and construction disputes so you can keep the project on schedule.

Electrical Contractors Change Order

The electrical contractors change order is designed to prevent work delays on electrical projects. Efficiently process change requests from your smartphone or tablet. Perfect for use by project managers or general contractors who need to manage change orders for their electrical sub-contractors.

electrical contractors changer order template

Looking for additional templates?

GoCanvas has hundreds of pre-built forms with a variety of features to fit all of your business needs. Discover more construction change order forms that are available in our Application Store.

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About GoCanvas

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Read the blog

Constructions Digital Transformation

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9 Examples of Construction Forms for Contractors [+ Templates]

What are the top forms used by construction firms and contractors?

#1 Inspection Forms

#2 Construction Checklist Forms

#3 Work Order Forms

#4 Construction Timesheet Apps

#5 Safety Forms

#6 Construction Daily Reports

#7 Estimate Forms

#8 Invoice Forms

#9 Contract Forms

Stay in Touch!

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Free Material Schedule Template for Construction

What is a material schedule in construction?

How to prepare a material schedule in construction

Why you should avoid Excel templates for a material schedule

Top Reasons to use GoCanvas for Material Schedule Templates

Download the free material schedule template

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About GoCanvas

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The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Constructions Digital Transformation

See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

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The Ultimate Guide to Construction Contracts [Examples + Templates]

What is a construction contract?

Types of construction contracts

The essentials for your construction contract

Identifying/Contact Information

A title for the project with its description

Projected Timeline and Completion Date

Cost Estimate and Payment Schedule

Stop Work Clause and Stop Payment Clause

Act of God Clause

Change Order Agreement

Warranty

Dated Signature from Both Parties

Your contract in today’s digital era

Construction Contract Templates and Examples

Prime Construction Contract

Cost Plus Fixed Fee Contract

Project Management Contract

Time & Materials Contract

Cost-Plus Percentage Contract

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About GoCanvas

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The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Constructions Digital Transformation

See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

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We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Job Card Apps – Examples & Templates

What is a job card?

What should a job card include?

Why use an app for job cards?

Seamless process for job management

Job Card App Examples and Templates

Material and Labor Job Card Mobile App

Subcontractor Job Card Mobile App

Engineering Job Card: Service Installation Mobile App

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About GoCanvas

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How Digital Work Orders Impact Your Key Business Outcomes

See How Centurion Got Amazing ROI from GoCanvas

5 Tips to Improve How Your Business Collects Data

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