What FastEST does

FastEST, Inc. is a privately held, Wichita, Kansas-based software company founded in 1994 that develops construction cost estimating software for commercial mechanical and HVAC specialty contractors. Its three-product suite comprises FastPIPE (plumbing and mechanical estimating with 150,000+ catalog items), FastDUCT (sheet metal and HVAC ductwork estimating with 250,000+ items, the largest HVAC catalog in the industry), and FastWRAP (mechanical insulation estimating with 120,000+ items), all sharing a common on-screen digitizer takeoff platform. The technology stack is a native Windows .NET 4.7.1 desktop application running on Microsoft DirectX for graphics-intensive plan editing, with Adobe PDF Library integration for digital plan processing and 64-bit processing support; data is stored in native Windows files with no additional database required.

The company's business model combines one-time perpetual software licenses ($4,995 for the first application, $2,495 for each additional, with combined FastPIPE/FastDUCT bundles available) with optional annual maintenance at $1,250/year, a monthly lease-to-own option at $250/month, and paid in-person training at $395 per class. FastEST reaches customers through direct website sales, inside sales via toll-free phone (800-828-7108), trade association partnerships with PHCC, MCAA, SMACNA, and NIA, trade publication marketing, and multi-city in-person training events. The customer base spans single-estimator startups through multi-office Top 100 mechanical contractors, with thousands of users across the United States and Canada. The company operates without disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or AI/ML capabilities, indicating a stable, founder-owned niche vertical software business.

Name

FastEST

Legal name

FastEST, Inc.

Website

https://fastest-inc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FastEST is a privately held Wichita, Kansas-based software company that develops Windows-based construction cost estimating software (FastPIPE, FastDUCT, FastWRAP) for commercial mechanical, HVAC, and insulation specialty contractors across the US and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wichita

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Software License Sales: FastEST sells perpetual software licenses for FastPIPE, FastDUCT, and FastWRAP. First application costs $4,995 one-time; additional applications are $2,495. Combined FastPIPE and FastDUCT costs $7,490. The license grants perpetual use with optional annual maintenance.
2. Annual Maintenance & Support: Optional annual maintenance program at $1,250/year provides automated software updates, catalog component updates, online training and assistance, and toll-free telephone support. First year is included with new license purchase.
3. Lease-to-Own Licensing: Monthly lease option at $250/month ($105 for maintenance), with license ownership after 36 payments. Combined FastPIPE and FastDUCT lease is $355/month. Non-binding arrangement.
4. Training Services: In-person training sessions offered at $395/person per class. Two classes cost $695/person, three classes cost $895/person. Training includes continental breakfast, lunch, and drinks. Training events held at hotel venues with group rate accommodations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FastEST develops and sells three Windows-based construction cost-estimating software applications — FastPIPE (plumbing and mechanical estimating), FastDUCT (HVAC and sheet metal ductwork estimating), and FastWRAP (mechanical insulation estimating) — for commercial mechanical and HVAC specialty contractors. The products include an on-screen digitizer for digital plan takeoff, the industry's largest catalogs of pricing items (150,000+ to 250,000+ per product), built-in industry labor rates from associations such as MCAA, PHCC, SMACNA, and NIA, and the ability to export bids to Microsoft Excel, CSV, or XML. FastEST also offers optional annual maintenance, lease-to-own licensing, and paid in-person training classes.

Product overview

FastEST, Inc. offers a suite of three standalone cost-estimating software products for commercial mechanical and HVAC specialty contractors: FastPIPE® (plumbing and mechanical estimating), FastDUCT® (HVAC/sheet metal ductwork estimating), and FastWRAP™ (mechanical insulation estimating). All three products share a common user interface and award-winning estimating platform, allowing contractors to learn one system and apply that knowledge across the suite. FastPIPE and FastDUCT can be used together to produce integrated price quotes in a single Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The products feature on-screen digitizer takeoffs, extensive manufacturer catalogs (150,000+ to 250,000+ items), customizable specs, and export capabilities. FastPIPE supports optional independent pricing services (Ferguson, Harrison, Allpriser) and labor rates from MCAA and PHCC. FastDUCT integrates with SMACNA labor standards, while FastWRAP supports NIA member pricing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FastPIPE: Industry-leading plumbing and mechanical estimating software for commercial and industrial contractors, providing takeoff and reporting tools for plumbing, HVAC piping, and industrial process piping.
• FastDUCT
• FastWRAP

Products and services

• FastPIPE Plumbing and mechanical estimating software for commercial and industrial contractors. Provides takeoff and reporting tools for estimating plumbing, HVAC piping, and industrial process piping projects, with over 150,000 catalog items from manufacturers such as Tyler, Nibco, Gruvlok, Viega, Anvil International, Weldbend, and Swagelok, optional MCAA and PHCC labor rates, and support for Ferguson, Harrison, and Allpriser independent pricing services.
• FastDUCT Commercial HVAC estimating software for sheet metal and industrial ductwork contractors. Handles rectangular, round, and oval ductwork takeoffs with over 250,000 catalog items, optional SMACNA labor rates, rectangular-to-round conversion, and seamless integration with FastPIPE for combined plumbing, mechanical and HVAC bids in a single Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
• FastWRAP Mechanical insulation estimating software for commercial contractors featuring an on-screen digitizer takeoff. Includes over 120,000 items for pipe, duct, and fitting insulation across mechanical, industrial piping, plumbing, HVAC piping/duct, industrial duct, and fire-stopping applications, with support for multiple insulation layers and metal jacketing.
• In-Person Training Classes Full-day, in-person training classes for FastPIPE, FastDUCT, and FastWRAP, priced at $395 per person for one class, $695 for two classes, and $895 for three classes, including continental breakfast, lunch, and drinks. Used both as customer education and as a sales touchpoint.

Quantifiable outcome

• New user functional in approximately 3 hours on average
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PHCC (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1883, PHCC is the oldest trade organization in the construction industry and the largest in the P-H-C industry. Through the PHCC-National Association Educational Foundation, P-H-C contractors have access to training tools. PHCC members can optionally use PHCC labor estimates with FastPIPE software.
• MCAA (Mechanical Contractors Association of America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMore than 1,300 contractors are members of MCAA, dedicated to excellence and committed to quality. Through MCAA's extensive array of education and training programs, contractors acquire continuing education. MCAA members can optionally use MCAA labor estimates with FastPIPE.
• SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMACNA is an international association with 1,944 members in 98 chapters throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and Brazil. SMACNA members can optionally use SMACNA labor rates with FastDUCT.
• NIA (National Insulation Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIA is a not-for-profit trade association representing merit and union contractors, distributors, laminators, fabricators, and manufacturers that provide thermal insulation products and services to the commercial, mechanical, and industrial markets. FastEST is a member of NIA.
• Adobe Systems IncorporatedcoreTechnology or IntegrationAdobe is a leading provider of imaging software. The Adobe PDF Library is used by FastEST software for fast and reliable processing of PDF digital plans used in the on-screen digitizer takeoff feature.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Procore Technologies: Procore is the leading cloud construction management platform, used by many Top 100 general contractors and increasingly by specialty trade contractors. While Procore is broader than mechanical estimating, its growing takeoff and estimating integrations represent a long-term competitive threat to niche players like FastEST.
• Bluebeam (Nemetschek Group): Bluebeam Revu is the dominant PDF markup and takeoff tool across the entire AEC industry. While not specialized in mechanical estimating like FastEST, Bluebeam's takeoff capabilities overlap significantly and it is the standard tool used by many of FastEST's target customers alongside their specialty estimating software.
• Sage Estimating (Sage 100 Contractor): Sage Estimating is a construction cost estimating module within Sage's broader contractor accounting suite, used by many mechanical and specialty contractors. Comparable to FastEST in core estimating functionality but bundled with accounting and broader ERP capabilities rather than specialized in mechanical catalogs.

Direct peers

• eTakeoff: eTakeoff is a digital plan takeoff solution used by mechanical, HVAC, and plumbing contractors — directly comparable to FastEST's on-screen digitizer functionality for the same specialty contractor market segment.
• Stack (formerly iSqFt / ConstructConnect): Stack is a cloud-based takeoff, estimating, and bid management platform serving specialty trade contractors including mechanical. Directly comparable to FastEST in use case (digital takeoff and estimating for contractors), though delivered as modern cloud software vs. FastEST's Windows desktop model.
• On-Screen Takeoff (Bluebeam / Trimble): On-Screen Takeoff is one of the most widely used digital takeoff tools in construction, now part of Bluebeam (Nemetschek). Directly competes with FastEST's award-winning on-screen digitizer for plan takeoff, serving many of the same specialty contractor customers.
• McCormick Systems (WinEst): McCormick's WinEst is a construction cost estimating platform widely used by mechanical and specialty contractors — directly comparable to FastEST's products in target customer (mechanical/HVAC contractors) and core use case (cost estimating). McCormick serves a slightly broader construction estimating market but is a direct competitor in the mechanical specialty vertical.
• PlanSwift (ConstructConnect): PlanSwift is a digital takeoff and estimating software commonly used by mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors. Directly competes with FastEST's on-screen digitizer takeoff capabilities and serves overlapping customer segments, though PlanSwift is more horizontal across trades.
• Trimble (Accubid / Quick Bid): Trimble acquired Accubid (including QuickBid for mechanical estimating), which directly competes with FastEST's FastPIPE/FastDUCT in the mechanical and HVAC estimating market, serving similar commercial specialty contractors. Trimble is a much larger construction-tech platform, but Accubid is the closest direct functional analog to FastEST's products.

Emerging players

• Foundation Software: Foundation Software provides construction accounting and project management software targeting mechanical and specialty trade contractors — a comparable customer base to FastEST. While more focused on accounting/project management than deep catalog-based estimating, it competes for the same contractor IT budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fastest_inc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIjX5SzwmcsOhv2cI0l39EQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/FastEST.Estimating.Software
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/534592

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FastEST