A bid credibility package is the set of documents that answers a builder's or owner's risk questions before they ask them. It usually includes a two-page capability statement, five to eight one-page project sheets, and a prequalification page on your website that holds the same facts in a form anyone can check. We produce all three, written in plain language and designed to be read in under ten minutes.
Who this is for
This service suits contractors who are capable of larger work but keep getting priced only for small packages. It is especially useful in three situations.
- Subtrades approaching a new builder. The estimator has never heard of you and needs a reason to add a name to a list that already works.
- General contractors moving into a new sector. Going from residential renovations to commercial fit-outs, or from single-family to multi-unit, means proving relevant experience you may only partly have.
- Firms that grew quietly. You now run several crews and carry bigger bonding and insurance, but your documents still describe the company you were five years ago.
If none of these sound like you, the services overview may point to a better starting place.
What's included
The package is built from your real records. We interview you and your project leads, collect the facts, then write and design.
- Capability statement (two pages). Who you are, the project types and sizes you deliver, your crew structure, the regions you work in, and how to reach the person who decides. No slogans.
- Project sheets (five to eight). One page per relevant job: building type, your scope, approximate value band, duration, the constraint you managed (occupied building, tight site, winter schedule) and the handover result.
- Prequalification page on your website. A plain page that summarises the same facts and lists what documents you can provide on request. It links to your project portfolio pages if you have them.
- A short safety and quality story. In your words: how you plan work, supervise sites and close out deficiencies. We do not certify or assess any of it; we help you describe what you already do.
- A reusable fact file. A spreadsheet of the details estimators ask for again and again, so your office can answer prequal forms in an hour instead of a day.
Timeline
Most packages take three to five weeks from kickoff.
- Week 1: interview, project shortlist and document collection.
- Weeks 2–3: writing and first design pass for the capability statement and project sheets.
- Week 4: your review, corrections and the prequalification web page.
- Week 5: final files in print-ready and screen formats, plus an editable version you own.
The pace depends mostly on how quickly we get photos and project facts. Contractors who send ten good jobs in the first week often finish in three.
How results are measured
We measure the package by what happens to your bid activity, not by how it looks. Before we start we record a baseline from the last twelve months, then track the same measures afterwards.
- invitations to price per quarter, split by new and existing builders or owners
- the share of invitations that are full scopes rather than small packages
- shortlist or interview rate where the client tells you
- average value of the projects you are invited to price
Our bid hit-rate guide shows how to turn those numbers into a dollar value. We will not promise a win rate; pricing, timing and the reviewer's judgement are yours and theirs.
Mistakes to avoid
Most weak capability statements fail in the same few ways.
- Listing every service you have ever offered. A builder looking for a drywall and framing sub does not want to read about your landscaping crew. Narrow the document to the work you want more of.
- Hiding the scale. If you cannot share contract values, give a band. "Projects from $250,000 to $1.2 million" tells a reviewer far more than "projects of all sizes".
- Vague project descriptions. "Commercial renovation, downtown" says nothing. "Phased renovation of an occupied three-storey medical office, completed over 14 weekends" says a great deal.
- Claiming what you can't back up. Every statement in your package may be checked by a reviewer who has seen a lot of inflated paperwork. Keep it verifiable.
- Letting it go stale. Update the project sheets twice a year. A package that still features a job from 2019 signals that nothing notable has happened since.
For a step-by-step version you can do yourself, read our capability statement guide. If you'd rather we build it, the cost sits inside our plans on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a capability statement the same as a prequalification form?
No. A prequalification form is the builder's or owner's document, and you fill it in yourself. A capability statement is your own marketing document. A good one makes those forms faster to complete because the facts are already organised.
Will you fill in our prequalification forms for us?
No. Those forms contain legal declarations, insurance details and safety records that only you can attest to. We organise and present your information; you complete and sign the forms.
How long does the package take?
Usually three to five weeks, most of which is gathering project facts and photos from you. The writing and design are the quicker part once we have the raw material.
What if we don't have good photos of past jobs?
Use what you have and start shooting every current job properly. A plain, well-labelled phone photo of a finished mechanical room beats a polished stock image, because reviewers can tell the difference.