Create an estimate
An estimate is a non-binding, ballpark figure you give a customer before committing to a firm price. It works exactly like a quote, but it signals that the amount is approximate and may change. Creating an estimate has no effect on your accounts.
Before you begin
- You need at least one active customer — see Add a customer.
- Having your products and tax rates ready makes adding lines quicker, but you can type lines by hand.
- The Quotes feature must be switched on for your organisation, or you'll see a Feature Not Available message.
Steps
- Go to Sales → Estimates and select New Estimate.
- Choose the Customer.
- Set the Currency the estimate is priced in.
- Check the Date (defaults to today).
- Set the Valid Until date (required, defaults to 30 days ahead). The estimate expires automatically after this date.
- Add any Notes (optional).
- Add your lines under Line Items — pick a Product or type a Description, then set the Quantity, Unit Price and, if needed, a Tax Rate. Use Add Line for more rows. The Amounts are selector beside the heading chooses whether prices are net (Tax exclusive, the default) or gross with the VAT extracted (Tax inclusive); the choice is saved with the draft and carries onto the invoice if the estimate is converted.
- Select Create Draft.
What happens next
Your estimate is saved as a Draft with no number yet — the EST- number is assigned when you send it. From its details page you can Edit Draft, Send… or Delete Draft.
When you're ready, see Send a quote or estimate.
Important notes
Note: An estimate is non-binding — use it when the figure is approximate. If you're giving a firm, committed price, create a quote instead. Apart from that, the two documents are created and sent in the same way.
- The customer can still view an estimate online and Accept or Decline it, the same as a quote.
- Once sent, an estimate is locked; create a revision to change it.