For electricians
Change orders for electricians
Electrical work often can't stop at the quote: an old panel runs out of room, or opening a box turns up wiring that isn't safe to leave. A signed change order shows the customer agreed to the extra work, and the cost, before you pulled the permit or the wire.
Updated
Three extras electricians run into
Example 1 · Kitchen remodel wiring
Panel upgrade for the new kitchen
Why, in the customer's words
Your 100 amp panel doesn't have the room or the capacity for the new range, microwave and dishwasher circuits. A 200 amp panel carries the new kitchen safely and is what the inspector will look for.
- Upgrade 100 amp panel to 200 amp1 × $2,450.00$2,450.00
- Utility disconnect and reconnect1 × $250.00$250.00
- Electrical permit and inspection1 × $175.00$175.00
| Before this change | $3,600.00 |
|---|---|
| This change | + $2,875.00 |
| New total | $6,475.00 |
Example 2 · Garage subpanel
Extra circuit and outlets at the workbench
Why, in the customer's words
You asked for outlets along the workbench wall, which weren't in the quote. They need their own 20 amp circuit so your tools don't trip the breaker, and GFCI outlets because it's a garage.
- New 20 amp circuit1 × $325.00$325.00
- GFCI outlet3 × $85.00$255.00
| Before this change | $1,850.00 |
|---|---|
| This change | + $580.00 |
| New total | $2,430.00 |
Example 3 · Whole-house lighting update
Ungrounded wiring found in the bedrooms
Why, in the customer's words
When we opened the bedroom outlets, we found old two-wire cable with no ground. Three-prong outlets on it aren't safe, so we need to run new grounded wire on those two circuits and patch the small holes after.
- Rewire ungrounded circuit2 × $485.00$970.00
- Patch drywall at access holes1 × $160.00$160.00
| Before this change | $2,400.00 |
|---|---|
| This change | + $1,130.00 |
| New total | $3,530.00 |
Example prices in US dollars. Yours come from your own Products & Services in Jobber.
How it works for electricians
Show what you found
Take a photo of the full panel or the two-wire cable in the box. It explains the extra work better than a phone call.
Lines from your list
Autofill writes the reason and picks lines like a new circuit or a GFCI outlet from your Products & Services in Jobber, at your prices.
The customer signs off
Send it by text or email. They see the photo, the reason and the new total, and sign off on their phone before you pull the wire.
Back on the Jobber job
The new lines, a pinned note and the signed PDF land on the job, so the extra work is on the invoice and the record.
What the customer sees
The customer sees why the panel has to change in plain words, the photo, and each line with its price, permit included. Before they sign off they see the total before this change, the change and the new total.
Kitchen remodel wiring
Panel upgrade for the new kitchen
Your 100 amp panel doesn't have the room or the capacity for the new range, microwave and dishwasher circuits. A 200 amp panel carries the new kitchen safely and is what the inspector will look for.
| Before this change | $3,600.00 |
|---|---|
| This change | + $2,875.00 |
| New total | $6,475.00 |
Questions
Should a code or safety fix go on a change order?
Yes, if it wasn't in the quote. The customer still pays for it, so explain why it's needed, show the photo and get the sign-off before you do the work.
Can I put the permit fee on the change order?
Yes. Add it as its own line, like any other cost. The customer sees each line and its price before they sign off.