Adding Costs to Your Estimate

Every estimate starts in your QuickEstimate dashboard. Before adding any costs, set up the project details so every line item has the right context.

• Click "New Estimate" from your dashboard or the top navigation bar
• Enter the project name, client name, and job location
• Set the estimate date and your desired validity period
• Choose the correct currency and tax rate for the job
• Add any internal reference number or notes for your own records

Taking a minute to fill in project details upfront means your finished proposal looks polished and personalised without any extra effort at the end.

Materials are typically the largest cost in any estimate. Add each item individually so you have a clear record of what's included — and so the client can see exactly what they're paying for.

• Click "Add Line Item" and select the Materials category
• Enter the item name, unit of measurement (e.g. m², litre, each), quantity, and unit cost
• QuickEstimate calculates the line total automatically
• Add a brief description for each item to clarify what it covers
• Group related materials under a sub-heading to keep the estimate easy to read
• Use the materials library to quickly add items you use regularly without re-entering details

Always add a small contingency for materials — offcuts, wastage, and site adjustments typically add 5–10% to actual material use. You can add a contingency line at the bottom of the materials section.

Labour is often underestimated — especially on jobs with multiple trades, site prep, or complex access. Be thorough here and your margin will thank you.

• Click "Add Line Item" and select the Labour category
• Enter the trade or role (e.g. Tiler, Electrician, Labourer), number of hours or days, and your rate
• Add separate labour lines for each trade or phase of the job
• Include time for site prep, cleaning, and snagging — not just the core work
• If using subcontractors, add their cost as a labour line and note it accordingly
• Save commonly used labour rates to your profile so you can add them in one click

Don't forget travel time, particularly for jobs far from your base. A half-hour each way across a 3-day job is 3 hours of time that should be accounted for somewhere in your estimate.

Equipment hire, skip bins, access platforms, and sundry costs are easy to forget but can significantly affect your margin. Add them as a separate category to keep your estimate complete.

• Click "Add Line Item" and select the Equipment or Other category
• Add each hired or purchased item: name, duration or quantity, and cost
• Include skip hire, scaffold erection, machinery hire, or specialist tool rental
• Add any permit or access fees required for the job
• Include delivery or collection charges for materials or equipment
• Add a miscellaneous sundries line for small consumables (fixings, tape, PPE, etc.)

If equipment costs vary depending on site conditions, add a note explaining what's included and what might incur additional charges. Clarity upfront prevents disputes later.

Once all costs are entered, apply your profit margin and review the final total before saving and converting the estimate into a proposal.

• Enter your desired profit margin percentage in the Markup field — QuickEstimate calculates the adjusted total automatically
• Review the cost breakdown by category to check nothing looks out of place
• Check the subtotals for materials, labour, and equipment individually
• Confirm the tax calculation is correct for the job type and jurisdiction
• Add any discount if applicable, with a clear label explaining it
• Click "Save Estimate" — the estimate is now ready to convert to a proposal

QuickEstimate saves a full version history of your estimate, so you can always review or restore earlier versions if a client requests changes later.