Estimates priced by quantity, made into the item, BOM and quotation
Price a new job from its material, its steps on your machines, overhead and margin, at each quantity the buyer asks for. Send the estimate as a PDF; when it is won, the item, its bill of materials and the sales quotation are made from it.
PLANSScale only
The problem it solves
- Each quote is worked out on a different spreadsheet, and the setup time is forgotten on small quantities.
- The price for 50 pieces and for 1,000 pieces is guessed, not worked out.
- When the order comes, someone types the item and its BOM again from the quote.
- Nobody can find what was quoted for a similar part last year.
How it works
- Open Manufacturing > Products > Estimates > New. Name the job, the customer, and an existing item if there is one.
- On the Material tab, add each material per piece. Pick an item to fill its name, unit and cost, or type a description and a cost. Add a Waste %.
- On the Steps tab, add each step. Pick the machine to fill its cost per hour, then the setup minutes per batch and the minutes per piece.
- On Quantities and Prices, add the quantities asked. Each shows its cost and price per piece and the total; Overhead (10 %) and Margin (20 %) are applied.
- Press Print and Send for the estimate PDF. Mark it Won with the quantity the customer takes ticked, or Lost with the reason.
Everything it does
Pricing
- Material per piece: quantity times cost, plus waste %
- Run cost per piece: minutes per piece over 60 times the cost per hour
- Setup cost per batch, spread over each quantity
- Cost per piece = (material + run + setup over the quantity) plus overhead %; price = cost plus margin %
- Overhead 10 % and Margin 20 % to start with, changeable on each estimate
The estimate
- Numbered EST/2026/0001 and on
- Customer, Job, Existing Item, Estimator, Notes
- Tabs: Quantities and Prices, Material, Steps, Result, Notes
- States: Draft, Sent, Won, Lost; Back to Draft from Sent or Lost
- Print and Send needs at least one quantity; Lost needs Why Lost on the Result tab
When it is won
- Tick Customer Takes This on one quantity
- A new item is made if the estimate has none, sold at the price and costed at the cost of that quantity
- Its bill of materials from the material lines that name an item (waste included) and the steps on their machines
- A sales quotation for the customer at that quantity and price
- Material typed without an item is left out of the BOM and listed in a note
- With design files, the drawings are attached to the item made
With other features
- Design Files tab: drawings and CAD files measured on the estimate
- Draft with AI fills material and steps from the drawings, when you switch it on
- Make Estimate on a CRM lead brings in the lead's files and quantities
- Textile: fabric from marker or GSM, and CMT from SMV (style costing)
Who uses it
PlannerMakes and prices estimates, sends them and marks them won or lost.
Production ManagerChecks margins and can delete estimates.
SalespersonFollows the quotation made from a won estimate.
Where you use it
- Web: Manufacturing > Products > Estimates (Planners and above)
- The estimate PDF goes to the customer by email or print
- Not in the SmartMy Manufacturing app; not on a customer portal
What you control
Settings
- Overhead: 10 % to start with, per estimate
- Margin: 20 % to start with, per estimate
- Cost per hour of each machine: from the machine, changeable on the step
Questions
Can one estimate show prices for several quantities?
Yes. Add each quantity on Quantities and Prices; each gets its own cost and price per piece, with the setup spread over that quantity.Does a won estimate make the BOM?
Yes. The item, its bill of materials with the steps on their machines, and a quotation for the customer are made at once. Material lines must name an item to go into the BOM.Can it draft the estimate from a drawing?
Yes, with Draft with AI switched on: the AI fills material and steps from the drawings for you to check. Customers who said no AI on their drawings are never sent.Is there an approval before the estimate goes out?
No. Estimates have no approval chain; the planner sends them.Related features
DESIGN FILES AND QUOTESDraft with AI on estimatesPress Draft with AI on an estimate. The buyer's drawings, the measured CAD figures, your machines with their costs and similar past estimates go to the SmartMy AI service. Back come material lines, steps on your machines with minutes, and the assumptions, for your estimator to check before anything is sent.DESIGN FILES AND QUOTESDrawings and CAD files measured and shown in 3DKeep a buyer's drawings and CAD files with the estimate or the lead. STEP, IGES and STL models are measured for size, volume, surface and weight; DXF flat drawings for sheet size, cut length, pierces and holes. Anyone can turn the part in 3D and measure it in the browser, with nothing to install.DESIGN FILES AND QUOTESA quote request page that makes CRM leadsPut one link on your website or email signature. Buyers send what they need, the quantities, a needed-by date and up to five drawings or CAD files. Each request becomes a CRM lead with its files already measured, and your sales team is told by email.TEXTILE AND GARMENTSStyle costing from the marker or GSM, and the SMVCost a style before you take the order. Fabric per piece comes from the marker length or from GSM and area, with waste on top. The making cost comes from the SMV at your cost per minute. Overhead, margin and quantity breaks price it.PLANNING, QUALITY AND COSTStandard cost roll-up from the BOMWork out what each item you make should cost, rolled up level by level. It counts its components, machine and labour time from the bill of materials, and your factory overhead. Keep each standard from a date, and print a cost sheet with office overhead, profit and a suggested price.PRODUCTION AND JOB WORKSales, purchase and CRM: from lead to goods receivedFollow enquiries through your pipeline, send quotations, take sales orders and invoice them, raise purchase orders and receive the goods into your plant. Every invoice and bill names its plant.
See your shop floor on it.
Tell us what you make, how many machines and people you run, and how production is recorded today. We will set up a line with you and run a job on the terminal.