Overview
Estimates are a great way to send quotes to your clients for projects or jobs. This feature allows you to set clear expectations before the invoice stage, and lets you seamlessly use the estimate to later invoice your client.
Things to Note
Unlike Invoices, Estimates do not create transactions.
Payments cannot be made on Estimates.
The Notes section in Estimates supports up to 2,000 characters.
Creating and Sending Estimates
Quicken Business & Personal allows you to easily create, save, and send Estimates.
Instructions for Web:
Hover over the panel on the left-hand side and select Invoices.
Select the Estimates tab.
Click the + Estimate button in the upper right.
Select the Business, and then the Client, as well as the Project if applicable.
Enter the Estimate #, and then select the Issue Date.
Add Items to your Estimate using the + Add Item button.
You can also re-order the items so they appear exactly how you want them to. This can be done by clicking, holding, and dragging the rows of dots to the left of the line.
If any of the Items are taxable, click the Taxable checkbox for that line.
In the Tax dropdown menu below, enter or select the Tax Rate. You can create multiple tax rates, but only one can be applied to an Estimate.
You can also provide a dollar or percentage discount on the Estimate.
Once done, you can click the Preview tab at the top to view your final Estimate.
Click Send to... and then enter or confirm the Email Address, Subject, and Email Message.
If you are sending the Estimate another way, select Mark as sent (no email).
Click Send when done.
Instructions for Mobile:
Tap the Menu icon (the three lines in the upper left corner).
Select Invoices and then select the Estimates tab.
Tap the plus (+) button in the upper right.
Tap Create estimate.
Select the Business, and then the Client, as well as the Project if applicable.
Enter the Estimate #, and then select the Issue Date.
Add Items to your Estimate using the Edit or Add Items button.
If any of the Items are taxable, click the Taxable checkbox for that line.
In the Tax dropdown menu below, enter or select the Tax Rate. You can create multiple tax rates, but only one can be applied to an Estimate.
You can also provide a dollar or percentage discount on the Estimate.
Once done, you can tap the PDF button at the top to view your final Estimate.
Tap Send To... and then enter or confirm the Email Address, Subject, and Email Message.
If you are sending the Estimate another way, click Save, then manually mark it as sent by selecting it in the Estimates section and tapping Mark as Sent.
Tap Send when done.
Estimate Statuses
When you send your client an Estimate, they have the option to view it, as well as accept or decline it. Once accepted or declined, Quicken Business & Personal will be updated to reflect this. You can also manually change the status of your Estimate by following the steps below.
Instructions for Web:
Hover over the panel on the left-hand side and select Invoices.
Select the Estimates tab.
Locate the Estimate you want to re-status and click the three dots at the end of it.
Click Update Status, and then select the new status.
Instructions for Mobile:
Tap the Menu icon (the three lines in the upper left corner).
Select Invoices and then select the Estimates tab.
Locate the Estimate you want to re-status and tap on it.
Select the new Status.
Generating Invoices from Estimates
You can easily generate an Invoice from an Estimate, making it easier than ever to invoice your clients.
Instructions for Web:
Hover over the panel on the left-hand side and select Invoices.
Select the Estimates tab.
Locate the Estimate you want to use to generate an Invoice and click the three dots at the end of it.
Click Generate Invoice.
Confirm or select the Invoice #, Issue Date, and Due Date.
Confirm the items and expenses listed.
You can delete any of the items and expenses listed by clicking the trash can at the end of the line.
You can also re-order the items so they appear exactly how you want them to. This can be done by clicking, holding, and dragging the rows of dots to the left of the line.
If any of the items or expenses are taxable, click the Taxable checkbox for that line.
In the Tax dropdown menu below, enter or select the Tax Rate. You can create multiple tax rates, but only one can be applied to an invoice.
You can also provide a dollar or percentage discount on the invoice total.
Once done, you can click the Preview tab at the top to view your final invoice.
Click Send to... and then enter or confirm the Email Address, Subject, and Email Message.
If you are sending the invoice another way, select Mark as sent (no email).
Click Send when done.
Instructions for Mobile:
Tap the Menu icon (the three lines in the upper left corner).
Select Invoices and then select the Estimates tab.
Locate the Estimate you want to use to generate an Invoice and tap on it.
Select Generate Invoice.
Confirm or select the Invoice #, Issue Date, and Due Date.
Confirm the items and expenses listed.
You can edit or add items by selecting the Edit or Add Items button.
If any of the Items are taxable, click the Taxable checkbox for that line.
In the Tax dropdown menu below, enter or select the Tax Rate. You can create multiple tax rates, but only one can be applied to an Estimate.
You can also provide a dollar or percentage discount on the Invoice.
Once done, you can tap the PDF button at the top to view your final Invoice.
Tap Send To... and then enter or confirm the Email Address, Subject, and Email Message.
If you are sending the Estimate another way, click Save, then manually mark it as sent by selecting it in the Drafts section and tapping Mark as Sent.
Tap Send when done.
Editing an Estimate
Although you can edit an already sent Estimate, you will want to re-send it with the new information. Resending the new Estimate will not change the status, so you can manually change it following the steps above first, so your client can re-accept it.
Instructions for Web:
Hover over the panel on the left-hand side and select Invoices.
Select the Estimates tab.
Locate the Estimate you want to edit and click the three dots at the end of it.
Click View Estimate.
Make the desired changes to the Estimate.
Click Save at the top to save the Estimate, or Send to... to send the corrected Estimate to the client.
Instructions for Mobile:
Tap the Menu icon (the three lines in the upper left corner).
Select Invoices and then select the Estimates tab.
Locate the Estimate you want to edit and tap on it.
Select View Estimate.
Make the desired changes to the Estimate.
Click Save at the bottom to save the Estimate, or Send To... to send the corrected Estimate to the client.
Deleting an Estimate
If you need to delete an Estimate, you can do so by following the steps below.
Instructions for Web:
Hover over the panel on the left-hand side and select Invoices.
Select the Estimates tab.
Locate the Estimate you want to delete and click the three dots at the end of it.
Click Delete Estimate.
Click Delete Estimate to confirm.
Instructions for Mobile:
Tap the Menu icon (the three lines in the upper left corner).
Select Invoices and then select the Estimates tab.
Locate the Estimate you want to edit and tap on it.
Select Delete Estimate.
Tap Delete to confirm.
Cloning an Estimate
Cloning an Estimate allows you to create a new Estimate with the click of a button!
Instructions for Web:
Hover over the panel on the left-hand side and select Invoices.
Select the Estimates tab.
Locate the Estimate you want to clone and click the three dots at the end of it.
Click Clone Estimate.
Confirm the information and make any edits needed.
Click Save at the top to save the Estimate, or Send to... to send the Estimate.
Instructions for Mobile:
Tap the Menu icon (the three lines in the upper left corner).
Select Invoices and then select the Estimates tab.
Locate the Estimate you want to clone and tap on it.
Select Clone Estimate.
Confirm the information and make any edits needed.
Click Save at the bottom to save the Estimate, or Send To... to send the corrected Estimate to the client.
If you need any assistance with using Estimates in Quicken Business & Personal, our Support Team is a click away!