Question 1

What is BidBrain?

Accepted Answer

BidBrain is AI-powered construction estimating software built for electrical, fire alarm, low voltage, and access control contractors. You upload your blueprints, and the AI reads the plans, counts devices and materials, and generates a complete, priced estimate in under 10 minutes.

Question 2

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Choose a plan on our pricing page, sign up, and start uploading blueprints immediately. No demo call, no setup call, no waiting. You can start your first estimate within minutes of signing up.

Question 3

Do I need to install any software?

Accepted Answer

No. BidBrain is 100% web-based. It works in any modern browser on any device — Mac, PC, tablet, or phone. Nothing to download or install.

Question 4

What trades does BidBrain support?

Accepted Answer

BidBrain is purpose-built for electrical, fire alarm (addressable and conventional), low voltage (data cabling, cameras, AV, intercom), and access control. These are the trades we specialize in deeply — not a dozen trades handled generically.

Question 5

How does the AI read my blueprints?

Accepted Answer

BidBrain uses computer vision and AI trained specifically on electrical and low voltage construction drawings. When you upload a PDF plan set, the AI identifies symbols, reads schedules, traces wire runs, and extracts quantities — the same way an expert estimator would, but in minutes instead of hours.

Question 6

How accurate are the AI estimates?

Accepted Answer

BidBrain consistently produces counts within 2–5% of manual takeoffs for standard construction drawings. Accuracy improves as you use the platform and fine-tune your labor rates and material preferences.

Question 7

What file formats can I upload?

Accepted Answer

BidBrain accepts PDF files — the most common format for digital blueprints. Multi-page plan sets are fully supported. You can upload single sheets or complete plan sets with hundreds of pages.

Question 8

Can it handle complex, large-scale plan sets?

Accepted Answer

Yes. BidBrain is designed for commercial-grade plan sets including multi-story buildings, large facilities, and complex systems. The larger the plan set, the more time BidBrain saves you versus manual takeoff.

Question 9

Does the AI learn from my corrections?

Accepted Answer

BidBrain applies your saved labor rates, material preferences, and markup settings across every estimate automatically, making each subsequent estimate more aligned with your business.

Question 10

What plans are available?

Accepted Answer

BidBrain offers flexible monthly plans starting at $99.99/month. View current plan details and features on our pricing page. All plans include AI blueprint reading, estimate generation, and PDF/Excel export.

Question 11

Is there a free trial?

Accepted Answer

We offer a Starter plan that lets you generate your first estimates so you can evaluate the quality before committing to a higher tier. Visit our pricing page for current details.

Question 12

Is there a contract or long-term commitment?

Accepted Answer

No contracts. All plans are month-to-month and you can cancel anytime from your account settings. No cancellation fees.

Question 13

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major credit and debit cards via Stripe. Payment is processed securely and you'll receive a receipt for every charge.

Question 14

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can change your plan at any time from your billing settings. Changes take effect on your next billing cycle.

Question 15

What does an estimate include?

Accepted Answer

Each BidBrain estimate includes a line-by-line breakdown of materials (with quantities and unit prices), labor hours by trade, and total cost. You can customize markup and labor rates before exporting.

Question 16

Can I export estimates to Excel or PDF?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All estimates can be exported as polished PDF documents or Excel/CSV files. The PDF format is presentation-ready for submitting to GCs or owners.

Question 17

Can I customize the estimate before exporting?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can review and edit any line item in your estimate before finalizing — adjust quantities, swap materials, change labor rates, or update markup.

Question 18

Can I brand the estimate with my company logo?

Accepted Answer

Company branding on exported estimates is available on higher-tier plans. Set up your company profile with your logo, address, and license number for professional output.

Question 19

Is my blueprint data secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All uploaded files are encrypted in transit and at rest. We do not use your blueprint data to train external AI models or share it with third parties.

Question 20

How do I get support if I have an issue?

Accepted Answer

Email us at bidbrainapp@gmail.com or use the contact form on our Help page. We typically respond within one business day.

Question 21

What if I have a question before signing up?

Accepted Answer

Visit our Help page or email bidbrainapp@gmail.com. You can also watch the demo on our Demo page to see exactly how BidBrain works before committing.

FrequentlyAsked.

Getting Started

How the AI Works

Plans & Pricing

Estimates & Exports

Security & Support

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