Estimate form/unit cost

[dozerman]

Hello,
Does anyone use a spread sheet to build a price, using unit costs?
If so, do you care to share it?

Looks like this board will accept a Word file (.doc) and an Excell file can be embedded in Word.......Thank you administraiters.

I am a small firm that uses a paper note pad for bids and need to get more organized.

If you need a Spreadsheet invoice, I made one you can have. Email me and I will send it.

Thanks-Brad

[Oregon Rob]

I know there are some better SW packages that can really do a lot for you. I haven't looked lately, but a few year back i looked at Quickbooks (i think the name is correct) and it made things really slick. You could do some really cool things with bids and then roll them over once they became invoices and they would track everything as well. Might think about it.

[dozerman]

Thanks Rob,
We have been using "Quicken" for our check book for 12 years now. Its great for doing the taxes and profit and loss reports.

We have been considering "Quickbooks" for some time to make invoicing easier. But does it do line item ----bidding---?
IE;
300' 2' utility trench @ .90/lin ft for cut and fill=$270.00
185' footing drain @ 2.85/lin ft=$527.25

Total-$ 795.25 +tax

[Paul]

For the larger companies, I would recommed a take off program that is linked to your accounting program. There are estmating programs like Pay Dirt and others that help you figure out how many hours of excavation and materials that would be needed along with a data base of nation wide costs. A search on the internet would uncover most of them. These programs can be expensive but they can save you 1000's of dollors in mistakes.

[Oregon Rob]

Here is what i got from the website from QuckbooksPro.
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Improve accuracy with time tracking, estimating, and job costing

Track your time and employee time right in QuickBooks. You can also track job costs to see where you're making or losing money. QuickBooks tracks job costs automatically as you write job-related checks and track employee time. Plus, you can easily create estimates in QuickBooks, then compare actual costs to your estimates after the job is completed. You can even create multiple estimates for a single job.

----------------------------------------------

If you spent more time on the site, you could lear more i'm sure.
I just remember being some what impressed.

I think you can create a list of standard items/operations and then build a quote by picking from a list.

I have not looked at any of the programs that Paul has mentioned, so I can't comment on them.

Regards and good luck,:usa

Rob

[dozerman]

SWEEET,
Thanks Rob.
Even if the estimate does't work this
http://quickbooks.intuit.com/commerce/catalog/product.jhtml?view=features&priorityCode=0273400000&prodId=prod30003
app would be worth the $300.

My wife who does the billing hates having to transfer my hour log to the invoice and leads to much yelling every month. We will have to find other things to yell about if we get this program.

It appears that Quickbooks estimate form has line item auto fill for all items you enter
ie; EC-55 Volvo - $80.00/hr.
2'x2" utility trench cut and fill-$1.60/ft
and does the totaling for you with markup, tax.....yeah.

what do do with all this xtra time........b

[Oregon Rob]

Glad to be able to help:)

[dozerman]

Here is another one,,,MYOB $99 for the "first edge"
Looks good in theory, Ill get a demo to try.
http://www.myob.com/us/popups/firstedge_comparison.htm


Anyone use Quickbooks or
MYOB?

[RayDiers]

I have been using Quickbooks for a few years now. I like it very much. Estimates are easy to do.

I do need to update to the latest version tho as it has more features thank I would like to use.

Ray

[BRL]

Been using Quickbooks Pro for years also. It is a basic accounting program set up to be used by a broad variety & types of small businesses. It is easy to use & customize to your particular needs. I personally use my own MS Excel spreadsheets for my estimating, and the QB for the invoicing AR\AP, employee, taxes etc. If you are a larger contractor or are working large projects, then Paul's suggestions would be better suited to help save time & money. I don't believe the MYOB for $99 is comparable to QB Pro in the $300.00 and probably doesn't have as many features. MYOB I had always thought was more of a comparison program to Quicken?

[dozerman]

Tried the MYOB and found it more labor intensive than Quicken to operate.

We have been using Quicken for years and like the minimal amount of typing needed to get the job done.

It looks like we will use Quickbooks Pro for handling the moola.

And build an Excel speadsheet for the estimating.

Thank you all for your help.
....B