Create and edit an estimate

Create an estimate for a customer, add the work you’re quoting, and save it as a draft. You can also make changes to an existing estimate, including one you’ve already sent.

Create an estimate

1. Select Estimates > New estimate.
2. Under Customer, choose Select existing to pick a customer, or Create new to add one.
3. To link the estimate to a job, select Create new or Add to existing under Job. This step is optional.
4. Select the Items tab and add the work you’re quoting. See Add line items.
5. Add a note on the Public note tab, attach files on the Attachments tab, or add terms on the Terms & Conditions tab, as needed.
6. Select Save estimate. The estimate is saved as Draft.

A customer is required, and every line item needs a name. A new customer needs only a first name, last name, or company name.

Other estimate details

On the Details tab, you can also:

• Change the Estimate date or Expiration date.
• Enter a PO number or Customer reference if your customer uses one.
• Assign a salesperson with Select user or Assign me under Salesperson.

Create an estimate from a job

Open the job and select Finances > Estimates > New estimate. The customer and job are filled in automatically. Add your estimate details and save.

Add line items

You can add items from Services & Materials or enter a custom item directly into the estimate.

• To search your items, type in Item name and select a match. To enter a custom item, type a name that isn’t in your list.
• To browse all your items, select Services & Materials, set the quantity next to an item, and select Add.

Then, for each line:

1. Review or enter the Price and Qty.
2. To describe the work in more detail, select Add description.
3. To add another line, select Add another.

Cost is for your own tracking. Customers don’t see it.

Line options

Select … next to a line for these options:

• Make taxed: Apply tax to the line. Items added from Services & Materials use their saved tax setting by default.
• Duplicate: Add a copy of the line, useful for repeated work.
• Remove item: Remove the line from the estimate.
• Add to Services & Materials: Save a custom line as a reusable item.

Add attachments

Upload files on the Attachments tab, or drag and drop them. If the estimate is linked to a job, select Select from job to attach an existing job file.

Customers can view attachments through the estimate’s web link. If you send the estimate with the PDF attachment option on, the files are also attached to the email.

Edit an estimate

1. Open the estimate from Estimates, or from the job under Finances > Estimates.
2. Make your changes.
3. Select Save changes.

Editing an estimate doesn’t notify your customer. Your changes appear on the estimate’s web link right away. To notify your customer, send the estimate again.

Edit an estimate you’ve sent

You can edit a sent estimate, even after its expiration date. When you save your changes, select Save changes in the confirmation.

Editing doesn’t change the status of a Pending, Declined, or Canceled estimate.

Important: Saving changes to an Accepted estimate changes its status back to Pending. If the customer signed it, their signature is removed and they must sign the updated estimate again.

On a Declined or Canceled estimate with a signature, changing any of the following removes the signature: line items, Public note, Terms & Conditions, attachments, tax settings, discount, or cost plus.

Converted estimates

Once an estimate is Converted or Partially converted, its quoted work and customer-facing content are locked. You can’t add or change line items, or change the Public note, Terms & Conditions, attachments, tax settings, discount, or cost plus.

You can still change Salesperson, the linked job, PO number, Customer reference, view settings, and each line’s Cost.