FREQUENTLY Asked Questions (FAQ)

Best Bid Next Generation is available for a one-time investment of just $2,500.00—no monthly fees, no recurring charges.
To make it even easier to get started, we also offer interest-free financing with just $500.00 down and payments of $134.00 per month.

Every Best Bid product includes unlimited licenses at no extra charge—giving your entire location the flexibility to install the software on as many computers as needed.

That means no added per-seat costs, no surprise licensing fees, and easy rollout across your office.

All Best Bid updates are completely free—so you always have access to the latest improvements and enhancements at no additional cost. Simply select Tools > Check for Updates to install the latest version.

Because every Best Bid user already receives the same low price, we do not offer volume discounts.

We’ve kept our pricing steady since 2008, making Best Bid one of the best values in the industry with unmatched affordability, unlimited licenses, free updates, and no recurring fees.

Best Bid Next Generation is the version we strongly recommend. Built on a newer framework, it is designed to support the latest features and future enhancements, so all new development will continue to be added there.

Best Bid Hybrid Pro is still fully supported and is not going away. However, if you’re still using Hybrid Pro, upgrading to Next Generation is a smart move—and the upgrade is only $500.00.

Best Bid Next Generation also includes a wide range of enhancements, including an upgraded upload station for importing PDF drawings, a larger takeoff viewing screen, interactive libraries to auto-enter branch circuits, easier transfer from takeoff to estimate, the ability to duplicate the last assembly created, and an enhanced database with unlimited choices of straps, elbows, and more.

What sets Best Bid apart is simple: it was built by electrical estimators who still use the software in the real world—so it’s designed for speed, accuracy, and the way estimators actually work.

Instead of forcing you to dig through 50,000 pre-made assemblies, Best Bid uses a flexible assembly system that can be quickly modified to handle virtually any estimating scenario.

That means you stay in complete control of your estimate and can make changes instantly—like switching from EMT to MC or from copper to aluminum with a single click.

The result is a faster, smarter, and more accurate estimating process that helps you bid with confidence.

Yes – Best Bid includes built-in material pricing and labor hours, giving you a strong, job-ready foundation from the start. You’ll also receive a free trial of Real-Time Pricing so your material costs stay current with up-to-date pricing right away. After the trial ends, there’s no obligation to continue the service. And for contractors who want an even more advanced pricing solution, Best Bid is also affiliated with NetPricer-NetPak.

Best Bid gives you full control over when your prices are updated. You can update pricing manually anytime by selecting “Update Prices,” so changes happen on your schedule—not automatically at inconvenient times.

To make staying current even easier, you’ll also receive a free trial of Real-Time Pricing for up-to-date pricing from the start, with no obligation to continue after the trial. And for contractors who want an even more advanced pricing solution, Best Bid is also affiliated with NetPricer-NetPak.

Yes—Best Bid offers a Server Version for companies that want to use the software across a network, making it a strong option for teams that need shared access and greater collaboration.

The Server Version is available as a $1,000.00 upgrade, giving you an affordable path to expand your setup as your business grows.

It does require a server with SQL.

Best Bid is a standalone desktop application, which means you avoid ongoing subscription fees and can keep working even without internet access—a major advantage for contractors who want reliability and control. If you prefer a cloud setup, you can host Best Bid on your own cloud environment, often at a much lower cost than buying a cloud-based estimating platform.

Yes—Best Bid can be accessed remotely from another location using remote access tools such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer, giving you added flexibility to work from the office, home, or the jobsite when needed.

Yes—by using NetPricer, Best Bid can work with your supply house’s material pricing, helping you bring supplier-specific pricing directly into your estimating process for more accurate, competitive bids.

Yes—Best Bid makes it easy to build a company-specific database tailored to the way your business estimates.

The database is unlimited, and if you choose, you can expand it even further by adding 1.7 million more items through NetPak.

Many companies import specialty items such as solar, generators, and data components, then create their own categories and add custom items to match their workflow.

That flexibility gives you a database built around your company—not the other way around.

Best Bid gives you flexible control over both labor burden and overhead, so you can fine-tune your numbers to match the way your business operates.

Because labor burden and overhead are two different cost factors, they are handled separately for better accuracy.

You can add profit and overhead on the Summary Sheet, while labor burden should be built into your rate of pay.

And whenever your costs change, both can be updated anytime—giving you complete control and helping keep your estimates current.

Best Bid’s assemblies start with a smart default list of pre-selected items that automatically populate your estimate when quantities are entered.

For example, if you enter 10 receptacles, Best Bid automatically applies the related items in the assembly—such as 10 receptacles, 10 plates, and the supporting components tied to that setup.

What makes this powerful is the flexibility: the assembly attributes and item list can be changed on the fly to match the exact conditions of the job.

That means you can quickly adjust raceway type, size, straps, fittings, conductors, and more—giving you speed without giving up control.

A popular and effective way to handle alternates in Best Bid is to create the alternate as a separate estimate, making it easier to price, review, and present clearly.

Another option is to include the alternate within the main estimate and use the Assembly Details page to switch the quantity from 1 to 0—allowing you to quickly include or exclude the alternate as needed.

Yes—Best Bid lets you estimate directly from PDF drawings using its built-in On-Screen Takeoff. Simply upload the PDF, perform your counts and measurements, and then transfer that information into the estimate—making the process faster, more accurate, and easier to manage.

Yes—Best Bid can export to Excel, along with many other formats, giving you the flexibility to share, analyze, and present your data the way that works best for your workflow.

Yes—Best Bid provides labor reports that help you review labor details clearly, and those reports can be exported in multiple formats for easier analysis, sharing, and project tracking.

Everyone learns at a different pace, but most users can begin understanding the core workflow very quickly—especially if they already know what they want the software to do. At its foundation, Best Bid follows a simple process: select a button, create a new item, enter a quantity, save, and review the Assembly Details page to see the results. When you learn it in small, manageable steps, proficiency comes much faster. We recommend practicing before using it on a live estimate, and if you’re already comfortable with estimating, you can be up and running in no time.

Yes—Best Bid offers a library of training videos on the website, along with a strong YouTube channel filled with helpful demonstrations and guidance. These resources make it easy to learn at your own pace and find answers when you need them.

Yes—we can help you build custom assemblies and assist with whatever you need, so you can tailor Best Bid to match your estimating process and work more efficiently.

Switching from McCormick to Best Bid is usually an easy transition because Best Bid uses fewer steps, fewer keystrokes, and a more streamlined workflow to create estimates.

For most users, the main adjustment is simply learning the layout of Best Bid. In many cases, if you’re already comfortable using McCormick, you’ll find Best Bid even easier to learn and faster to use.

Best Bid is faster, easier to use, and requires fewer keystrokes than Accubid—while also costing a fraction of the price. On top of that, Best Bid includes benefits many competitors charge extra for, such as free support, unlimited licenses, and free yearly updates. For the vast majority of electrical contractors, that makes Best Bid the smarter value and the more practical choice.

Best Bid is priced lower than many competitors because we focus on delivering real value to electrical contractors instead of spending millions on advertising and trade shows. We believe those savings should go back to our customers, making it easier for contractors to move into computer estimating without cost becoming a barrier.

Yes—Best Bid is also well suited for contractors doing more than $50 million per year because it scales to handle projects of virtually any size or complexity. Whether you’re estimating smaller jobs or major electrical work, Best Bid gives you the flexibility and control to support high-volume estimating with confidence.

Best Bid runs on any Windows operating system, making it easy to use on a wide range of computers. Like most estimating software, a larger screen can make the process more comfortable and efficient—many users prefer 27-inch all-in-one systems, while others work successfully with separate monitors or laptops. A mouse is also strongly recommended for the best experience.

Yes—Best Bid includes unlimited licenses for the same low price, making it easy to install across multiple workstations at your location without added per-seat costs.

For network-related ports and IT settings, please refer to the setup video and the detailed instructions in the Help Library. Those resources provide the technical guidance needed for a successful network installation.

Setting up your tax rate is simple. Enter it as a decimal—for example, use .09 for 9%—when you set up your company information in Best Bid.

To enter or update your tax rate, go to Admin > Master Files > Companies. You can also review the walkthrough video in the Help Library on our website for additional guidance.

Adding new materials in Best Bid is simple, and because the database is unlimited, you have plenty of room to expand it as your estimating needs grow.

To add a new item, go to Admin > Master Files > Items and select Create a New Item.

Fill out the item form, then select Save and Close.

The new item’s placement in the database is determined by the Sorting Index, Look Up, and ID1 fields, helping keep your database organized as it grows.

Best Bid gives you several fast ways to keep material pricing current. You can use Real-Time Pricing, connect through NetPricer, or manually update items using supplier hot sheets. For example, you can open a product like #12 THHN, adjust the price, and then move quickly to the next wire size—making large pricing updates much faster and easier.

Best Bid helps you standardize material descriptions while still giving you flexibility. Each item keeps its official database name, and you can also use the “Our Description” field to rename it to the terminology your team prefers—making your database more consistent, familiar, and easier to use.

Yes—Best Bid lets you measure directly from PDFs using the Takeoff screen.

Start by selecting Set the Scale, then click two known reference points on the drawing.

Enter the correct length, and Best Bid will set the scale for you.

Then select Measure to begin taking dimensions directly from your computer screen.

This gives you a fast and accurate way to perform measurements without leaving the software.

If drawings were originally created to scale but were later enlarged or reduced, Best Bid can still measure them accurately by using two reference points and entering the correct measurement.

If the drawings were never created to scale, the best option is to recreate them to scale using AccuraCADD PDF Draw before measuring.

Exporting from Best Bid is simple. Select Export To, and you’ll have the option to export in 10 different formats.

Excel is one of those formats, making it easy to share and work with your data outside the software.

Yes—Best Bid offers step-by-step training, and the experience can be tailored to your skill level and the way you learn best.

Because every user is different, we provide the guidance and support you need to help you learn efficiently and get comfortable with the software faster.

The most common mistake new estimators make is trying to complete a real estimate before they’ve had time to learn how the software works.

This often happens when someone downloads the trial and immediately tries to use it on a live project.

That can lead to frustration, because setting up the software, creating your company, entering tax rates and material pricing, and learning the workflow all take time. The best approach is to practice first, then move into real estimates once you’re comfortable.

Because Best Bid is affordably priced and built to help you work faster and more accurately, many contractors see a return quickly—often within the first few successful projects. The exact timeline depends on your estimating volume, but for many businesses, the software pays for itself much sooner than expected.

Compared with manual estimating, Best Bid gives you a faster, more efficient way to build accurate estimates. Tasks that take much longer by hand—such as making revisions, updating pricing, and organizing breakouts—become easier and more manageable in software.

Using estimating software can also reduce common errors, simplify pricing updates, and make it easier to respond quickly when project details change.

Built-in reports, material lists, and estimate breakouts give you better visibility than a manual process, helping you track projects and make better decisions throughout the job.

Even the default setup provides a strong starting point, helping many contractors price work more confidently while still allowing full customization as their process evolves.

For contractors who want to save time, improve consistency, and scale their estimating process, software offers clear advantages over doing everything manually.

Yes—we’d be happy to show you a live demo. Just call 800-941-7028 or 731-431-5721, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you when you call. No appointment is needed.

Spreadsheets can work for basic estimating, especially for users who are comfortable with formulas, macros, or custom setup. But compared with dedicated estimating software, they are harder to maintain, more vulnerable to manual errors, and less efficient when project details change. Best Bid gives you a more reliable, professional workflow with organized breakouts, material lists, and faster revisions.

Best Bid helps reduce common estimating challenges such as math errors, missing materials, slow bid turnaround, and limited visibility into the information needed to order materials or track job progress.

It also makes it easier to respond when project details change, helping you update estimates, replace components, and keep work moving with less disruption.

Best Bid comes from 1st Choice Electrical Estimating Software, a company that has been serving the electrical estimating industry since 1989.

The company launched its first website in 1991, helping expand from traditional door-to-door sales into online sales early on.

As one of the early electrical estimating software providers in the market, Best Bid brings decades of experience and a long track record in the industry.

You’ll get support from real people who understand both the software and electrical estimating. That means your questions are answered by experienced professionals who can give practical, relevant help—not just generic responses.

Yes—Best Bid updates are free, so you continue receiving improvements and enhancements without added update fees.

No—technical support is not offshore. Our support team communicates clearly in English and understands both the software and the electrical estimating questions that come with using it.

Yes—Best Bid can be used for design-build projects. For companies that want additional help creating or laying out project drawings, pairing it with AccuraCADD PDF Draw can make the process even more effective.

Yes—Best Bid works offline, so you can continue estimating on job sites or other locations without needing an internet connection.

That offline capability is a major advantage for contractors who want dependable access to their estimating tools without relying on cloud-only software.

Yes—Best Bid gives you the flexibility to build your pricing structure the way your company needs it, including custom pricing methods and flat-rate pricing when appropriate.

Yes—Best Bid makes it easy to handle fast changes from GC updates, helping you revise estimates quickly when project details shift.

If you make a mistake in an estimate, Best Bid gives you the ability to review and adjust the estimate at any time.

You can substitute items, change assembly attributes, and make updates as needed—giving you flexibility to correct issues and keep the estimate aligned with the job.

If you are happy with Accubid and cost is not a concern, staying with your current system may make sense. That said, many contractors look at Best Bid because they want a faster, simpler, and more affordable estimating solution without giving up the features they need.

Spreadsheets can work, and for some contractors they are a familiar starting point. But dedicated estimating software gives you more speed, structure, and consistency—especially when projects change. Best Bid offers more than just a final price; it also gives you tools to manage breakouts, material lists, revisions, and project information after the bid is awarded.

It is common to feel like there is never a good time to learn new software. But for many contractors, taking the time to build estimating skills now leads to long-term time savings, better organization, and more confidence in future bids. Once the workflow becomes familiar, the software can help you work faster, bid more consistently, and track projects more effectively after the sale.

Cloud-based software can be a good fit for some companies, but many contractors also value the control and reliability of a desktop-based system. With Best Bid, you can keep working even without internet access, avoid ongoing subscription costs, and maintain more direct control over your software environment and data. For companies that prefer a cloud setup, hosting Best Bid in their own environment can also be an option. If you ever lose a bid due to the internet going down or a network glitch, you may not think Cloud Software is better. You never own your data and the cost will continue to climb.

I can help with that. If the top light is red, it usually means there is a labor allocation issue. Select the Labor button and review your man-hours allocation. The total must equal exactly 100%. In most cases, the light turns red because the allocation is above or below 100%. Once you correct it, select Save and Close, then return to the Summary page to confirm the light has cleared.

Absolutely — I’d be glad to help. To determine exactly what’s happening, we’ll need to do a screen share so we can see the issue and guide you to a fix. Please visit bestbidestimating.com, select Connect to Remote Access from the top toolbar, and download AnyDesk. Once AnyDesk opens, you’ll receive a 10-digit code. After you have that code, call us at 731-431-5721 so we can connect with you.

I can help with that. Go to the dropdown where the issue appears, then right-click the header area at the top of the list. Depending on the screen, it may be the section labeled Sorting Index or the blank header just below the search area. Once the menu appears, select Column Chooser. A panel will open showing available column headers. Drag the missing headers back into place one at a time. In many cases, restoring Item Name and Sorting Index resolves the problem.

Thanks for that detail. This usually happens when the source PDF is low resolution or not generated from a full-size drawing. Make sure you are working from full-size sheets rather than reduced pages such as 8.5 x 11. If the file was created using something other than Revit or AutoCAD, it may need to be flattened or regenerated at a higher quality. A simple fix is to open the drawing and use Print to PDF, which often creates a clearer file for upload. If that does not improve it, please email the drawings to info@1CEES.com and we’ll review them for you.

The best way to report an issue is to document the steps that consistently recreate it. If the issue is random, keep testing until you can repeat it on demand. Write down each step in detail, and if possible, capture screenshots using Shift + Windows Key + S. Then back up your database by going to Tools > Backup Database and send it to us using Dropbox or WeTransfer. When we can reproduce the issue consistently, we can correct it much more quickly.

No problem — you can reinstall the software using the original download link you received and activate it with the same license information. After reinstalling, restore one of your saved databases. If you cannot find your original download link or license email, contact us at info@1CEES.com and we’ll help you get back up and running.

Have you checked the Help Library. These are some of the topics.

• Starting an Estimate

• Setting up a new project

• Adding your company name

• The Control Panel

• Entering Lighting Tags

• Changing Tag colors

• Alt way of entering Tags

• Counting Fixtures

• Setting up Auto Count

• Manual Counting 01

• Manual Counting 02

• Counting Switches

• Counting Receptacles and loading a new page 01

• Counting Receptacles and loading a new page 02

• Counting Receptacles and loading a new page 03

• Counting Receptacles and loading a new page 04

• Counting the Data

• Counting Fire Alarm

• Setting Up measurements 01

• Setting Up measurements 02

• Measure

• Measuring ½” EMT with 5# 12…

• Measuring ¾” EMT with 7# 12…

• Motor Feeders

• Start Measuring for the Lighting

• Starting the Takeoff

• Modifying the Lighting Assembly 01

• Entering Switches 01

• Entering Switches 02

• Entering Switches 03

• Entering Switches 04

• Entering Receptacles 01

• Entering Receptacles 02

• Entering Stub ups

• Entering Fire Alarm

• Entering Fire Alarm 02

• Entering Branch Wiring 01

• Entering Branch Wiring 02

• Entering Motor Feeders

• Import a drawing

• Set the scale

• Adding items to the database 01

• Adding items to the database 02

• Adding items to the database 03

• Adding items to the database 04

• Adding items to the database 05

• Finding the New Item

• Entering the New Item into the estimate

• Exporting the Database to add multiple items at one time

• Counting lights and entering them into the software

• This is how to enter Branch conduit and wire

• Entering lights. Alt method

• Entering lighting. Just lights and labor. No raceway included

• Entering Lighting Branch Circuits 01

• Entering Lighting Branch Circuits 02

• Entering Lighting Branch Circuits 03

• Entering Lighting Branch Circuits 04

• Add new item to the dropdowns 01

• Add new item to the dropdowns 02

• Add new item to the database

• Add Switch to your drop down menu

• Receptacle Branch

• Entering feeder

• Site PVC 01

• Site PVC 02

• How to use the Auto Count 01

• How to use the Auto Count 02

• How to use the Auto Count 03

• Adding Length to a measurement

• Adding attributes

• Setting the scale

• Activating the up and down icon 01

• Activating the up and down icon 02

• Adding lengths into the software

• Entering measurements into the software

• General info about different techniques 01

• MC 01

• MC 02

• MC 03

• Adding items to the dropdown 01

• Adding items to the dropdown 02

• Adding items to the dropdown 03

• Adding Items to the Database part #1

• Adding Items to the Database part #2

• Adding Items to the Database part #3

• Adding Items to the Database part #4

• Adding Items to the Database part #5

• Storing Custom Assemblies 01

• Storing Custom Assemblies

Yes, we have a wonderful YouTube channel located at….
https://www.youtube.com/@ElectricalEstimatingSoftware

Here is our YouTube channel, which contains many great videos.

We offer a variety of videos here are some I suggest.
For General start to finish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdDjrrXySq0&t=217s

For large projects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOwdmrlWV0Q&t=2055s

For Residential: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSLLOt59YuY&t=2s

Simple projects start to finish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9s8mzMxrCM&t=648s

Best Bid Online School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxr0NBue8qY

Anyone can estimate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcW8qME3qlU&t=152s&pp=0gcJCUELAYcqIYzv

How to delete a line when you make a mistake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBHzqIP7Rw8&t=14s&pp=0gcJCUELAYcqIYzv

If you are happy with McCormick and cost is not a concern, staying with your current system may be the right choice. However, many contractors consider Best Bid when they want something faster, easier to use, and more cost-effective for day-to-day estimating.

Spreadsheets can work, and for some contractors, they are a familiar starting point. But dedicated estimating software gives you more speed, structure, and consistency—especially when projects change. Best Bid offers more than just a final price; it also gives you tools to manage breakouts, material lists, revisions, and project information after the bid is awarded.