Our Services

Our Services

Cornerstone Estimating Pty Ltd provides commercial and cost support services for commercial subcontractors across Melbourne, VIC. Our services are designed for finishing and architectural trades who want better control over contracts, variations, margins and cash flow. By staying involved before and during delivery, we help subcontractors manage risk properly, protect profit and keep projects commercially stable from start to finish.

Construction profitability fails commercially when decisions are made without clarity, structure or support. Verbal instructions, unclear scope, rushed claims and unmanaged change quietly erode margins and place pressure on cash flow. Our role is to bring structure to these areas so subcontractors can operate with confidence rather than reacting to problems after the damage is done.
Cornerstone Estimating Pty Ltd takes a practical, project-focused approach by working alongside subcontractors during live jobs, not after disputes have already formed. This allows issues to be identified early, managed properly, and resolved while leverage still exists. Our cost consulting company in Melbourne, VIC offers a comprehensive range of Quantity Surveying and Contract Administration services designed to support Construction Businesses throughout every phase of a project. 
All services are delivered by a qualified, experienced Quantity Surveyor and Contracts Administrator, with deep experience in the Construction industry. Whether you need to win more tenders, get paid on time, or protect your margins, our solutions are tailored, thorough and grounded in real-world commercial practice.

Commercial Management

Commercial management is the backbone of how subcontractors stay in control during a project. Without ongoing oversight, small decisions made under pressure can create long-term financial exposure. Issues such as unclear responsibility, untracked changes, and delayed responses often compound over time.
We provide ongoing commercial support throughout the project lifecycle, helping subcontractors understand their position, assess risk, and respond appropriately as the job progresses. This guidance allows work to continue without sacrificing margin or taking on unintended exposure. 

This service would be covered in varying capacities across our Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 pricing packages (see Our Pricing section below), which would be $2,000/month (Excl GST) (Tier 1), $4,000/month (Excl GST) (Tier 2) and $7,500/month (Excl GST) (Tier 3) respectively.

Contract and Scope of Works Review

Contracts and scope documents often contain hidden risks, unclear inclusions, and poorly defined exclusions. When these issues aren’t understood early, subcontractors can end up responsible for work they never allowed for.
We review contracts and the scope of work to clarify obligations, risks, inclusions, and exclusions. This creates a clear commercial baseline that allows projects to be managed properly and decisions to be made with full awareness of exposure.

This service would start from our Tier 1 pricing package (see Our Pricing section below), which would be $2,000/month (Excl GST).

Variation and Change Management

Change is constant in construction, but unmanaged change is costly. Many subcontractors lose money by proceeding with variations based on verbal instructions or assumptions, only to discover later that approval or payment is disputed.
We help identify changes early, price them correctly, and ensure they are documented and approved before work is carried out. Managing variations at the right time preserves leverage, reduces disputes and prevents subcontractors from funding changes out of their own pocket.

This service would start from our Tier 2 pricing package (see Our Pricing section below), which would be $4,000/month (Excl GST)

Margin and Cash Flow Protection

Strong margins and stable cash flow are the result of consistent commercial processes. Subcontractors often experience cash flow pressure due to under-allowed tenders, poorly prepared claims or unchallenged payment schedules.
We support margin and cash flow protection through estimating, tendering, contract management, and payment claim preparation aligned with the Building & Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (SOPA). We also review payment schedules and guide responses when amounts are reduced or delayed, including escalation to adjudication when required. This helps subcontractors stay paid correctly and on time.

This service would start from in our Tier 3 pricing package (see Our Pricing section below), which would be $7,500/month (Excl GST).

Our Pricing

Tier 1 - Commercial Foundations

$2,000.00/Month (Excl GST)

For subcontractors who are still running estimating and admin themselves but want professional protection against bad contracts, unclear scopes, and weak payment claims. Best suited to businesses that are early in their commercial journey and want to stop preventable mistakes before they become expensive.

Priority Level: Standard turnaround

INCLUDES:

 - Correspondence only with you and your team

 - Full Contract reviews (including Scopes of Works)

 - Bill of Quantities Take Offs (no rates)

 - Payment claims (SOPA Compliant)

 - Payment Schedule Review (SOPA Compliant)

 - Variation identification (Basic)

Tier 2 - Commercial Control

$4,000.00/Month (Excl GST)

For subcontractors running multiple live projects who want the commercial side handled properly day-to-day, including claims, variations, notices, and direct expert correspondence with the builder. Ideal if you’re busy delivering work and want operational control without personally managing the paperwork and contractual disputes.

Priority Level: Standard turnaround

INCLUDES everything in Tier 1 - Commercial Foundations and:

 - Microsoft Teams screen share commercial support with you and your team.

 - Direct correspondences with your project Builders to manage post contract live jobs.

 - Tender package reviews and pricing risk flags 

 - Full estimating (including rates)

 - Project tender clarifications and management

 - Variation drafting, costing and register management

 - Proactive live project support

 - Contract correspondences drafting requirements (e.g. Contract Notices)

 - Commercial positioning advice job by job (flagging disputes worth escalating, etc.)

Tier 3 - Commercial Partner

$7,500.00/Month (Excl GST) (limited seats)

For subcontractors making high-value pricing and tender decisions who want strategic input on which jobs to pursue, how to price risk, and when to engage or walk away from specific projects. Designed for owners who want an embedded commercial partner to actively protect margins and guide business growth.

Priority Level: High priority turnaround and access (limited seats)

INCLUDES everything in Tier 2 - Commercial Control and:

 - Unlimited priority communication (e.g. on-call support for urgent issues, urgent site meetings, etc)

 - Unlimited meetings as required for internal or external matters

 - Full builder correspondences throughout from Tender to Deed of Release across all projects

 - Proactive commercial management (prioritising the “right” builders/projects, shaping negotiation postures, deprioritising certain Clients etc.)

 - Monthly commercial project review meetings and oversight of all Client contracts and tenders

 - Tender Selection Strategy and lead management (CRM)

 - Proactive Variation strategy and pursuit (strategic positioning, negotiation posture and recovery of variation entitlements)

 - Proactive pursuit of Deed of Release and Release of Retention payments

 - Full commercial dispute resolution strategy, avoidance and escalation

 - Full Security of Payment Act (SOPA), preparation, adjudication administration and management (for margin and cash flow protecion)

Tier 4 - Enterprise

From $17,000.00/ Month (Excl GST) (VERY limited seats)

For subcontractors who want to fully offload commercial management, disputes, and contractual risk to an external specialist team. Built for larger businesses that want a commercial department without building one internally.

Priority Level: FIRST Priority turnaround and access (very limited seats)

INCLUDES everything in Tier 3 - Commercial Partner and:

 - Business level strategic and proactive involvement (e.g. pursuing the right work with the right client, prioritising Tenders and Clients with best prospects, shaping negotiation posture, pattern recognition, trade offs, focus on business growth, etc)

 - Client / project portfolio optimisation 

 - All correspondences required, full variation pursuit strategy, and end-to-end dispute resolution support (up to SOPA adjudication) on Clients behalf.

 - Tender and Risk appetite strategy

 - Full and proactive commercial oversight (disputes worth escalating, where margins are being lost, how aggressive or conservative to be commercially)

Contract Management and Cost Consultant Services in Melbourne, VIC

Cornerstone Estimating Pty Ltd

Commercial Management

Contract and Scope of Works Review

Variation and Change Management

Margin and Cash Flow Protection

Our Pricing

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