Free template
Free estimate template for Excel
Give the customer a price before you start. Type the lines, and the total, the valid-until date and the deposit work themselves out.
What is inside
- Your details and the customer's Business name, address and contact, and the prepared-for block.
- Estimate number, date and how long it is valid Enter the number of days, and the valid-until date calculates.
- Ten line items Description, quantity and rate; each amount calculates.
- Total and deposit Subtotal, discount, sales tax, total, and the deposit to start as a percentage.
- Acceptance line Room for the customer's name and date when they say yes.
How to use it
- Fill in your business details once and save a copy as your master.
- Delete the two example lines and enter the work and materials.
- Set the discount, the sales tax rate if the sale is taxable, and the deposit percentage.
- Print to PDF and send. When the customer accepts, turn the same lines into an invoice.
Using it in Google Sheets
- Open Google Sheets and choose File, then Import, then Upload, and pick the downloaded file.
- Choose "Replace spreadsheet" or "Insert new sheet(s)".
- Check the formulas and the dropdown lists after the import. Most carry over, but Google Sheets handles a few functions and formats differently.
Things to watch
- An estimate is not an invoice. It is a price offer. Record income when you invoice or get paid, not when the customer accepts the estimate.
- Say how long the price holds. Material costs move. A valid-until date protects you from honoring an old price months later.
- Put changes in writing. If the job grows, send a new estimate or a written change before doing the extra work.
- Sales tax depends on what you sell. Some services and most goods are taxable in New Jersey and some are not. Check with the NJ Division of Taxation or your CPA before you set the rate.
Questions
What is the difference between an estimate and a quote?
People use the words loosely. Often an estimate is a best guess that can change, and a quote is a fixed price. Say on the document which one you mean, and how long it holds.
Should I ask for a deposit?
Many trades ask for one before ordering materials or booking the time. The template works it out as a percentage of the total. Check any rules that apply to your trade, such as home improvement contract rules.
Can I use it in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the file to Google Sheets and check the formulas after the import.
How do I turn it into an invoice?
Copy the lines into the free invoice template or the invoice generator, add the invoice number and terms, and send it when the work is done or at the agreed stage.
Want a fuller version with worked examples? See Contractor Job Costing Sheet in the store. This free template stays free either way.
Want more than a template? See Independent Contractor & Client Engagement Agreement Pack.
Want every toolkit? The toolkit membership includes all of them, with a lower rate if you pay yearly.
Related: Free invoice template, Free invoice generator, Break-even calculator, Profit margin and markup calculator, or all free templates.
These templates track your own numbers. They are not tax, legal or accounting advice, and MCC Solutions is not a CPA firm. Ask your CPA how rules apply to you.