Starting an Estimate

How do I start an estimate?

Goldenseal starter files include unit costs and templates for different types of work. They'll allow you to start making estimates immediately.

To make an estimate for a large project, follow these steps:

  1. Open your company file.
  2. Choose Estimates from the Income menu.
  3. Click on the template button (the triangle to the right of the New button), and choose a template. NOTE-- if you don't see any templates, click here.
  4. Choose Estimate Dimensions from the Options menu, and go through each dimension screen to enter project quantities. You can also click on the Dimensions buttons to enter each type of quantity.
  5. After you finish each set of dimensions, click OK.
  6. When you have entered project dimensions, click the Update Quantities button.
  7. Add or remove line items so the breakdown list matches the work you need to do for this project.

To make an estimate for a small project, follow these steps:

  1. Open your company file.
  2. Choose Estimates from the Income menu.
  3. Click on the template button (the triangle to the right of the New button), and choose a template. NOTE-- if you don't see any templates, click here.
  4. Click on each line item in the breakdown table, and enter the quantity you need.
  5. Add or remove line items so the breakdown list matches the work you need to do for this project

To make an estimate for a very small project, follow these steps:

  1. Open your company file.
  2. Choose Estimates from the Income menu.
  3. Click the New button.
  4. Click on the first line item in the breakdown table, and enter a Category.
  5. Enter a Subcategory (optional).
  6. Click in the Cost Item column, and you'll see a list of construction items in that category. Choose one.
  7. Click in the Quantity column, and enter the number of items you'll need.
  8. Hit the Enter or Return key to add a new row.
  9. Repeat steps 4 to 7 for each item in the project.
  10. When you are finished, add another row, and add a percentage for markup and overhead.

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