Free resources

Resources for electrical distributors and contractors

Practical guides, free templates and plain-language definitions for the people who run electrical branches and contracting businesses — from quoting and pricing to submittals, maintenance and getting found online.

Guides

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Quoting and buyingHow do you compare electrical supplier quotes line by line? Send every supplier the same request, convert quotes to the same pricing basis, and compare each line — not just the total.Read the guide → Projects and equipmentWhat should an electrical submittal package include? A complete, clearly marked package organized by specification section — with deviations listed up front.Read the guide → Projects and equipmentHow do you manage long-lead electrical equipment on a project? Work backwards from the need-on-site date, submit long-lead items first and confirm every ship date in writing.Read the guide → Pricing and marginHow do you check an electrical supplier’s invoice against the quote? Match each invoice to its quote, purchase order and delivery record, and check every line before you pay.Read the guide → Maintenance and recordsWhat does NFPA 70B require — and what does it mean for electrical contractors? What an electrical maintenance program must include, how intervals are set, and the work it creates for contractors.Read the guide → Maintenance and recordsHow do you keep panel schedules accurate at the sites you maintain? Survey what every circuit feeds, label it so anyone can find the load, and update it with every change.Read the guide → PeopleHow should an electrical contractor track apprentice hours and license renewals? Record apprentice hours from your timesheets, and keep licenses and continuing education in one place with early reminders.Read the guide → Getting foundHow can an electrical contractor get found for commercial service work on Google and in AI answers? A page for every service, clear service areas, proof of commercial work and steady reviews.Read the guide →

Quoting and buyingHow can an electrical distributor speed up quote turnaround? One queue, sorting by size and urgency, no retyping and one current source of pricing.Read the guide → Pricing and marginHow should an electrical distributor manage special pricing agreements — and the claims it’s owed? Keep every agreement visible at quote and order entry, match eligible sales and track every claim to payment.Read the guide → Pricing and marginHow should an electrical distributor tell contractors about a manufacturer price increase? Tell affected contractors early and plainly — what’s changing, when, and what it means for their open quotes.Read the guide → Getting foundHow do you build a line card that electrical contractors actually use? Organize by category, mark stocked and orderable lines, and publish it as a searchable page.Read the guide → Quoting and buyingHow should an electrical distributor follow up on open quotes and track wins and losses? Set a follow-up date on every quote, follow up with something useful, and record why you win and lose.Read the guide → Projects and equipmentHow should an electrical distributor handle backorders and returns without the phone tag? Tell contractors about backorders before they ask, and run returns through a clear policy and prompt credits.Read the guide → Getting foundHow can an electrical distributor get its branches found by contractors on Google and in AI answers? A complete profile and real page for every branch, a searchable line card and identical details everywhere.Read the guide →

Free templates

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Distributors

Line card template

Build a line card organized by category, with stocked and orderable lines, branches and specialists — ready to print or publish online.

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Contractors

Long-lead equipment tracker

Work backwards from the date each item is needed on site, and track every ship date change until delivery.

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Contractors

Panel schedule template

Record every panel and exactly what each circuit serves, with a dated, printable directory for the panel door.

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Distributors

Price increase letter to contractors

Tell contractors about a manufacturer price increase clearly and early — with letter, email, text and counter-notice versions.

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Contractors

Electrical submittal checklist

Make sure every submittal package is complete and clearly marked, and track every package from sent to approved.

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Contractors

Supplier quote comparison sheet

Lay supplier quotes side by side, line by line — with pricing units converted, substitutions flagged and lead times in view.

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Glossary

Speak the trade

Plain-language definitions of the terms used across electrical supply and contracting — from line card and multiplier to submittal, panel schedule and NFPA 70B.

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Line side and load side

Where power comes in, and where it goes out — and where our name comes from.

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About these resources

These resources are written by Line & Load, a business of Ohm Electricals, which makes business apps for electrical distributors and contractors. They're free to read and use. Where a guide touches on codes or standards, it's a plain-language summary — always check the official text for the edition that applies to you.

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