You are about to start a new project and your cost control process is a blank spreadsheet and good intentions. Or maybe you have a CVR template that has been passed down through the business, but nobody is quite sure if the formulas still work.
Either way, having the right resources saves hours of setup time and reduces the risk of building something fragile from scratch. Everything below is free to download and use today – from ready-made templates to cost code libraries and plain-English guides.
In this article, you will find five free resources covering CVR templates, cost codes, budget structures, and a self-assessment to check whether your current process is actually working.
1. Free CVR template for Excel and Google Sheets
A structured CVR template that covers budget lines, committed costs, variations, and forecast final cost. It is set up so you can track your position on each cost code without building the spreadsheet from scratch.
What it includes: Budget vs committed vs actual cost columns, variation tracking, forecast final cost calculation, and a summary section that shows your projected margin.
Who it is for: Contractors running 1-3 projects who want a solid starting point. Also useful as a benchmark if you already have your own template and want to see what you might be missing.
How to get the most from it: Start by entering your budget at the cost code level. Then update committed costs as you raise purchase orders and subcontracts. The forecast final cost column is the one that matters most – it tells you where you are heading, not just where you have been.
Download the free CVR template
2. Free construction cost codes spreadsheet
A standard cost code structure built for UK construction projects. Consistent cost coding is what makes your CVR meaningful across projects – without it, comparing performance between jobs is guesswork.
What it includes: A hierarchical cost code list covering preliminaries, substructure, superstructure, services, external works, and overheads. Ready to use or adapt to your own numbering system.
Why it matters: If every PM codes costs differently, your CVR data is inconsistent. A shared cost code structure means you can compare projects side by side and spot patterns in where margin gets lost. As one QS told us, the difference between “subcontractor” and “labour” as a cost code is the difference between knowing where your money went and guessing.
Download the free cost codes spreadsheet
3. CVR explained – a plain-English guide
If you are a PM or site manager picking up commercial responsibilities, or if you are training someone new, this guide covers what a CVR actually is, how to read one, and what the key columns mean.
What it covers: The purpose of a cost value reconciliation, how budget, committed cost, and forecast final cost relate to each other, and how to use a CVR to make decisions – not just report numbers. For the formal framework, RICS construction standards define cost reporting obligations for quantity surveyors.
Who it is for: Anyone new to commercial management in construction, or experienced PMs who want a reference to share with their team.
"When I have been working on cloud accounting like Xero and Quickbooks they don’t have a specific construction-based costing tool. You have project management costing tools but they are not aimed at the level of what construction companies need so I came across Planyard and I was like finally there is something that solves the problem."
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4. Free construction budget template
Your budget is the starting point of every CVR. If the budget is structured well, everything downstream – cost tracking, valuations, forecasting – is easier. This template gives you a clean starting structure.
What it includes: A project budget layout with cost code breakdown, provisional sums, contingency allocation, and a summary view. Works for both new builds and fit-out projects.
How it connects: Use this alongside the CVR template above. The cost codes in both templates are aligned, so you can track from budget through to final account without reformatting.
Download the free budget template
5. Self-assessment – is your CVR process working?
Templates and guides help you get started. But at some point, the question shifts from “how do I build a CVR?” to “is my current process actually working?” This checklist helps you answer that.
What it covers: 10 warning signs that your CVR spreadsheet has become a liability – from time spent updating to formula errors that make it past reporting. Score yourself and see where you stand.
Who it is for: Teams who have been running CVRs in spreadsheets for a while and are starting to feel the pain, but are not sure whether they have hit the point where software makes sense.
When free resources are not enough
Templates are a good starting point. They give you structure that a blank spreadsheet does not. But they still require manual data entry, formula maintenance, and a disciplined process to keep them accurate.
The gap widens as your business grows. More projects mean more spreadsheets. More subcontractors mean more valuations to track. Integration with Xero or QuickBooks means more copy-pasting.
"It easily saves half of a Quantity Surveyor’s time. When you're looking at a £70,000 annual salary, that level of cost-effectiveness makes the decision to implement the system very simple."
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If you are curious what the difference looks like in practice, our CVR software vs Excel comparison breaks it down feature by feature.
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