Cloud-based Estimating & Cost Management Software for Construction
One system. Full control.
Chalkstring is the only fully integrated cloud platform built for specialist contractors — combining estimating and cost management in one connected workflow.
From first price to final account, your team works in a single system. Estimates flow straight into live projects, and everything — scope, rates, variations, valuations, procurement, plant and more — is tracked in real time. No spreadsheets. No silos. No surprises.
Built for specialist contractors.
Chalkstring was built by people who know what it's like to run specialist contracting businesses. Every feature reflects the real challenges you face — from pricing work to tracking profit.
Whether you're in interiors, facades or beyond - or in a small or large business - we’ve designed a takeoff, estimating and cost management system with the specialist trades in mind.
Chalkstring's estimating module
Price work faster, smarter and with total consistency.
Build accurate rates using shared templates and live supplier quotes. Measure directly from drawings, create professional tenders in clicks, and explore value engineering options without starting from scratch.
From first measure to handover, everything is structured, auditable and ready to track.
All the estimating features you need
Templates & Centralised Database
Estimate faster and more consistently with shared templates and a single pricing database.
Rate Build-Up
Build accurate, auditable rates using structured templates including labour, material and prelims.
Professional Tender Documents
Produce sharp, branded tenders in clicks — easy to read, easy to say yes to.
Integrated Takeoff
Measure from drawings and flow quantities straight into your estimates — no double-handling.
Value Engineering
Find the most competitive solution by comparing products, brands, suppliers and labour quickly.
Project Handover
Generate consistent handovers with full scope, pricing and assumptions — instantly.
Chalkstring's cost management module
Benefit from a live, 360° view of every project’s commercial position — from procurement to final account.
Track cost, revenue, margin and cost-to-complete in one connected system.
No spreadsheets, no surprises — just total control from day one.
All the cost management features you need
Post Tender Review
Reality-check the scope, pricing and assumptions before delivery begins — and lock in margin with a clean, structured commercial baseline.
Plant management
Track hired plant day-by-day, avoid hidden charges, and see real-time costs reflected in your live project performance.
Labour
Approve hours against live scope and mark up drawings with what’s been done and issue certification— progress, cost and performance all stay aligned.
Cost reports
See a live picture of your cost, revenue and margin position for all projects— with breakdowns by zone, package or cost type. No spreadsheets. No guesswork.
Procurement
Raise and manage material orders directly from your live scope. Log deliveries & reconcile invoices easily.
Variations
Track and price changes as they happen, not after the fact. Maintain a clear audit trail and protect your margin from scope creep.
Valuations
Log site progress accurately and build structured applications for payment — using live scope, variations and cost data. Nothing gets missed, nothing slips through.
Accounts integration
Integrates directly with Sage 50 and Xero, sending cost, invoice and payment data, with batch export options for other systems
From spreadsheets to real-time certainty
Before Chalkstring
✕ Pricing methods vary wildly across the team
✕ Hours lost digging through old files or past tenders
✕ Spreadsheets full of copy/paste errors and broken formulas
✕ Client tenders lack clarity, detail or consistency
✕ Handover means rework, rebuilds and lost assumptions
✕ Value E requests cause chaos — or get ignored
✕ The team is stressed and not working efficiently
✕ We don’t know where the margin stands — it changes daily
✕ Procurement doesn’t match what was actually priced
✕ Variations are buried in emails or tracked in separate files
✕ Valuations are slow, inconsistent and error-prone
✕ Overspends aren’t spotted until it’s too late
✕ Forecasting cost-to-complete is manual guesswork
✕ Everyone’s working in different spreadsheets and systems
With Chalkstring
✓ Build rates using shared templates and consistent methods
✓ Estimate faster by using a centralised database
✓ Generate clear, branded, client-ready tenders in clicks
✓ Track cost, revenue and margin as you build the price
✓ Hand over cleanly — no rekeying, no gaps, no ambiguity
✓ Respond to VE changes in minutes, not hours
✓ A happy, productive team who can now sleep at night
✓ See margin, cost and revenue in real time — no surprises
✓ Align procurement with the agreed project scope
✓ Log and track variations in one central place
✓ Generate accurate, auditable valuations fast
✓ Track spend daily and catch overspends early
✓ Forecast cost-to-complete in real time as the job progresses
✓ Keep commercial, site and accounts fully aligned
With Chalkstring you will:
Centralise
Bring your estimating, cost management, procurement, valuations, and reporting into one cloud-based system — no more silos, spreadsheets or lost data between teams.
Standardise
Use consistent templates, workflows and pricing across every project — from bid to final account — so your whole team works the same way, with full transparency and control.
Analyse
See live cost, value, margin and cost-to-complete at every stage of the job. Learn from real data, improve performance and protect profitability — project by project.
Video Case Study
Hear how SCS makes better decisions using Chalkstring
Craig Scott, Commercial Director at SCS Building Solutions explains how the management team uses Chalkstring in board meetings to review each project's performance.
Support from people who 'get it'
When you call, we answer. No ticket queues, no bots — just real help from real people.
Our support team also includes experienced Quantity Surveyors, so you’ll speak to someone who understands Chalkstring, your world and speaks your language.
Whether it’s a quick how-to or a detailed walkthrough, we’re here to make sure you get the most out of Chalkstring — every step of the way.
How Chalkstring helps specialist subcontractors
- Use one platform for all projects
- Apply defined & consistent processes
- Standardise documentation
- Automate repetitive tasks
- Eradicate data duplication
- Adopt a project management framework
- Comply with ISO & quality procedures
- Work from anywhere, using the cloud
- View project data in real-time
- Identify early warnings & take action
- Control & analyse spend better
- Eliminate over-ordering & over-paying
- Accurately predict cost-to-complete
- Make data-driven, informed decisions
- Scale & grow your business