4. Estimate-based Quote

What is it?

 An Estimate-based Quote lets you price an Enquiry using a bottom-up cost estimate you’ve already prepared in Operations. When you reference that estimate, JobNext pre-fills the costs on the quote; you simply add a profit % (and taxes/terms) and submit.

When to use

• You need cost accuracy and auditability (labour, materials, plant, subcontract).

• You want the quote margin to be a transparent markup on a reviewed estimate.

• You don’t want to touch the project budget yet (non-budget estimate).

Prerequisites

• BOQs exist for the Enquiry (from WBS or upload).

• You can create a Non-Budget Estimate in Operations for the same Job/Enquiry.

• Approval rights for Estimate and Quotes.

Workflow (two phases)

Phase A — Create & approve the Estimate (Operations)

1. Go to Operations → Jobs and open the related Job.

2. Open Estimate and click New Estimate. Choose Non-Budget.

3. Build the estimate (add resources, rates, quantities) against the BOQ lines.

4. Save, Approve, then click Mark Ready for Quote.

Tip: If you can’t mark “Ready for Quote”, check that the estimate status is Approved and there are no validation errors on resource lines.

Phase B — Create the Quote (Preconstruction)

1. Go to Preconstruction → Prospects, open the Prospect, then open the Enquiry.

2. Go to Quotes → Add Quote. When asked “Easy Quote?” choose “No.”

3. In Estimate, pick the estimate you just marked “Ready for Quote”. Save.

4. The quote lines are now prefilled with costs from the estimate.

5. Enter Profit % (header-level or line-level), choose taxes, add terms/attachments.

6. Save Draft → Submit Quote. Use Print/Export to generate the customer PDF.

Results & benefits

• Costs are locked to the referenced estimate; your margin is explicit.

• Full traceability: Quote ↔ Estimate (who approved, when, and at what cost).

• Safe: Non-budget estimate means nothing posts to the live Job budget until you win and convert.

Common gotchas

• Estimate dropdown empty? Refresh the Enquiry and ensure the estimate is Approved and Ready for Quote.

• Numbers don’t match? Re-open the estimate, correct resource lines, re-approve, re-mark Ready for Quote, then re-select it on the quote.

• Wrong Job/Enquiry mapping? The estimate must be for the same Job/BOQ structure the Enquiry uses.