Garage Door OS Docs
Estimates & Quotes

Estimate Builder

Multi-option estimates with price book lines, tax, deposits, and integrated AI Assistant.
7 min read

Estimate Builder

Build multi-option proposals (Good / Better / Best), pull price book lines, apply tax and discounts, and optionally require a deposit — all from /estimates/new.

Overview

The Estimate Builder at /estimates/new is the primary create flow for new estimates. It supports multiple priced options the customer compares on the PDF, line items from your price book, templates, deposit presets, and an integrated AI Assistant for line items and form fields.

How to access

  • Estimates → New Estimate → /estimates/new
  • From a job or customer via query params (?customerId=, ?jobId=)
Requires estimates:create.

What you can do today

  • Select or create a customer and service address.
  • Enter job description; use @mentions for customers, technicians, and price book items (@pricebook adds a line immediately).
  • Manage multiple options (columns) with independent line items and subtotals.
  • Add lines from price book search, manual entry, or templates.
  • Set tax, discount, validity date, terms, and PDF-facing copy (materials included, exclusions, change-order policy).
  • Choose deposit: none, 25%, 50%, or custom amount tied to the active option subtotal.
  • Run stock check for inventory-backed components before save.
  • Save draft, preview totals, and send the estimate.
  • Send via email + text checkbox on save—default checked/unchecked per Send to Customer (Default).
  • AI Assistant panel in Pricing & line items: auto-fills title, project type, duration, payment terms, deposit, and valid-until; suggests line items with auto-apply when empty or merge when rows exist. See AI-Assisted Estimating.

Prerequisites

  • estimates:create permission.
  • Price book populated for fast item search (optional but recommended).
  • Tax rates under Settings → Tax Rates when charging tax.
  • OpenAI under Settings → Integrations for best AI Assistant results (optional—rules fallback works without it).
  • Stripe + email/SMS for deposit collection after approval — see Estimate Deposits.

Step-by-step

Build a three-option estimate

  1. Go to /estimates/new.
  2. Pick the customer and verify the service address.
  3. Add an option (e.g. Good, Better, Best) — each option has its own line items.
  4. Search the price book or add manual lines per option.
  5. Set the default option the customer sees first on the PDF.
  6. Review totals — tax and discount modes follow business settings.
  7. Under estimate details, set Require deposit (none / 25% / 50% / custom).
  8. Save draft or Send when ready.

Apply a template

  1. In the builder, open Templates (when available on your layout).
  2. Select a saved estimate template.
  3. Adjust lines and options, then save.

Use AI Assistant

  1. In Step 1, scroll to Pricing & line items.
  2. Type a detailed job description; use @pricebook to pin known items.
  3. Review the AI Assistant panel: insights, suggested form fields, and line items.
  4. If the table is empty, suggestions apply automatically; otherwise click Apply suggestions to merge.
  5. Move lines between Good/Better/Best options as needed.
  6. Full details: AI-Assisted Estimating.
After save, open the estimate detail page for AI Entity Insights on follow-up and conversion tips.

Current limitations

  • AI Assistant on New builder only; /estimates/:id/edit uses a legacy recommender.
  • Without OpenAI, AI Assistant uses keyword rules fallback (less flexible than full AI).
  • Stock check reflects current inventory; it does not reserve parts.
  • Optional line-item checkboxes on the customer PDF follow estimate option design — distinct from price book optional components (see Price Book Components).
  • Garage door visual quote flows use a separate tool when your industry is garage door — see Garage Door Quote Builder.

Related features