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Managing Components

Components are individual items in your estimating database - materials, labor, subcontractors, and equipment.

Accessing Components​

  1. Go to Settings > Estimates
  2. Click Components
  3. View, search, and manage your component library

Component Types​

TypeDescriptionExamples
MaterialPhysical products and materialsCabinets, flooring, fixtures
LaborIn-house labor costsInstallation labor, finishing
SubcontractorExternal contractor workPlumbing, electrical, HVAC
EquipmentTools and equipmentRental equipment, machinery

Adding a Component​

  1. Click Add Component
  2. Fill in the required fields:
    • Name - Item description
    • Type - Material, Labor, Subcontractor, or Equipment
    • Cost - Your cost for this item
    • Price - Sell price (or use markup)
    • Unit - Unit of measure (each, sq ft, linear ft, etc.)
  3. Configure optional settings (see below)
  4. Click Save

Component Fields​

Basic Information​

FieldDescription
NamePrimary item name
SizeSize variant (e.g., 36", Large)
ColorColor variant
OptionsAdditional variant info
DescriptionDetailed description
Item NumberInternal SKU or part number

Pricing​

FieldDescription
CostYour cost
PriceSell price
MarkupPercentage markup over cost
TaxApply sales tax
UnitUnit of measure
Markup vs Price

Set either a fixed Price or a Markup percentage. Markup automatically calculates price from cost.

Categorization​

FieldDescription
CategoryComponent category for filtering
Cost CodeLinks to your cost code structure
ManufacturerProduct manufacturer

Estimate Behavior​

FieldDescription
AllowanceDefault allowance amount for selections
Selection RequiredCustomer must make a selection
Field MeasurementRequires field measurement before finalizing
PO RequiredPurchase order needed before ordering
Work ScopeDefault installation/demolition scope text

Editing Components​

  1. Find the component in the list
  2. Click to open
  3. Make changes
  4. Click Save
caution

Editing a component updates the master record. Existing estimates using this component are not affected - they retain their original values.

Duplicating Components​

Create variations quickly:

  1. Open an existing component
  2. Click Duplicate
  3. Modify the copy (name, size, color, etc.)
  4. Save as new component

Deleting Components​

  1. Select the component
  2. Click Delete
  3. Confirm deletion
warning

Components used in assemblies cannot be deleted. Remove them from assemblies first.

Option Groups​

Option groups let you define interchangeable variants of a component.

What Are Option Groups?​

When estimating, users may need to choose between similar items:

  • Different cabinet door styles at different price points
  • Standard vs premium flooring options
  • Various fixture finishes

Option groups link these variants so estimators can easily swap between them.

Creating an Option Group​

  1. Select multiple related components
  2. Click Create Option Group
  3. Name the group
  4. Set the display order
  5. Save

Managing Option Groups​

  • Add more components to existing groups
  • Remove components from groups
  • Reorder options within a group
  • Delete empty groups

Using Option Groups in Estimates​

When adding a component that belongs to an option group:

  • The default option is added
  • Users can click to swap to another option in the group
  • Pricing updates automatically

Filtering Components​

Use filters to find specific items:

  • Type - Material, Labor, Subcontractor, Equipment
  • Category - Component category
  • Search - Name, description, item number

Bulk Operations​

Bulk Pricing Updates​

  1. Go to Components > Pricing
  2. Filter to target components
  3. Apply percentage increase/decrease
  4. Review changes
  5. Confirm update

Import/Export​

Export your component list for:

  • Backup purposes
  • Bulk editing in spreadsheets
  • Migration between systems

Component Usage​

Viewing Where Components Are Used​

  1. Open a component
  2. Click Used In
  3. See all assemblies containing this component

This helps before:

  • Deleting a component
  • Making significant changes
  • Understanding impact of price updates

Tips for Component Management​

Naming Conventions​

Use consistent naming for easy searching:

  • [Category] - [Product] - [Size] - [Color]
  • Example: "Cabinets - Wall Cabinet - 36" - White"

Pricing Strategy​

  • Update costs when vendor prices change
  • Review markup percentages quarterly
  • Use cost codes for accurate job costing

Organization​

  • Create logical categories
  • Use item numbers for vendor ordering
  • Link to cost codes for reporting