You just landed your first real contract job. Congratulations. Now you need tools that won't embarrass you on the job site and won't bankrupt you before the first paycheck. Here's the exact kit we'd build from scratch on a $500 budget.
The Non-Negotiables (Own These Before Anything Else)
1. A 20V Cordless Drill — $89.99
This is the single tool that earns its cost back in the first hour on a job. Get one with a brushless motor, at least 500 in-lbs torque, two batteries, and a bit set included. The UltraUp 20V Drill Kit checks all of those boxes and ships with 23 bits.
2. An 18V Impact Driver — $109.99
A drill tightens. An impact driver drives. Impact drivers use concussive force to push fasteners into framing without camming out. For driving lag screws, decking screws, or structural fasteners, nothing else comes close. Get this in the same voltage as your drill so the batteries are interchangeable.
3. A 7-1/4" Circular Saw — $79.99
Framing, sheet goods, dimensional lumber — the circular saw is the most used tool on most job sites, full stop. You will use this every single day. Don't buy cheap here.
4. An Oscillating Multi-Tool — $74.99
The one tool that does the jobs no other tool can: undercutting door casings, plunge-cutting through drywall, removing grout, cutting flush to a surface. Experienced contractors call this "the get-out-of-jail tool." One use case justifies owning it forever.
Immediate Upgrade List (Once You're Making Money)
- Variable Speed Jigsaw — $94.99: For any cabinet work, curved cuts, or cutouts
- 4.5" Angle Grinder — $59.99: Cutting rebar, grinding welds, stripping paint
- 5" Random Orbit Sander — $54.99: Any finish carpentry or floor prep work
The Full UltraUp Starter Stack: $354 Total
The four non-negotiables above — drill, impact driver, circular saw, multi-tool — come to $354 total at UltraUp prices, all with free shipping and 2-year warranties. That's a job-site-ready kit for less than what a single name-brand drill costs at the home improvement store.
Use code ULTRAUP10 for 10% off your first order. Free shipping on everything. 2-year warranty on every power tool.