This article explains how to handle specialized pricing, such as hourly labor rates or "per bag" material costs, when building estimates for your customers.
Overview
The system is built to calculate jobs based on square footage, flat-rate program pricing, or fixed service fees. Because there isn't a native "hourly calculator" or "per-item multiplier" built into the estimate screen, you will need to determine your final totals outside of the system and use a Price Override to input the correct amounts.
Step-by-Step Workflow for Hourly & Per-Bag Quotes
If you are looking to create an estimate and aren't sure how to enter an hourly rate or separate seed costs, follow these steps:
Step 1: Calculate Your Totals Outside the System
Grab a calculator or scratchpad and figure out the math for the specific job.
- Example: If you estimate a lawn renovation will take 4 hours at $75/hour, and require 3 bags of grass seed at $90/bag:
• Labor: 4 hours × $75 = $300
• Materials: 3 bags × $90 = $270
• Actual Job Total: $570
Step 2: Use the Price Override Feature
Once you know your final number, you can force the software to honor it rather than using your standard square footage or system pricing.
- Navigate to your estimate draft.
- Ensure the customer has been selected and the appropriate services (e.g., Aeration & Seeding) are added to the estimate.
- Check the box on the far right in the Price Override column.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page to the price override fields.
- Manually type your calculated total (e.g.,
570.00) into the service's price override box.
Step 3: Itemize the Details for the Customer
Since the system will only show the single total dollar amount you typed into the override box, it's best to use the notes field to break down the math for your customer so they understand what they are paying for.
- Locate the Customer Message box when creating the Estimate.
- Clearly type out your hourly rate and material breakdown.
Example Note:
"Estimated Scope of Work: Includes core aeration and overseeding. This estimate is calculated at $75.00 per hour (Estimated 4 hours of labor) plus premium turf-grade grass seed at $90.00 per bag (Estimated 3 bags needed). Total project price is fixed at $570.00."
- Click Save as Draft or Send.
Pro-Tip for Frequently Rated Material
If you frequently sell grass seed by the bag as a standalone item, consider creating a dedicated service in your Service Settings named "Grass Seed (Per Bag)" with a fixed price of your cost per bag. This allows you to easily add multiple quantities of that specific "service" to an estimate without having to manually calculate the material costs every time!