An omitted cost needs a current commercial decision and a correction to future estimates. Establish whether the scope changed or the original price missed something before approaching the customer.
Corporate Recovery Partners
01 / 06
The disposal charge was never included
A landscaper wins a fixed-price job and later discovers that the estimate omitted substantial disposal costs. The owner wants to add the amount to the final invoice. Before doing so, the business needs to distinguish an estimating error from an agreed change and understand how the cost affects the job.
Compare the accepted quote, scope and cost build-up with the new supplier or disposal evidence. Check quantities and assumptions rather than starting with a general statement that everything became more expensive.
Record whether the cost existed when the quote was prepared or arose from later instructions. That distinction helps the adviser assess the contract and keeps the customer conversation factual.
Have the relevant terms reviewed before demanding more money or changing performance. Business.gov.au guidance recommends clear documented variations and attention to construction-specific rules where applicable.
A mistake in the estimate does not by itself establish a right to increase the contract price. If a negotiated change is proposed, explain it honestly and obtain the required agreement.
Update the job cost using supported figures and realistic remaining work. Identify the immediate cash needed and any other jobs affected. Do not hide the omission by assuming an unagreed customer payment.
Ask the accountant or adviser about available operating choices and their consequences. The aim is a workable response to the actual shortfall, not recovering the error through another unsupported commitment.
Business.gov.au quoting guidance stresses complete costs. Determine whether the omission came from a missing checklist item, an outdated rate or a scope assumption nobody tested.
Add a targeted review for that failure and check it on the next comparable quote. A blanket instruction to add more margin may miss the same cost again and make unrelated work less competitive.
