I am remodeling my home. I am using a general contractor. He has told me that to keep things honest he straight line charges 18% onto all invoices. Now that I have the contractors statement the numbers don't line up. How would the real person get the 18% of the total bill of $239,540.18?? He has used some sort of math that take the total divided .82 to get the total charge ($292122.17) minusing the original bill of 239,540.18.
The builders fee (his numbers) are $52581.99 But to me that is not 18%. The way I figure is $239,540.18 X 18% get a number of $43,117.23..
Is there some weird math going on or am I just crazy.
If I am crazy fine but a difference of $9464.76 could pay for some new appliances.
If this contractor is screwing the numbers, how can I get him to change them? Or does it do better by lawyers?
Thanks in advance

$239,540.18 X 1.18 = $282,657.41, thus the contractor's fee should be $43,117.23
$52,581.99 / $239,540.18 is 22%
Sit him down with the number's you have worked up and ask him to explain the difference. Tell him under no uncertain terms will he be paid without your full understanding of his billing practices. It does sound like he's trying to get a few extra bucks out of you, but hopefully there is just a misunderstanding somehow.

It could also be the taxes on the total bill, if your from canada that is GST