Estimates Overview

Estimates are the foundation of project pricing in Readybuild. Build detailed breakdowns of labor, materials, and costs to create accurate proposals for your customers.

What Is an Estimate?

An estimate in Readybuild is a detailed pricing document that includes:

• Areas - Organized sections like Kitchen, Bathroom, Exterior
• Entries - Line items (assemblies or individual components) with quantities and pricing
• Markup - Profit margin applied to costs
• Contingency - Buffer for unexpected expenses
• Selections - Customer product choices with allowances

Estimates are your internal pricing tool. When you're ready to present pricing to a customer, you create a Contract that includes estimate details.

Estimate Types

Readybuild supports different estimate types for different purposes:

Type	Purpose
Production	Full project pricing for construction/installation work
Design	Design services pricing (often signed before production estimate)

Estimating Modes

Readybuild offers three approaches to building estimates:

Mode	Description	Best For
Assembly	Select pre-built packages	Companies with standardized offerings
Component	Add individual components one by one	Custom work, maximum control
Hybrid	Use both assemblies and individual components	Mix of standard and custom work

Your mode is set by your administrator. Learn more about estimating modes →

Estimate Workflow

1. Create Estimate - Start from scratch or use a template
2. Add Areas - Define sections of work (Kitchen, Bathroom, etc.)
3. Build Entries - Add assemblies or components to each area
4. Set Pricing - Review costs, markup, and contingency
5. Review - Verify totals and preview customer view
6. Create Contract - Generate a contract document for signature
7. Customer Signs - Contract signature locks the estimate and marks the project as won

Quick Start

1. Open a project
2. Go to the Estimates tab
3. Click New Estimate
4. Add areas for your scope of work
5. Add assemblies or components to each area
6. Review totals and pricing
7. Click Create Contract when ready to present to the customer

Documentation Guide

Getting Started

• Estimating Modes - Understand assembly, component, and hybrid modes
• Creating Estimates - Start a new estimate

Building Estimates

• Working with Areas - Organize your estimate by area
• Using Assemblies - Add pre-built packages
• Detailed Estimating - Add individual components line by line
• Work Scopes - Define detailed work descriptions

Pricing & Selections

• Pricing and Markup - Costs, markup, contingency, and discounts
• Selections - Customer product selections and allowances

Completing Estimates

• Finalizing Estimates - Review, preview, and mark as won
• Estimate Contracts - Create contracts from estimates

Key Concepts

Term	Definition
Area	A section of work (Kitchen, Bathroom, Exterior)
Category	A cost code grouping within an area (Cabinets, Countertops)
Assembly	A pre-built package of related components
Component	An individual line item (material, labor, or subcontractor)
Entry	A single line in the estimate (can be assembly or component)
Markup	Percentage multiplier applied to cost (100% = no markup, 135% = 35% profit)
Contingency	Buffer percentage for unexpected costs
Work Scope	Detailed description of install/demo work for an entry
Allowance	Budget amount for a customer selection
Selection	Customer's chosen product from available options

Estimate Status

Status	Description
Draft	Work in progress, still being built
Active	Complete and ready for contract
Sold	Contract signed, estimate locked

What Happens When a Contract Is Signed

When a customer signs a contract tied to an estimate:

• The estimate is marked as Sold
• Line items become read-only
• Changes require a change order
• Project sold amount is updated
• Invoicing can begin based on payment schedule

Related

• Project Contracts - Detailed contracts documentation
• Project Details - Managing projects