I personally don't think lowering your cost is to anyones advantage. In order to perform a well constructed project for a loss just to secure a deal doesn't make sense. If you offer this to all of your fragile deals its Adios Amigos to you.  40 yrs.ago I was contracted to do a commercial painting job in a strong union area. The Union business agent showed up to site and kindly let me know it would be in my best interest to follow him to his office where I was instructed by Mr. De Vico to pay a$1000.00 fee to start the job. Actually I was quite intimidated by his organization so I wrote the check. he also let me know I would be using his local people to do the work. I complied. I accepted that job to satisfy a cost budget for the owner of a large const.co. On the way out of his office Mr.De Vico    showed me a  framed picture hanging in his office. It was a pic.of a scruffy old bum walking down a railroad track carrying his belongings in a bag secured to a stick which he carried over his shoulder. The caption read - I was always the  Low Bid!  I have never forgotten that when dealing with a potential customer. Some jobs just aren't worth doing, unless you are desperate for friends.