How Would You Create A New Estimate In Quickbooks Online?

Introduction

Creating a new estimate in QuickBooks Online is a crucial step in the sales process. Estimates allow you to provide your customers with an accurate quote for products or services before they make a purchase. It helps you establish clear expectations and gives your customers a sense of transparency and professionalism.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a new estimate in QuickBooks Online. Whether you are a small business owner, a freelancer, or an entrepreneur, understanding how to create estimates is vital for managing your sales pipeline and ensuring smooth interactions with your customers.

QuickBooks Online makes it easy to generate estimates and customize them according to your preferences and specific customer needs. By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can efficiently create, manage, and track your estimates to streamline your sales process and improve customer satisfaction.

Throughout this guide, we will walk you through each step of the process, from accessing the “Estimates” tab to saving and sending the estimate to your customer. We will also provide tips and best practices to help you make the most out of QuickBooks Online’s estimate feature.

So, if you are ready to learn how to create a new estimate in QuickBooks Online, let’s dive right in and get started with step one: accessing the “Estimates” tab.

Step 1: Access the “Estimates” Tab

To begin creating a new estimate in QuickBooks Online, you need to access the “Estimates” tab. Follow the steps below to find it:

1. Log in to your QuickBooks Online account and navigate to the dashboard.
2. On the left-hand side of the dashboard, you will find a vertical menu. Scroll down and locate the “Sales” tab.
3. Click on the “Sales” tab to expand a dropdown menu.
4. From the dropdown menu, select “Estimates” to access the estimates page.

Once you have successfully accessed the “Estimates” tab, you are ready to move on to the next step: creating a new estimate.

QuickBooks Online provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface to help you navigate through various features. The “Estimates” tab is specifically designed to manage all your estimates in one place.

Remember, this step is essential as it serves as the starting point of the entire estimate creation process. Without accessing the “Estimates” tab, you won’t be able to create, view, or manage your estimates efficiently.

Now that you have accessed the “Estimates” tab let’s proceed to step two: clicking on “New Estimate.”

Step 2: Click on “New Estimate”

After accessing the “Estimates” tab in QuickBooks Online, the next step is to click on “New Estimate”. This action will open a blank estimate form for you to fill out with the necessary details.

Here’s how you can click on “New Estimate” in QuickBooks Online:

1. On the estimates page, look for the “New Estimate” button. It is usually located at the top right corner of the page.
2. Click on the “New Estimate” button to proceed.

By clicking on “New Estimate”, you are initiating the estimate creation process in QuickBooks Online. This action will bring up a fresh estimate form where you can enter all the relevant information.

QuickBooks Online provides a user-friendly interface with a visually appealing layout. The “New Estimate” form is designed to be intuitive, making it easy for you to input the necessary details.

Remember, properly filling out the estimate form is crucial for providing accurate and detailed information to your customers. This will help them make informed decisions and build trust in your business.

Now that you have clicked on “New Estimate”, it’s time to move on to step three: entering customer information.

Step 3: Enter Customer Information

After clicking on “New Estimate” in QuickBooks Online, the next step is to enter the customer information. This includes the customer’s name, contact details, and any other relevant information that will help identify and communicate with the customer.

Here’s how you can enter customer information in QuickBooks Online:

1. On the estimate form, locate the section labeled “Customer”. This is usually at the top of the form.
2. Click on the drop-down menu in the “Customer” section and either select an existing customer from the list or click on “Add New” to create a new customer profile.
3. If you select an existing customer, their information will automatically populate in the respective fields. If you choose to add a new customer, fill in the required fields, such as name, email address, phone number, and billing address.

Entering accurate customer information is essential for proper record-keeping and effective communication. It ensures that your estimates are correctly attributed to the appropriate customer and that they receive the estimate in a timely manner.

QuickBooks Online allows you to manage and store customer information efficiently. By creating customer profiles, you can save time when generating future estimates or invoices for the same customer.

Remember to double-check the customer information entered before proceeding to the next step. This step sets the foundation for a personalized and professional estimate.

Now that you have entered the customer information, let’s move on to step four: adding products/services to the estimate.

Step 4: Add Products/Services to Estimate

After entering customer information in QuickBooks Online, the next step is to add the products or services that you are estimating. This step allows you to itemize and specify the details of what you are offering to your customer.

Follow these steps to add products/services to your estimate:

1. On the estimate form, locate the section labeled “Product/Service”. This is where you will input the items you are estimating.
2. Click on the drop-down menu in the “Product/Service” section and either select an existing item from the list or click on “Add New” to create a new item.
3. If you select an existing item, its details, such as name, description, and price, will automatically populate in the respective fields. If you choose to add a new item, fill in the required fields, including name, description, price, and any other relevant information.
4. Once you have entered or selected an item, you can specify the quantity and any additional details, such as discounts or custom notes, in the respective fields.
5. If you need to add multiple items to the estimate, simply click on the “Add a line” button to create additional rows for each item.

Adding products or services to your estimate accurately reflects what you are offering to your customer. It helps both parties clearly understand the scope and value of the estimate.

QuickBooks Online allows you to easily manage and keep track of your products or services. By creating and organizing a list of items, you can quickly select them when generating estimates and ensure consistency across all your estimates and invoices.

Remember to review the items added to the estimate, ensuring that all the necessary details are accurate and complete before proceeding to the next step. This step ensures that the estimate reflects the specific products or services you are offering.

Now that you have added products/services to the estimate, let’s move on to step five: customizing estimate details.

Step 5: Customize Estimate Details

Once you have added products or services to your estimate in QuickBooks Online, the next step is to customize the estimate details. This step allows you to provide additional information, such as terms and conditions, payment terms, and any other relevant details that need to be communicated to your customer.

Follow these steps to customize the estimate details:

1. On the estimate form, locate the section labeled “Estimate Details”. This is where you can add specific information related to the estimate.
2. Specify the estimate date and valid until date to indicate the timeframe within which the estimate is valid.
3. Enter any special terms or conditions that apply to the estimate in the “Terms” or “Notes” field.
4. If necessary, include any discounts, taxes, or additional charges using the respective fields.
5. Customize the appearance of the estimate by selecting a template or theme and adjusting any formatting options available.

Customizing the estimate details allows you to tailor the estimate to your business’s unique needs and convey important information to your customer. It ensures clarity and transparency, reducing the potential for misunderstandings or disputes.

QuickBooks Online offers customization options that enable you to create professional-looking estimates that align with your branding. You can choose from various templates, themes, and formatting options to make your estimate visually appealing and consistent with your company’s image.

Remember to carefully review and double-check the estimate details before proceeding to the next step. This step helps ensure that the estimate is accurate, comprehensive, and well-presented.

Now that you have customized the estimate details, let’s move on to step six: saving and sending the estimate.

Step 6: Save and Send Estimate

After customizing the estimate details in QuickBooks Online, the final step is to save and send the estimate to your customer. This step marks the completion of the estimate creation process and allows you to share the estimate with your customer for review and approval.

Follow these steps to save and send the estimate:

1. Review the entire estimate to ensure that all the information is accurate and complete.
2. Click on the “Save” button to save the estimate. This will store the estimate in QuickBooks Online for easy access and reference.
3. Once saved, click on the “Send” button if you want to email the estimate directly to your customer. Alternatively, you can choose to download and print the estimate for offline sharing.
4. If you choose to email the estimate, enter the email address of your customer in the designated field.
5. You can also add a personalized message or additional attachments to the email if needed.
6. After reviewing everything, click on the “Send” button to send the estimate to your customer.

Saving and sending the estimate completes the process and allows your customer to review the estimate and make their decision. It also serves as a record of communication and helps you track the status of the estimate within QuickBooks Online.

QuickBooks Online provides an email template for the estimate that you can customize to align with your brand and communication style. This gives your estimates a professional touch and enhances the overall customer experience.

Remember to keep a copy of the estimate for your records, whether it’s in digital or printed form. This step ensures that you have a comprehensive record of all estimates generated.

Now that you have saved and sent the estimate, you have successfully completed the process in QuickBooks Online. Keep track of your estimates and follow up with your customers to turn them into confirmed orders or invoices.

Conclusion

Creating a new estimate in QuickBooks Online is a straightforward process that allows you to provide your customers with accurate quotes for products or services. By following the six steps outlined in this guide, you can efficiently create, customize, and send estimates to streamline your sales process and enhance customer satisfaction.

Throughout the process, it is important to access the “Estimates” tab, click on “New Estimate,” enter customer information, add products/services, customize estimate details, and save/send the estimate. By carefully following these steps, you can ensure that your estimates are professional, comprehensive, and well-communicated to your customers.

QuickBooks Online offers a user-friendly interface with various features to help you manage and track your estimates efficiently. The ability to customize templates, personalize messages, and store customer information makes the estimate creation process seamless and professional.

Remember to review each section of the estimate thoroughly, double-checking for accuracy and completeness. This helps avoid any misunderstandings and establishes clear expectations between you and your customer.

By consistently utilizing the estimate feature in QuickBooks Online, you can effectively manage your sales pipeline, increase customer satisfaction, and drive business growth. Estimates serve as the foundation for building strong customer relationships and closing sales.

Now that you have a clear understanding of how to create a new estimate in QuickBooks Online, put your knowledge into action and start leveraging this powerful tool to enhance your sales process. Provide your customers with professional, accurate estimates, and watch your business thrive.