Estimates Overview

In ServiceCEO, estimates are used to record proposed work for a customer. An estimate is identical to a job with one important difference: it records proposed rather then planned work.

Note!

Note:
Note that an estimate A internal record of proposed work for a customer. An estimate is identical to a job but, because it records proposed rather then planned work, it does not appear on the calendar. Not to be confused with a Quote. is different then a quote A record of proposed work for a customer created either through the Call Center or the Quoting Wizard. From a quote, you can create an estimate, job or schedule. Not to be confused with an Estimate.. In short, a quote is calculated via the Quoting Wizard, while an estimate is designed to be created manually, like a regular job. For more on the Quoting Wizard, please see the Using the Quoting Wizard section.

At any point when creating a job, click Estimate to change it into an estimate. The Estimate button will remain depressed, indicating the job is an estimate. Changing a job into an estimate makes the following changes:

The Start field becomes Est. Start
The job’s status automatically changes to Open Estimate
The Work Order Notes and Invoice Notes fields combine into a single Notes field

Note!

Note:
Estimates are not designed to serve as an appointment for an on-site estimate. To create a record for an on-site estimate, create a normal job for the on-site visit. You can always edit the job's information at a later date through the Completion Wizard. For tracking purposes, you can create an estimate when the employee returns from the on-site visit.

Before you save the estimate, you can change an estimate into an active job by clicking the Estimate button again. The Estimate button will be deselected.

If you are creating an estimate for a project, you must click the Project button before saving the estimate. You will not be able to turn an estimate into a project after the estimate is saved.

When you’ve completed entering the Estimate, the estimate appears in three places:

As a line item on the customer’s Jobs tab.
The calendar, if the Filter is configured to display them.
The Estimates tab in the Office Duties section. From here, you can view and manage all open estimates.

To print out a copy of the estimate for review:

Open the Estimate record.
Click either (to immediately preview the estimate) or (to display a preview before printing).

After you print or preview the estimate, you will be prompted to mark the estimate as sent. Marking an invoice as sent means that it will not appear when running the Estimate report with the Only include unsent items filter activated.

When the customer accepts or rejects the estimate, you can close the estimate. To do so:

If the customer accepts the estimate, open the estimate and click Won. The estimate will automatically be converted into an active job.
If the customer rejects the estimate, click the Lost button. The estimate is be marked as lost and a job will NOT be created.

Tip!

Tip:
You can assign yourself a task from the Sales Log/Tasks tab in order to remind yourself or other users to follow up the estimate with the customer. For details about entering a task, see the Tasks Overview section.

Tip!

Tip:
To require users to enter a note when marking an estimate as won or lost, you must select the winning Estimates and/or losing Estimates check boxes in the Jobs section of the Requirements Options dialog box.