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Estimate-based Quote

The Estimate-based Quote provides the most detailed pricing approach in JobNext. It uses bottom-up costing with a full breakdown of labour, material, plant, and subcontract costs. The estimate is created as a non-budget estimate specifically for quotation purposes, keeping the project budget unaffected.

When to use Estimate-based Quote: Choose this method when you require cost precision with transparent markup percentages and want to keep the project budget separate from the quotation estimate.

Estimate-based Quote Process Flow

Estimate-based Quote two-phase process: Phase 1 builds cost estimate (Labour + Material + Plant), marks ready; Phase 2 creates quote from estimate with markup
Estimate-based Quote process — build a detailed cost estimate first, then derive the quote with markup.

Two-Phase Workflow

Phase A: Create & Approve Estimate (Operations)

The estimate is created in the Operations module against the relevant job:

  1. Navigate to Operations → Jobs and select the relevant Job
  2. Open the Estimates section
  3. Create a new non-budget estimate
  4. Build the estimate against BOQ lines by adding resources, rates, and quantities
  5. Save and approve the estimate
  6. Click Mark Ready for Quote
Important: The estimate must show Approved status without any resource validation errors before it can be marked as ready for quote. Resolve all validation issues before proceeding.

Phase B: Create Quote (Preconstruction)

With the estimate approved and marked ready, create the quote in the Preconstruction module:

  1. Go to Preconstruction → Prospects → Enquiry
  2. Select Quotes → Add Quote and choose "No" for Easy Quote
  3. Select the approved, ready-for-quote estimate from the dropdown
  4. Verify that lines auto-populate with estimated costs
  5. Add profit percentage to set the markup
  6. Select applicable taxes
  7. Include terms and conditions
  8. Submit the quote and export the customer PDF

Non-Budget Estimates

Estimate-based quotes use non-budget estimates. This is a critical distinction:

AspectBudget EstimateNon-Budget Estimate
Purpose Controls spending limits for the project Provides cost basis for quotation only
Budget impact Sets the project budget No impact on project budget
Used in quotes Not recommended Designed for this purpose

Mark Ready for Quote

The Mark Ready for Quote action is a critical step that makes the estimate available for selection in the quote creation process. Requirements:

  • Estimate must be in Approved status
  • No resource validation errors may exist
  • The estimate must be of non-budget type

Profit and Tax

When creating the quote from the estimate:

  • Profit percentage is applied on top of the estimated costs to determine the selling price
  • Tax selection determines which tax rules apply to the quote line items
  • Both can be set at the header level or overridden per line item

Troubleshooting

ProblemSolution
Empty estimate dropdown Refresh the enquiry page; verify the estimate has been approved and marked ready for quote
Cost discrepancies Reopen the estimate, correct resource quantities or rates, and re-approve
Mapping issues Confirm the estimate matches the job and BOQ structure of the enquiry