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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 the Customer Name.  If needed, you can add a new customer here without leaving the estimate by clicking “Add New.”
  2. The Estimate Number will automatically show the next available number since the last estimate you created. You can change this, if needed.
  3. The Estimate Date is set to today. Change the date, if needed.
  4. The Expiration Date is 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, see Setting Up Products and Services.
  6. The quantity (Qty) will be set to 1.  Change the quantity, if needed.
  7. The price will automatically display for that product/service, based on your Product or Service list. You can change the price on the estimate, if needed.
  8. The income account for 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 an optional description for the product/service, if needed.  This will appear on the estimate and in reports.
  10. To add another product or service, click Add Line Item beneath the row.  You can remove a row by clicking the trashcan at the end of the row.
  11. If you charge sales tax, the sales tax rate that 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, see Setting Up Sales Tax.
  12. The estimate total will automatically update.
  13. Add a Project 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, see Managing Your Customer Estimates.

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