As an example, a cost-plus contract may establish that the total estimated cost of a building project is $10 million plus a fixed fee of $1.5 million, roughly 15% of the total cost, as the contractor’s profit. So the total expense to the buyer would be approximately $11.5 million —the cost plus the fee. The contracts may include a cap on total expenses, such as not exceeding $12 million, and incentive fees for meeting early completion dates.