An estimate is the quote you give a customer before work starts. It can be approved with one e-signature on the link you send them — no app, no login. Here's every field, in form order.
Customer & vehicle
Customer — start typing; existing customers fuzzy-match. If they're new, click Add new and fill name + phone + email inline. The customer record is created when you save.
Vehicle — pulled from the customer's fleet. If they have one car it's pre-filled; otherwise pick. New vehicle? Click Add vehicle and enter registration, make/model, year and type.
Services
Add the labour items. Three ways:
- Pick a service template — fastest. Sets name, price, qty, optional parts and labour hours in one click.
- Free-type — name + price + qty. Good for one-offs.
- Inspection upload — upload photos of the vehicle and our system extracts visible damage as suggested line items. Edit before saving.
Parts
Per part: part number, name, price, qty. If the part exists in inventory, start typing the name or SKU — it auto-fills (and reduces stock when the estimate becomes an invoice).
Sublet vendors
For work you outsource (paint, alignment, electronics). Per row: vendor description, your cost, customer price. Margin = price − cost; appears in reports.
Discount
Apply a coupon code, an automatic discount, or a custom one-off. Coupon codes are validated against rules in Discounts.
Tax
Shows the rule(s) configured in Settings → Taxes. Click the line to override per-estimate (rare — e.g., GST-exempt customer).
Digital signature required
Toggle on if you want the customer to e-sign before work starts. The customer gets an email link to /approve-estimate/[id] — no app needed. They draw their signature, hit Approve, and the estimate locks.
Sending it
Save → choose Email to customer, Send via WhatsApp, or Just save. The email/WhatsApp message is templated and includes the approve-link.
Edits and versions
Once sent, edits create a new version (the customer sees a fresh approve-link with the new total). The original signed version stays archived for audit.