How to create an estimate form with calculation

Have you ever wondered how people propose the estimated cost of a project or service? That’s where an estimate form comes in!

It’s a tool that breaks down the different elements of a project and gives you an approximate cost for each one. It’s used in various industries, from building homes to designing websites. Estimate forms are a fantastic way to help you and your clients get on the same page about the scope and cost of a project. Plus, with automation, it’s easier to create accurate and consistent estimate forms updated in a snap.

For example, as a service provider, a professional job estimate is crucial to showcase your expertise and win over potential clients. Regardless of your profession, a clear and detailed estimation helps clients understand the scope of work and estimated costs, establishing credibility and confidence in your services.

What is an estimate form?

An estimate form is a document that breaks down the various elements of a project or task. Then, it provides an approximate calculation of the time, cost, and resources needed to complete it.

It is used to give clients or customers an idea of what to expect in terms of cost and timeline for the project. It also helps managers and team members plan and allocate resources effectively.

For instance, you can provide your prospective clients with estimate forms when they ask about a job or a service, so they get an idea of the cost and timeline of your services.

This document outlines the job’s details, including the services you’ll provide and deadlines for completing the work. It also includes a timeline of project benchmarks and cost estimates for materials and services.

By providing this information, the job estimate helps the client plan their project budget. However, it’s important to remember that a job estimate is simply an estimation based on your expertise and past experiences with similar tasks.

While you may not have all the details initially, providing a ballpark estimate can still be helpful for both you and the client.

Read on to see how to create a job estimate form and embed it on your website.

Check this article to see how to create advanced forms on WordPress.

The difference between job estimates, quotes, and invoices

Job estimates, quotes, and invoices are all essential documents used in business, mainly for providing services. While they are all related to the pricing of the services, they serve different goals and contain other data.
Let’s learn about the difference between them.

Job estimates

A job estimate is a primary document that outlines the potential costs of a project before it starts. It provides time and resources estimations needed to complete the job. In addition, it includes a breakdown of the materials, labor, and other costs that will be applied. A job estimate is not a final price; it helps clients understand what to expect.

Price quotes

A quote is a more legal document that provides a specific service price. It is based on the job estimate but includes a fixed price the client can rely on. In addition, a quote should contain a detailed breakdown of the services that will be provided and any applicable taxes, fees, or other charges.

Here is a template you can customize to make your quote form.

Invoices

An invoice is a bill sent to the client after they’ve officially hired you for the project. It is a payment request and includes the final price of the job based on the agreed-upon quote. Invoices are often used for record-keeping purposes and can be proof of payment.

Now that we understand the difference between the three estimate forms let’s dive into how you can generate them without hassle.

Using Formaloo, you can easily create professional-looking estimates, quotes, and invoices, all in one place. Streamline your workflow with automatic calculations, conditional logic, and highly customizable forms without coding.

The benefits of automating your estimate forms

You can use a template and automate the calculations of your estimate form to save you time and eliminate the potential for human error.

By automating calculations, you can be sure that all the numbers are correct and consistent, which helps you avoid costly mistakes. You can also customize your estimate form to make it professional and consistent.

Furthermore, estimate forms are an excellent tool to generate more leads and attract people to your business. They allow potential customers to request pricing and service information from your business directly.

Providing clear and detailed estimates helps you build trust and credibility with potential customers, which can increase your sales and customer loyalty.

Additionally, estimation forms collect contact information from potential customers. It allows you to easily follow up with interested individuals and convert them into paying customers.

Learn how to simplify your lead generation process using Formaloo and Zapier.

Formaloo offers a range of features that allow you to create custom forms and automate the calculations for your estimates.

The conditional logic feature enables you to add conditional statements to your forms, so you can create more complex calculations and ensure accurate results. You can also use formula fields to complete calculations based on user inputs, which saves time and eliminates the potential for human error. Further, the variable field allows you to store frequently used data, such as tax rates, and use them across multiple forms.

Let’s follow a step-by-step guide on creating an estimate form using Formaloo’s intuitive platform.

How to create an estimate form: The ultimate guide.

Creating an estimate form can be straightforward if you follow a few key steps. First, identify the scope of work to be completed and break it down into manageable components. Then, determine the materials, labor, and additional costs required for each piece and research prices to ensure an accurate estimate.

Now all you have to do is to organize these components into a professional-looking estimate form for your clients. And here is where we can help you create it in a few simple steps.

1- Log in to your Formaloo dashboard

To start creating your estimate form, open your dashboard. Then, start a form from scratch or use our job estimate template and customize it to match your needs.
If you still have no Formaloo account, sign-up for free and start building forms, surveys, quizzes, and much more with no code.

2- Set up your formaloo’s fields and logic

Create the fields you want to include with a simple drag-and-drop interface. Then, add the questions you should ask your clients to estimate service costs.

In our template, we added various types of fields such as “text,” “email,” and “phone” to collect clients’ personal information. Then, we included a few “number” fields asking for additional details about the required service.

For example, to ask for the number of employees needed, we included a “number” field so customers could put how many employees they needed. We can add all the extra charges to the total price.

To calculate the total price, open the “Logic” tab and set up a fee for each type of service. Then create your conditions.

For example: If the “type of service” is “Cleaning,” then “add 15” to the “price” variable field.

Add a “section” field to the end of your form and use the answer piping feature to display the total price.

All you have to do is to put {{price}} in the description of your “section” field, and it will automatically display the calculated price.

3- Add your payment method

As your estimation form is now ready and automatically calculates the final price of your service, you can easily collect payment directly from it.

Firstly, enable the “Form with payment” option from your form editor’s “Settings” tab.

Then, go to the “Calculator” tab to choose your currency.

Now, to create a new payment method, click on the profile icon at the top menu of your dashboard. Then select “Payment methods” and choose your payment gateway. Finally, go back to the formaloo editor and select the payment method you just created on the “setting” tab.

Learn more about how to connect your payment method to your formaloo.

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Boost your customer acquisition with a customizable estimate form

Creating an estimate form is crucial in simplifying your business operations and increasing your chances of generating more leads.

You can create a professional-looking job estimate form by following the steps outlined above. It helps you capture all the necessary information from potential customers and automatically calculate your cost.

Additionally, embedding the form on your website or converting it into a chatbot can enhance the user experience.

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