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Estimates and catalog

Build an estimate with items, quantities, taxes, and options

Start with the correct customer and project, then add priced lines and review every quantity, option, adjustment, tax, and total before issuing the estimate.

8 min read Updated Estimate administrators and company administrators

Before you begin

  • You need Estimate Admin or company-administrator access and access to the selected project.
  • Confirm the customer, project, catalog, tax, and quantity information before pricing.
  • An issued revision is locked. Create a new revision instead of trying to overwrite it.

Sales → Estimates → New Estimate

Build an estimate

  1. Create the draft

    Open Sales, select Estimates, then select New Estimate. Choose the customer and project that own the work.

  2. Add the scope

    Add catalog items when a reusable product or service exists. Use a manual line for one-off scope that should not become a catalog record.

    Enter a clear description and verify the unit and quantity on every line.

  3. Use quantities and options intentionally

    Use the supported quantity, dimensions, formula, or project measurement source. Add optional groups only when the customer is meant to choose among alternatives.

  4. Apply pricing and tax

    Review rate, markup or discount, and tax treatment. Confirm that required numeric fields contain valid numbers and that rounding produces the intended result.

  5. Review and save

    Check line subtotals, options, taxes, adjustments, and the final total. Save the draft before previewing, printing, or sending.

    Expected result: The estimate remains a draft until a revision is issued for printing or sending.

Choose the right line source

Catalog line

A reusable product or service with saved details.

Select from the catalog. The estimate keeps the line snapshot used for this draft.

Manual line

One-off scope that does not need a reusable catalog record.

Enter the details. Use a specific description, unit, quantity, and rate.

Measured line

Quantity derived from dimensions, a formula, takeoff, or project measurement.

Verify the source. Confirm the calculated quantity before pricing.

Option

Alternative or optional scope presented for a customer choice.

Group clearly. Check which lines affect the displayed total and decision.

Troubleshooting

The estimate total is unexpected.

Check quantity, unit, rate, adjustment mode, tax, and which optional lines are included. Review each subtotal before the final total.

A catalog item is missing.

Confirm the item exists and is available to the company. Add a clear manual line only when reusable catalog setup is not appropriate.

The estimate cannot be edited.

Check whether the revision is already issued or your access is read-only. Create New Revision when the issued scope must change.

What happens next

  • Preview the customer-facing document before sending.
  • Sending or finalizing for print issues and locks the current revision.
  • Future scope changes should be made in a new revision.
Create an estimate