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Using the Estimating Tools in QuickBooks Contractor Edition

Customizing the Estimate Form

Premier Contractor Edition makes it easy for you to remove or add information to the QuickBooks standard estimate forms. For example, you may want to customize the form to make these changes:

  • Change the title of the form from "Estimate" to "Bid" or "Proposal."

  • Change the title of the Project field to "Job" or "Job No."

  • Customize the printed estimate to show columns only for Item, Description, and Amount. This lets you display the Quantity, Cost, and Markup columns on the onscreen form for your own use, but show only a simplified version of your costs to customers.

  • Create separate estimate templates for the different types of estimates you prepare for customers. For example, you can create one template for fixed-bid jobs and another template for time and materials jobs.

  • For specialty contractors/subcontractors: Add a customized field called Contractor, if you work for a general contractor on most jobs.

  • Add a signature line for your customer to sign and date to indicate approval of the estimate.

  • Add boilerplate text such as the legal terms of your proposal or contract.

To get started customizing forms:

  1. From the QuickBooks Lists menu, choose Templates.

  2. Click to select the template for the business form you want to customize.

  3. Click the Templates button at the bottom of the list, and then choose Edit. (To create a new template, choose New instead.)

  4. In the Customize [Form] window, enter your changes or selections.

  5. If you are creating a new template, enter a name for the template in the Template Name field.

  6. (Optional) If you want to change the position of fields or other elements on the form, click Layout Designer.

  7. When you have completed your customization of the form template, click OK to save your changes.

  8. To use the template, select the template name from the drop-down list in the Form Template field on the form.

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