Blog — BOQ, GST & Contractor Billing Guides

Architect fee proposal template with stage-wise payment schedule on a desk

Product Guides

Architect Fee Proposal Format in India (Template + Invoice)

Free architect fee proposal format for India: scope, exclusions, stage-wise payment schedule, GST and TDS, plus a sample invoice with real numbers.

ARC PEM Team·14 Nov 2026·7 min read

Truck loaded with construction material at a site gate with e-way bill being checked

GST & Compliance

E-Way Bill for Construction Material Transport: Rules, ₹50,000 Limit and Penalties

When do you need an e-way bill for cement, steel and sand? Limit, validity, who generates it, site-to-site transfers and penalties, explained for builders.

ARC PEM Team·13 Nov 2026·6 min read

Contractor completing GST registration on a laptop at a construction site office

GST & Compliance

GST Registration for Contractors

Do you need GST registration as a contractor? Thresholds, the 6% composition scheme, documents, penalties and how to choose between regular and composition.

ARC PEM Team·13 Nov 2026·6 min read

Contractor reviewing a cash flow forecast and RA bill beside blueprints at a construction site

Vendor & Contractor Management

Construction Cash Flow Forecast: Format, Worked Example and How to Plug the Funding Gap

Build a construction cash flow forecast for Indian sites: format, worked example with RA bill lag, retention and TDS, and how to size your funding gap.

ARC PEM Team·06 Nov 2026·7 min read

Site engineer filling a daily progress report on a clipboard beside a slab at a building site

Product Guides

Daily Progress Report (DPR) Format for Construction Sites: What to Track Every Day (With Example)

Daily progress report (DPR) format for construction sites: the five things to track each day, a worked example with formulas and a weekly roll-up.

ARC PEM Team·06 Nov 2026·8 min read

Construction site with a calculator and a labour cess form on a desk

GST & Compliance

BOCW Labour Cess 2026: 1% Construction Cess Under the Social Security Code (Who Pays, How to Calculate, Example)

BOCW labour cess 2026: 1% of the cost of construction under the Code on Social Security. Who pays, how to calculate it, interest and a worked example.

ARC PEM Team·05 Nov 2026·7 min read

GST invoice and calendar marking 1 November 2026 beside a construction drawing

GST & Compliance

GST Changes from 1 November 2026: What Contractors and Builders Need to Do (Credit Notes, E-Invoicing, Registration)

GST changes from 1 Nov 2026 for contractors and builders: rebate credit notes, ITC reversal, e-invoicing from 2027 and what is still pending.

ARC PEM Team·05 Nov 2026·8 min read

Variation order form with a marked-up building drawing and calculator

Vendor & Contractor Management

Variation Order in Construction: Format, Pricing and Approval (With Worked Example)

Variation order in construction: format, how to price extra and omitted work, approval steps and a worked example with net and gross variation.

ARC PEM Team·04 Nov 2026·8 min read

Construction payment schedule table with a calculator beside a building under construction

Vendor & Contractor Management

Construction Payment Schedule: Milestone-Wise Payment Plan for a House or Building (With Percentages and Example)

Construction payment schedule for a house or building: milestone percentages, retention, advance recovery, a ₹40 lakh worked example and Excel formulas.

ARC PEM Team·03 Nov 2026·8 min read

Paint roller and paint tin beside a freshly painted wall

BOQ & Cost Estimation

How Much Paint Do You Need? Paint Quantity per Sq Ft for Walls and Ceilings (Formula, Coverage and Example)

How much paint do you need? Formula, coverage per coat vs two coats, quantity per 100 sq ft for emulsion, primer and putty, and a worked room example.

ARC PEM Team·03 Nov 2026·8 min read

Construction quotation with a calculator and building drawing on a desk

Vendor & Contractor Management

Quotation Format for Construction Work in India: Template, Fields, GST and Sample (Excel)

Quotation format for construction work in India: fields to include, a sample with GST, how to price rates with overheads and profit, and Excel formulas.

ARC PEM Team·02 Nov 2026·8 min read

Floor being tiled with 600 by 600 mm tiles and a tape measure

BOQ & Cost Estimation

How Many Tiles Do You Need? Tile Quantity per Sq Ft With Wastage for Floor and Wall (Formula and Chart)

How many tiles do you need? Formula, tiles per 100 sq ft chart for common sizes, wastage allowance and a worked floor and bathroom wall example.

ARC PEM Team·02 Nov 2026·7 min read

Site engineer and contractor taking measurements for an RA bill

Vendor & Contractor Management

Measurement Sheet Format for Contractor Bills: How to Take Measurements for an RA Bill (With Example)

Measurement sheet format for contractor bills: columns, formulas, deductions and a worked RA bill showing previous, current and cumulative quantities.

ARC PEM Team·31 Oct 2026·7 min read

Plasterer applying cement mortar to a wall with a trowel

BOQ & Cost Estimation

How Much Cement and Sand for Plastering? Plaster Quantity per Sq Ft With Mix Ratios and Example

Plaster quantity calculation: cement and sand per 100 sq ft for 6, 12, 15 and 20 mm plaster in 1:3 to 1:6 mortar, with a worked room example.

ARC PEM Team·29 Oct 2026·7 min read

Construction purchase order with a delivery challan on a site-office desk

Vendor & Contractor Management

Purchase Order (PO) Format for Construction in India: Template, Fields, GST Details and Three-Way Match

Purchase order format for construction in India: the fields to include, GST details, a sample PO with numbers and how to do a three-way match.

ARC PEM Team·27 Oct 2026·9 min read

Brick wall with a tape measure showing courses and mortar joints

BOQ & Cost Estimation

How Many Bricks per Sq Ft? Formula, Table and Mortar Quantity for 4.5-inch and 9-inch Walls

How many bricks per sq ft? Worked formula and table for 4.5-inch and 9-inch walls, modular and traditional bricks, with wastage and mortar quantity.

ARC PEM Team·27 Oct 2026·7 min read

Isolated footing reinforcement mesh with column starter bars

Case Studies

Bar Bending Schedule for a Footing: A Fully Worked Example (Isolated Footing Mesh)

Step-by-step bar bending schedule for an isolated footing: number of bars, cutting length, bent-up ends, development length check and steel weight.

ARC PEM Team·26 Oct 2026·9 min read

Purchase register and GSTR-2B statement being matched on a desk

GST & Compliance

GSTR-2B Reconciliation for Contractors and Builders: Step-by-Step Guide With IMS and a Worked Example

GSTR-2B reconciliation for contractors and builders: a step-by-step method, IMS actions, common mismatch causes and a worked purchase register example.

ARC PEM Team·26 Oct 2026·9 min read

Construction contract documents with a calculator and hard hat on a desk

Vendor & Contractor Management

Types of Construction Contracts in India: Item Rate, Lump Sum, Labour-Only and Cost-Plus (With Billing Examples)

Compare item rate, lump sum, labour-only and cost-plus construction contracts in India, with billing examples, risks and how to choose the right one.

ARC PEM Team·25 Oct 2026·9 min read

Reinforcement bars laid in a grid on a slab formwork at a construction site, with a bar bending schedule table beside it

BOQ & Cost Estimation

Bar Bending Schedule for a Slab: Formula, Example & Free Calculator

Learn how to prepare a bar bending schedule for a slab: cutting length formula, bar count, weight and a worked 3 m x 4 m example with IS 456 cover.

ARC PEM Team·24 Oct 2026·6 min read

Construction manager reviewing project budgets, contractor bills and construction expenses on a laptop at a building site

GST & Compliance

Construction Management Software for Small Builders in India: Features, Costs & How to Choose

Compare construction management software for small builders in India. Learn which features matter, how to evaluate costs, and how to manage BOQs, project expenses, contractor bills and payments.

ARC PEM Team·24 Oct 2026·9 min read

Contractor RA bill with calculator and measurement sheet on a desk

Vendor & Contractor Management

Contractor Bill Format in Excel: RA Bill, Calculation and Example

Learn how to prepare a contractor bill format in Excel with a running account (RA) bill example, calculation formulas, deductions and payment tracking.

ARC PEM Team·23 Oct 2026·12 min read

Column reinforcement cage with four main bars, ties and lap starters

Case Studies

Bar Bending Schedule for a Column: A Fully Worked Example (Main Bars, Ties and Laps)

Step-by-step bar bending schedule for a 300 × 300 mm column: main bar cutting length, lap length, tie cutting length, tie count and steel weight.

ARC PEM Team·23 Oct 2026·9 min read

Beam reinforcement cage with bottom bars, top hanger bars and stirrups

Case Studies

Bar Bending Schedule for a Beam: A Fully Worked Example (Main Bars, Stirrups and Laps)

Step-by-step BBS for a 300 × 450 mm beam: cutting lengths, bend deductions, stirrup hooks, lap length and steel weight, with every number explained.

ARC PEM Team·22 Oct 2026·10 min read

Construction labour register and calculator on a site desk

Vendor & Contractor Management

Construction Labour Cost Calculation: Formula, Example & Labour Register Format

Construction labour cost calculation explained: formulas, a worked Indian example, a labour register format, Excel formulas and tips to control overruns.

ARC PEM Team·21 Oct 2026·17 min read

Material stock register beside stacked cement bags on a construction site

BOQ & Cost Estimation

Construction Material Reconciliation: Formula, Format, Example & Excel Template

Construction material reconciliation explained: formulas, a cement stock and consumption example, a register format for Excel and tips to cut wastage.

ARC PEM Team·21 Oct 2026·16 min read

Construction cost value reconciliation report comparing work value and project cost

BOQ & Cost Estimation

Cost Value Reconciliation in Construction: Formula, Example & Excel Template

Cost value reconciliation in construction explained: the CVR formula, a worked ₹1 crore project example and a monthly process to forecast final profit.

ARC PEM Team·17 Oct 2026·14 min read

Petty cash register and receipts on a construction site desk

BOQ & Cost Estimation

Construction Site Petty Cash Management: 5 Ways to Track Small Expenses

Construction site petty cash management: 5 practical ways to record daily site expenses, reconcile cash and avoid errors, plus a register format.

ARC PEM Team·17 Oct 2026·8 min read

Construction job costing report comparing estimated and actual project costs

BOQ & Cost Estimation

Construction Job Costing: Formula, Example and Free Template

Construction job costing explained: the formula, an estimated-vs-actual worked example, costs to include, common mistakes and a free template.

ARC PEM Team·16 Oct 2026·13 min read

Bill of quantities table prepared on top of construction drawings

BOQ & Cost Estimation

How to Prepare a BOQ for a Construction Project (With Example)

Learn how to prepare a BOQ for a construction project with a practical example. Understand quantities, units, rates, cost calculations and common mistakes.

ARC PEM Team·15 Oct 2026·8 min read

BOQ & Cost Estimation

Construction Estimate Template: Free Download, Format & Example

Construction estimate template with Excel formulas, a step-by-step method and a worked example — plus how to track actual costs against your estimate.

ARC PEM Team·15 Oct 2026·11 min read

Split comparison of an Excel spreadsheet and construction expense tracking software dashboard

Product Guides

Construction Expense Tracking in Excel vs Software: Which Is Actually Better for Indian Firms?

Excel works fine until it doesn't. Here's an honest comparison of Excel vs construction expense software — and exactly when the switch actually pays off.

ARC PEM Team·21 Sept 2026·6 min read

Stacked cement bags at a construction site for calculating house construction material quantity

BOQ & Cost Estimation

How Many Cement Bags Do I Need for My House? (Quick Answer + Size-Wise Table)

A 1,000 sq ft house needs roughly 95–400 bags of cement depending on what's included. Here's the quick answer, size-wise table, and exact calculator.

ARC PEM Team·21 Sept 2026·5 min read

Invoice and calculator representing TDS deduction on contractor payments under Section 194C

GST & Compliance

TDS on Contractor Payments: Section 194C Explained for Builders (Now Section 393)

1% or 2%? ₹30,000 or ₹1,00,000? Section 194C TDS on contractor payments explained — plus what changed now that it's Section 393 from April 2026.

ARC PEM Team·25 Aug 2026·6 min read

City skyline representing construction cost per square foot comparison across Indian cities

BOQ & Cost Estimation

Construction Cost Per Sq Ft in India (2026): City-Wise Breakdown

Construction cost per sq ft varies 2-3x across Indian cities. Here's a realistic 2026 city-wise breakdown by quality tier, plus what actually moves the number.

ARC PEM Team·24 Aug 2026·5 min read

BOQ & Cost Estimation

Steel Wastage in Construction: How Much Is "Normal" and How to Control It

Steel wastage above 3% is quietly eating your budget. Here's what actually causes it, what's normal, and how to cut it back using an accurate BBS.

ARC PEM Team·17 Aug 2026·5 min read

Diagram showing bar bending schedule mechanics — bend deduction at a stirrup corner and bond stress along a reinforcement bar

Case Studies

Bar Bending Schedule (BBS) Explained: The Real Engineering Behind 2D, 3D and Bend Deduction Formulas

--BBS formulas like 2D and D²/162 aren't rules to memorize — they're derived from force diagrams, bend geometry, and bond stress. Here's how

ARC PEM Team·04 Aug 2026·8 min read

GST & Compliance

GST 2.0 Rate Cut on Cement & Building Materials: What It Means for Your Project Budget

Cement GST is down from 28% to 18%, and tiles, bricks, marble and granite from 12% to 5%. Here's how to re-cost your BOQ, renegotiate vendor rates, and update your budget-vs-actual tracker before the next billing cycle.

ARC PEM Team·30 Jul 2026·3 min read

Product Guides

From BOQ to Bill: How ARC PEM Tracks a Project's Money End to End

A walkthrough of how a single construction project's finances move through ARC PEM — from the original BOQ to the final GST purchase register — and where each of the other guides on this blog fits in.

ARC PEM Team·09 Jun 2026·5 min read

GST & Compliance

How to Raise a GST-Compliant RA Bill for Construction Contracts

A complete walkthrough of raising a running account bill on an active construction contract — measurement to payment, with a full worked example.

ARC PEM Team·04 May 2026·5 min read

BOQ & Cost Estimation

Built-up Area vs Carpet Area: What Actually Goes Into a Construction Estimate

Why construction is quoted per built-up area, not carpet area, and how mixing the two up leads to budgets that are wrong before the first brick is laid.

ARC PEM Team·18 Apr 2026·4 min read

BOQ & Cost Estimation

M20 vs M25 Concrete: A Site Engineer's Guide to Choosing the Right Mix

When M20 is enough, when you actually need M25, and what the difference costs — a practical grade-selection guide, not just a strength table.

ARC PEM Team·22 Mar 2026·5 min read

Vendor & Contractor Management

Retention Money, Advances and TDS: The Deductions Every Contractor Bill Needs

Why the amount a contractor actually receives is always less than the bill value — and how to track retention, advance recovery and TDS so nothing gets lost across a long project.

ARC PEM Team·11 Feb 2026·5 min read

Field notes on BOQ, GST and contractor billing

Architect Fees in India (2026): Percentage, Lump Sum, Hourly and What You Actually Keep

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your project finances?

Field notes on BOQ, GST and contractor billing

Architect Fees in India (2026): Percentage, Lump Sum, Hourly and What You Actually Keep

Ready to take control ofyour project finances?

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