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  phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com March 10, 2011 at 3:09pm

  When I am working out quotes i just work all the prices out on a plain bit of a4, then type out on my own headed paper, you can design your own headed paper on WORD in your computer.

  On my template I have the company name across the top with my name and address on the left side of the paper, telephone numbers, email address, and web address on the right side of the paper.

  I then explain everything that will be done from the first morning untill the finish of the job, it takes a bit of time but looks more professional - it is better than doing it in handwriting - explain the total price, how much I'm quoting for materials and the labour.
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  Shane Moore March 10, 2011 at 3:24pm

  Hi Phil, thanks for the reply.

  This is my first attempt. Any feedback on things i should add/lose would be great
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  phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com March 10, 2011 at 3:38pm

  Personally I wouldn't break it down like this, because you will always get customers saying that they can get the materials cheaper than that, then you have to start explaining that if they get the materials then who will be collecting them?

  If they have to pay for materials to be delivered then it will work out more expense and so on,

  I just give 1 price for materials needed, paid in advance

  1 price for labour, paid on completion unless it is a large job, then in instalments weekly

  1 price for the total
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  Shane Moore March 10, 2011 at 3:39pm

  Ok, thanks for the advice. Ill adapt accordingly!

  Thanks again phil

   

   

  one more thing........

  How accurate is my pricing there? its my first job as a starter company (doing it for a friend). But trying to get my head around pricing!
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  Jenny Bloom March 10, 2011 at 3:48pm

  Hi Shane

  Good start and no reason why you can't do it on your own computer - create a template so thay you don't have to redo it from scratch every time. Personally, I think this looks better in more of a letter format than spreadsheet (you can import items from your spreadsheet to include) if needed. 

  Further to other posts on here though, I wouldn't include the hours for each item. By all means itemise works and be reasonably transparent, that's useful to clients to see where their money is going - and they will be able to compare like with like if they are getting other quotes. But you are giving yourself no leeway with this approach. You must build in a little contingency within the overall quote.

  I would take a 'to supply and install' approach for each item or if you want to break it down further, materials and labour. Add a brief description of what's involved e.g. if laying paving you might want to include excavations, skiphire, subbase details, paving product details, laying pattern, pointing etc. Then they can see exactly what's involved and what you have allowed for within the quote.

  Also include your terms and conditions with the quote - there is a template on here that you can adapt. This can also include your payment terms etc and how long the quote is valid for. Are you estimating or quoting?

  Have a system where you number your quotes so that you can file easily and produce an invoice to relate to it.

  Hope that helps a bit
• PRO

  Gary RK March 10, 2011 at 4:16pm

  I had assumed you were looking at internal pricing sheets, but realised you meant customer facing quotes/estimates. 

  We use a quoting system and/or our accounts package - Quickbooks and their Estimate/Quotes Forms,  we set up all the main categories/items set up in the accounts with prices.

  Makes it easy and all the forms/templates are there - you just customise them...That way all the info is set up once from quote to invoice to customer payment. 

  It look professional with all the correct company information, logo etc used across all forms (esitmates, quotes, invoices, delivery notes, statements etc) 

  My only comment, is whether you should be so grannular in your pricing (ie showing line item prices)?   

  We group by function/task on our quotes and do subtotal pricing, so the all the information is shown but the price is consolidated.
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  Graeme @ BGS March 10, 2011 at 4:31pm

  Be careful about stating that you will refund any monies not spent on materials. Fair point not to charge for materials not required and not delivered but I am sure you will get someone querying that you took away 20KG of sand as an example and expecting a price reduction! 

  As others had said, just go for the total price and depending upon the job, show the split between labour and materials.   The quotation can of course show materials to be used such as 100m2 decking, N plants, N rolls of turf but shouldn't need to price them individually unless a fairly detailed quotation / invoice is required.
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  Shane Moore March 10, 2011 at 4:42pm

  ok, thanks for all the advice. I will change it around a little. 

  Gary- Is that software expensivee? Im obviously trying to keep costs down byut if its cost effective then ill have a look.

  Graham- thanks for the feed back and i will change the comments at the bottom regarding materials. 

  Jenny- The idea of esimate/ qoute/ invoice with matching filing numbers is something i hadnt thought about! So thank you. Will definatly impliment this!

   

   
• PRO

  Gary RK March 10, 2011 at 4:55pm

  Shane, 

  take a look on Amazon for Quickbooks (look for older versions - we're still using QBPro 2005 !) and you will be fine - http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_10?url=search-alias%3Dso... 

  It will start you off right, in that it is a fully fledged accounts package (simple to use) that does a lot more.. 

  Don't worry just yet about dedicated quoting systems unless you suddenly start getting big, complex jobs. 

  Its hard to put a value on it, but it does help you run in an effective and professional manner. 

  Ultimately its all down to money, cashflow and what facilities/information you need now. 

  I can PM you some examples of a quote and how its laid out if you want. 

  One of the first things I spent on was Quickbooks at the recommnedation of my Accountant - probably one of the best bits of advice I got early on . 

  Once you get all you costs on there you can start see your charging rate rate start to form and at the click of the mouse you find out EXACTLY where you are.... 

  Lastly, go join the Key Business Objectives and group and have a rummage around - there stuff in there you might find useful bedtime reading ;-)
• PRO

  Gary RK March 10, 2011 at 5:14pm

  I've looked at Benchmark Estimating software and it looks good, but I think LiberRate scores slightly better - willing to be corrected.... 

  Hope that event comes down sarf......!
  
  Jenny Bloom said: