Creating an Estimate in Patriot Software

Background

As a Patriot Software Premium Accounting customer, you can create an estimate of your products and services to give to a potential customer to show them what you will charge in the event they hire/purchase from you. You can then convert an estimate into an invoice.

Creating an Estimate in Patriot Software

Accounting > Customer Tasks > Create Estimate

Creating an estimate is similar to creating an invoice.

1. Select theCustomer Name. If needed, you can add a new customer here without leaving the estimate by clicking “Add New.”
2. TheEstimate Numberwill automatically show the next available number since the last estimate you created. You can change this, if needed.
3. TheEstimate Dateis set to today. Change the date, if needed.
4. TheExpiration Dateis is an optional field.
5. Select your Product or Service from the dropdown list. If needed, you can add a new product/service here without leaving the estimate by clicking “Add New.” For more info on how to add Products and Services, seeSetting Up Products and Services.
6. Thequantity(Qty) will be set to 1. Change the quantity, if needed.
7. Theprice会自动显示为that product/service, based on your Product or Service list. You can change the price on the estimate, if needed.
8. Theincome accountfor this product will display. You can change this, if needed. The customer will not see this account when you print the estimate, it is only for your information.
9. Add anoptional descriptionfor the product/service, if needed. This will appear on the estimate and in reports.
10. To add another product or service, clickAdd Line Itembeneath the row. You can remove a row by clicking the trashcan at the end of the row.
11. If you charge sales tax, thesales tax ratethat you entered as the default rate on the Sales Tax Rate screen will be used. If needed, you can add a new sales tax rate on the estimate, and save this rate as your default tax rate for the future. For more info, seeSetting Up Sales Tax.
12. The estimate total will automatically update.
13. Add aProject Description. This is required, and will appear to the customer.
14. You can add optional Notes that will also appear to the customer.
15. Click “Create Estimate.”

You will see an Estimate Detail page confirming that the estimate has been created. From here, you can take actions with this estimate as needed.

For more details about the available actions you can take with an estimate, seeManaging Your Customer Estimates.