Using Estimate Templates

Templates are created from existing estimates. Start with a project you've completed or an estimate you've refined over time—it already contains the structure you want to reuse.

• Open an existing estimate from your dashboard, or create a new one with your standard line items
• Include all materials, labor categories, and equipment you typically use for this job type
• Set default quantities and rates based on your most common project size
• Add notes or specifications that apply to this type of work generally
• Make sure the structure is clean—remove any client-specific items before saving as a template

The best templates are job-type-specific, not client-specific. Think in terms of the type of work—a template for a kitchen fit-out, a roofing job, or a shopfront installation—rather than for an individual client.

Once your estimate is ready to be reused, saving it as a template takes just two clicks. QuickEstimate stores it in your templates library, separate from your active project estimates.

• Open the estimate you want to save and click the "Save as Template" option from the actions menu
• Give the template a clear, descriptive name that reflects the job type
• Add an optional category or tag to keep your template library organised
• Confirm and save—the template is now available in your library instantly
• The original estimate remains unchanged; the template is an independent copy

When a new project comes in, instead of starting from a blank estimate, load the relevant template and you'll have a complete, structured starting point ready in seconds.

• Click "Create Estimate" from your dashboard as usual
• Select "Start from Template" instead of starting blank
• Browse or search your template library and select the most relevant one
• QuickEstimate creates a new estimate pre-populated with all template line items
• Update the client details, project name, quantities, and any rates that differ for this job

Loading a template never modifies the template itself. Every estimate created from a template is fully independent—you can edit it freely without affecting future uses of the same template.

Templates give you the structure—your job is to tailor it to the specific project. This is where the real time saving happens: instead of building from scratch, you're only making targeted adjustments.

• Update quantities to match the actual scope of the new project
• Adjust unit rates if material or labor costs have changed since the template was created
• Add any project-specific line items that aren't in the template
• Remove any items that don't apply to this particular job
• Enter client details, site address, and project timeline

A template is only as good as the data it holds. Periodically reviewing and updating your templates ensures they stay accurate, relevant, and genuinely useful for every new project.

• Review your templates every quarter to check that unit rates still reflect current pricing
• Add new line items you've found yourself consistently adding to estimates for this job type
• Remove items you always delete—keeping templates lean reduces adjustment time
• Create new template variants when a project reveals a useful structure worth saving
• Archive outdated templates you no longer use to keep your library clean

Your template library should grow and improve with your business. The more you refine them, the faster and more accurate your estimating becomes—creating a compounding advantage over time.