Tutor For Estimating Jobs In Enterprise Solutions: Contractor

Thank you for your thoughtful message and for contributing to this forum, Since1991. It’s great that you’ve had a hands-on approach with your takeoffs. I appreciate your clear explanation of your estimating process. Let me guide you on how to apply this in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT).

First, please note that when customizing four columns for a single estimate form, the total amount doesn’t automatically calculate all the amounts given. You will need to manually input the totals for the different prices.

Here's how to achieve the four columns for your different amounts in an Estimate:

1. Navigate to the Lists menu, and select Templates.
   
2. Click the Templates drop-down at the bottom, choose New, and then select Estimate.
3. Click Additional Customization.
   
   
4. Under the Columns tab, check the boxes for Other 1 and Other 2 for both Screen and Print.
5. Adjust the Order of the columns as needed. You can also rename these columns or select which one to use as the fourth price column instead of the default Amount column.
   
   
6. Once you’ve made your adjustments, click OK to save the template.
   
   

This setup allows you to display multiple price columns on your estimates, which you can use to enter prices from different supply houses. However, remember that the total won’t auto-calculate across these columns, so you’ll need to manage totals manually.

Alternatively, you can also create separate estimates for each supply house. This allows you to see and compare the pricing and availability of each supplier without mixing the data. By having individual estimates, you can better plan and manage your purchases, ensuring you select the best prices or highest quality products for each job.

Refer to this article for guidance on how to create a sales order from your estimates in QBDT: Create a sales order in QuickBooks Desktop.

Let us know if you need further assistance with managing Estimates transactions in QBDT. We're here to help.

Thanks for the help Jayson,

I played around with other 1 and other 2.

If I were to make an estimate for each supplier could I somehow autofill the items into the estimate or make a copy of the estimate and open it up into another template?

My apologies if I botched this explanation.

Thanks again.

Estimates are for customers, while for suppliers, you can use Purchase Order, @Since1991.

Additionally, Templates will autofill the customer's  information or the supplier's but not the items. However, you can create a copy of your estimates by clicking the Create a copy above the Estimate page after saving it. Follow the steps below to change the template or the customer's name with the same items.

1. After creating an estimate, click Save.
2. Hit the Create a copy button.
   
   
    
3. To change the template, select from the TEMPLATE dropdown.
4. Click Save and Close.

To create an invoice for an estimate, you can refer to this article for the detailed steps: Create an invoice in QuickBooks Desktop.

Don't hesitate to comment below if you have additional questions about managing estimates. We are always here to help.