Perform Your First Estimate

This guide walks you through the basic steps required to create your first estimate in The Paint Estimator.

It is assumed that you have already:

• Set up your company information
• Added your employees
• Configured overhead and basic settings

Step 1: Start a new estimate

To begin, click the New Estimate button on the main Start tab, or open the File menu and select Start New Estimate.

Step 2: Enter customer information

A form will appear prompting you to enter the customer’s information. Fill out the required fields and click Continue.

Step 3: Review the Estimate tab

After entering customer information, you will be taken to the Estimate tab. This is where all pricing and job details are created.

Set up your crew

All active employees with the classification of Painter will appear in the employee list. Other classifications such as estimator or office staff are not shown.

Click the Active button to remove an employee from the job. To re-add all active painters, click Update under the options button to the left of the employees list.

Review profit and options

The company profit percentage is loaded automatically from your company settings. You can adjust it at any time during the estimate.

To enable or disable overhead, workers’ compensation, credit card fees, or material profit, click the Options button at the top of the Estimate tab.

Next steps: Add items to the estimate

You are now ready to start adding line items to your estimate. Choose one of the methods below to continue:

• Using Production Rates
• Using Manual Mode
• Adding Subcontractors