Estimating / Quoting

A good estimating tool is an essential component of a job costing system. The estimate is a financial model of the job and serves multiple purposes:

• It prompts the user to enter the details of what’s required to do the job, either by using a template, an existing job or from scratch.
• It displays the estimated cost and recommended charge for doing the job, based on either standard or client specific rates and hence margin.
• It can be automatically reformatted to build a quotation (client estimate).
• The quotation can be quickly edited and sent to the client as a formatted pdf via email (created automatically in your standard email package).
• When the client gives you the go ahead, the estimate becomes the budget for the job allowing the various components to be allocated to people or teams.
• As the job progresses, the estimate gives you a live view of how the budget is being utilised allowing you to identify problems early enough to rectify them.