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Nola Fence Solutions is a New Orleans-based fencing contractor serving communities like Lakeview, Uptown, and Mid-City. Specializing in wood and chain-link fence installation and repair, they help homeowners upgrade their properties with durable, well-built fencing and outdoor projects, all while focusing on reliable service and quality craftsmanship.
General Contracting - Fence Contracting
1-10
Saving time, winning more jobs, increasing job size, proffesional proposals
In a small fencing business, estimating can quietly take over nights and weekends. Customers want answers fast, clients want clean options, and the owner still has to price materials, protect labor rates, and keep each project moving.
Mike Cappo’s breakthrough wasn’t a pricing trick. He built a repeatable backend with fence software, estimating software, and a tighter set of software tools, so every new project starts from a reliable base. By leaning on fence software early—before the day gets away from him—he can create estimates faster, deliver consistent fence estimates, and keep accurate estimates in front of customers while saving valuable time.
“It has not only given me more freedom in my business but also in my home life. I’m not going to be able to get to these bids till probably closer to when the kids are getting home. But instead of me taking 2 hours to knock these out, I may be under 30 minutes to get all of my work done, and so, yes, is it going to take backend work and effort? Anything does. But you put that effort in.”
Nola Fence Solutions is a New Orleans–area fence company led by owner Mike Cappo. He’s been building the business for about five years, and he’s spent the last three refining his estimating approach so one platform supports quoting, customer management, and fence installation planning across more projects—without piling on extra tools for the fencing business.
“Yeah, so I’ve been in this business now for going on 5 years…
…for probably the last 3 I’ve been involved with Bolster.”
Mike’s estimating wasn’t slow because he didn’t know fences. It was slow because the system behind it wasn’t standardized, and template sprawl made every project feel like a fresh start. For fence contractors, that’s one of the biggest pain points: the work is solid, but estimating depends on a “perfect day,” and customers can drift when answers take too long for customers.
Template clutter hides small differences in materials, labor time, and layout. Two similar templates can produce different scope language, different notes, and different totals—exactly the kind of inconsistency that creates costly errors once the crew is already on the job site, and it increases the time spent deciding where to begin in the first place.
Mike didn’t expect software tools to magically make estimating fast. He treated speed as a payoff that comes after you simplify the template library, define your baseline materials, and build a workflow you can repeat on every project. For fencing business owners, that’s the right technology mindset: fence software becomes an estimating solution only after you decide how your business should handle material costs, labor costs, and the “standard” details that show up in nearly every fencing job and fence installation.
Mike emphasized that faster estimating starts with ownership. He wanted a system he could actually run, not a pile of templates no one can maintain.
“It does take time to learn it. You do have to be willing to put in the effort. What I mean by that is I can’t just call Ryan and go, ‘Ryan, make me 4 templates on a 6 foot, a 7 foot, and an 8 foot, and you need to read my mind and know exactly what I want. It does take time.”
The first move was subtraction. Mike removed old templates so he could open his fence software and his estimating software and know where to start—fewer options, fewer clicks, and fewer chances of pulling the wrong materials into a project. This kind of cleanup is real project management: it reduces decision fatigue, supports improving efficiency, and helps a fencing business maintain consistent fence estimates across customers and clients.
Mike described the moment he narrowed the lane and cleared the clutter.
“This is all we’re gonna do. Boom, boom, boom…And… the other day, I sat there and I deleted, I think, 25 old templates…”
After deleting the excess, Mike reduced his library down to a small core that matched the work his company does most. Fewer starting points meant faster estimating, fewer inconsistent fence estimates, and fewer hidden scope changes that can inflate pricing later. He also made sure each core template reflected typical materials choices and realistic material costs, so the business could quote faster without guessing.
“Yeah, just get rid of it, and now I’m cut down to probably… 6 or 8, and building as I go now, now I feel confident enough to…”
With the library cleaned up, Mike shifted from rebuilding to reusing. He starts from a proven template in fence software, converts it for the new project, adjusts details, and saves the updated version. That habit helped him save time and stay organized, and it gave his estimating software a predictable structure that tracks materials, protects crew rates, and supports accurate estimates with fewer revisions.
Mike summed up the workflow in practical steps that reduce rework and keep estimates consistent.
“Take that existing template…Like, let’s say a 7 foot job, but I need to convert it… pick and choose… make my adjustments, save that template, and now…Boom, this is built out… now… I kind of look forward to doing the estimate now.”
Once the process was standardized, the result was speed. Mike could build fence estimates in under thirty minutes instead of spending about two hours, even when customers needed quotes around family routines and a quick check on site. For fence contractors, that speed lifts customer satisfaction because customers get clarity while they’re still engaged—and it cuts down on last-minute costs from rushed rework.
That speed helps close deals and reduces lost bids, because customers get answers while they’re still engaged—and it creates room for more jobs and more projects without breaking the business week.
“But instead of me taking 2 hours to knock these out, I may be under 30 minutes to get all of my work done. It has… given me more freedom… in my business, but in my home life…”
A smaller template set doesn’t just speed up estimating—it stabilizes quality. When the baseline materials and pricing structure are consistent, it’s easier to produce accurate estimates across projects and avoid guesswork. Over time, the system produces more accurate estimates because each new project starts closer to reality, with fewer one-off edits inside the software.
Fence installation sits at the intersection of material costs, labor rates, and real-world constraints on the job site. For fence contractors, keeping those costs visible is the difference between a clean project and a messy one. Mike’s standardized templates keep material and labor costs visible, so numbers don’t quietly creep as the fencing business gets busier, and they reduce costly errors like under-ordering materials or forgetting standard labor costs adders on a fencing job.
When he has project drawings, Mike can tighten scope even more. The goal is to extract quantities directly so the project is priced from real measurements, not a rough mental estimate. This is where construction estimating software helps on plan-driven work, especially when the software can tie quantities back to materials and totals without slowing the estimating flow.
A strong estimate should help the crew, not just win the sale. Mike structures fence estimates so they can flow into fence installation planning, job management, and ordering, making the estimate a project reference instead of a forgotten PDF. That keeps customers and clients confident because what was promised is what shows up in the field, with materials and labor costs aligned.
Speed matters, but clarity is what protects customer satisfaction and keeps the bid process moving. When customers see consistent scope and readable options, they ask fewer “what does this include?” questions, and clients feel comfortable approving the project—especially when the estimate reads like a professional proposals package instead of a rushed note.
Customer management is the glue for customers. With customer management tied to the estimate, a team member can see what customers viewed, which clients need a revision, and which project is ready to schedule—without digging through messages or switching tools. Automated follow ups keep customers moving without pressure, protect personalized service, and help close deals even when Mike is busy with fence software open and the day’s install schedule shifting. For many customers, that consistency is what earns repeat business.
As the fencing business grows, estimating speed only helps if you can keep the work organized. Job management helps track scheduling, changes, and approvals across more projects so the business doesn’t start losing track when the calendar fills up. This is where collaboration tools show up in real life for project managers: one team member can handle customer management and follow ups, another team member can prep materials, and the owner can focus on the job site while staying on the same page.
When customers ask for a clean bid package, the business needs version control. Document management helps keep photos, revisions, and approvals attached to the project so clients don’t receive mixed information, and it cuts down the number of tools needed to track what changed.
Fence installation gets expensive when inventory management is disconnected from estimating. Missing hardware, extra posts, or wrong materials create delays, wasted trips, rework, and unexpected costs.
By tying inventory management to fence software, Mike can generate material lists early, and he can keep fence software synced to ordering notes so materials stay consistent and keep materials staged before the crew rolls out. Those material lists also help confirm materials before leaving the shop, which helps reduce waste and protects profit margins.
Inventory management supports improving efficiency across multiple projects, because the same core templates produce consistent material lists. That consistency keeps totals predictable, keeps materials organized, and helps deliver great service.
Even in a small fencing business, projects overlap: calls, revisions, ordering, scheduling, and installs. Project management keeps the entire team aligned—whether that’s Mike plus one helper or a whole team with roles spread across the week. With a good software solution, project data stays consistent from estimating to install, which makes managing projects simpler for fencing professionals and gives project managers a repeatable way to keep customers and clients confident.
For fencing business owners looking to grow and stay competitive, reporting and analytics are more than just nice-to-have features—they’re essential tools for making smarter decisions. The best construction estimating software now comes equipped with powerful reporting dashboards that let you track everything from estimate accuracy to project profitability. With these tools, fencing professionals can quickly see which bids are being won or lost, where profit margins are strongest, and which types of projects deliver the best returns.
By reviewing these analytics, fence contractors can spot patterns—like which materials tend to run over budget or which labor rates need adjustment—so they can create more accurate estimates on future jobs. This data-driven approach helps reduce costly errors, avoid lost bids, and ensure that every project is as profitable as possible. For example, some leading estimating software platforms allow you to compare scenarios, analyze trends, and even forecast future business performance, giving you a clear edge in a crowded market.
Ultimately, leveraging reporting and analytics means you’re not just guessing—you’re building your fencing business on real numbers. That leads to better project outcomes, higher customer satisfaction, and a more resilient business that’s ready to take on more projects with confidence.
In the fencing business, no project is completed in isolation. Whether you’re managing multiple projects or coordinating with clients and subcontractors, effective collaboration is key to delivering great service and keeping costs under control. Modern fence software now includes robust collaboration tools designed specifically for fence contractors, making it easier than ever to work together and keep everyone on the same page.
With features like real-time messaging, document sharing, and task assignment, your entire team can communicate instantly, share project updates, and resolve issues before they become costly errors. These collaboration tools also allow you to invite clients into secure portals, where they can review detailed estimates, approve changes, and track progress—boosting customer satisfaction and building trust.
By streamlining the bid process and making it simple to manage material costs, labor costs, and project details across multiple projects, collaboration tools help fencing professionals deliver more profitable work and win repeat business. The result is a more organized, responsive, and efficient business—one that’s ready to take on bigger jobs and exceed client expectations.
Mike’s experience is a reminder that the best software is the one you’ll actually use. For many fence contractors, that means fence contractor software that combines estimating software, customer management, job management, inventory management, and fence software tools in one solution, on one platform, with an all in one solution feel and a user friendly interface.
If you’re evaluating tools, start with a free trial and measure three things: how fast you can create detailed estimates, how easily you can update materials and totals, and whether the software supports construction estimating software needs when project drawings show up. Then run a second free trial on another option to compare, because the best construction estimating software is the one that helps you save time and stay organized.
If you want a free version first, treat it as a lightweight test, and decide later whether the full management software is worth it. If you already use quickbooks online, prioritize a software solution that keeps estimating clean without extra steps for your business.
The future of fence estimating is bright, with new technologies set to make the process even faster and more accurate. As construction estimating software evolves, we’re seeing the rise of AI-powered tools, machine learning, and cloud-based platforms that can automate much of the estimating workflow. These innovations allow fence contractors to create estimates in minutes, extract quantities directly from project drawings, and generate highly accurate estimates with minimal manual input.
For example, some of the best estimating software now uses AI to analyze project descriptions and locations, instantly calculating material and labor costs based on real-time data. Automated takeoff tools can pull measurements straight from digital plans, reducing the risk of costly errors and freeing up valuable time for project management and customer service.
By embracing the right technology, fence contractors can stay ahead of the competition, win more jobs, and deliver projects that consistently meet or exceed customer expectations. The next wave of estimating software will make it easier than ever to manage projects, improve efficiency, and grow your fencing business—proving that investing in the right tools today sets you up for even greater success tomorrow.
Mike didn’t unlock speed by clicking a button. He simplified the library, standardized the workflow, and used fence software and estimating software as consistent tools for estimating. The outcome was faster estimates, clearer fence estimates, and a fencing business that can take on more jobs without losing control—while keeping customers and clients confident about scope, materials, material and labor costs, and next steps. That’s repeatable estimating your business can lean on—and the kind of system fencing professionals can keep running with the same tools even when weeks get busy. Over time, that consistency supports repeat business, helps the business stay organized as the project list grows, and gives fence contractors a simple path to scale.
“And so… yes, is it gonna take back end work and effort? Anything does. But you put that effort in. It does take time to learn it. You do have to be willing to put in the time…”
Hear from other contractors who have experienced success using Bolster.
"If you're willing to invest in your business and work with Bolster, you're going to exceed your expectations of what you can achieve. If you put in the work, you'll see a return on investment quickly."
