The Estimates feature allows businesses to create and share estimates with clients, offering a seamless way to confirm project details before moving forward with invoicing. With the Estimates feature, businesses can easily manage proposals, track their status, and convert accepted estimates into invoices, all within the same platform.

Key Features and Benefits

1. Create and Share Estimates: Generate detailed estimates with essential information, such as business details, customer information, and itemized products or services. Share these estimates via email or SMS, providing a clear and professional proposal for your clients to review.
2. Client Interaction: Clients can accept or reject estimates directly, streamlining the approval process. This interaction can be done electronically, allowing clients to respond quickly and without hassle.
3. Easy Conversion to Invoices: Once an estimate is accepted, it can be directly converted into an invoice. This feature eliminates redundant data entry, saving time and reducing errors, ensuring a smooth transition from proposal to payment.
4. Tracking and Management: Easily track the status of all estimates, whether they are in draft, sent, accepted, declined, or invoiced. This visibility helps businesses manage their sales pipeline effectively and keep a record of all client interactions.
5. Customization Options: Personalize your estimates with your company’s branding, terms, and other relevant information. Customization helps maintain a professional appearance and ensures that all communications align with your brand.

How to Use the Estimates Feature

Step 1: Access the Estimates Section

• Navigate to your account within High Leads Pro.
• Select ‘Payments’ and then click on ‘Invoices and Estimates’.
• Choose ‘Estimates’ to start creating a new estimate.

Step 2: Create an Estimate

• Click on the ‘New’ button to begin creating an estimate.
• Fill in the necessary details, including business information, customer information, estimate number, and expiry date.

• Add products or services to the estimate, and click ‘Send’ to share it with your client via email or SMS.

Step 3: Client Interaction

• Once sent, clients can review the estimate and either accept or reject it.
• If the client accepts, the estimate will be marked as accepted.

•  If they reject it, they can add notes explaining their decision, and the estimate will be marked as rejected.

• You also have the option to manually mark an estimate as accepted or rejected if the client confirms their decision over the phone.

Step 4: Convert to Invoice

• After an estimate is accepted, click on the sent estimate and select ‘Convert to Invoice’.
• This will create an invoice based on the accepted estimate, which can then be sent to the client for payment.

Step 5: Track and Manage Estimates

• Keep track of all estimates from the dashboard, categorized by their status: Draft, Sent, Accepted, Declined, and Invoiced.
• Monitor the value of estimates in the pipeline and review any notes added by users.

Customization

• Customize estimates by adding your company’s branding and specific terms in the settings section, ensuring each estimate reflects your business identity.

Why We Built It

The Estimates feature was developed to complete the payment suite within High Leads Pro, providing businesses with a comprehensive solution for managing client proposals, contracts, and invoicing. By integrating estimates, businesses can streamline their workflow, improve communication with clients, and ensure a professional approach to every transaction.

Pro Tips

• Utilize Templates: Save time by creating templates for common estimates. This can help standardize proposals and ensure consistency across your communications.
• Follow Up on Pending Estimates: Keep an eye on estimates that are sent but not yet accepted or rejected. A quick follow-up can often prompt a response from the client.
• Leverage Notes: Use the notes feature within the estimate builder to track important client feedback or specific details about the estimate. This can be especially useful for future reference or when making revisions.

FAQ

1. Can I edit an estimate after it has been sent?

• Yes, you can edit an estimate even after it has been sent, as long as it has not been accepted. Simply navigate to the estimate, make your changes, and resend it to the client.

2. How do I know if a client has viewed the estimate?

• The status of the estimate will be updated once it is viewed by the client. You can track these updates directly from the dashboard.

3. Can I set automatic reminders for pending estimates?

• Yes, you can set reminders for estimates that have not yet been accepted or rejected, helping you stay on top of follow-ups with your clients.

4. Is it possible to apply discounts directly within the estimate?

• Absolutely. You can add discounts to specific items or the entire estimate, providing flexibility in your pricing strategy.

5. Can estimates be used for recurring services or products?

• Estimates are typically used for one-time services or products, but you can include notes or line items to specify any recurring nature. For ongoing services, you might consider using the recurring invoice feature once the estimate is accepted.