Free business estimate templates

Providing accurate estimates to customers is an important part of the sales process for small businesses. Whether you’re in construction, trades or offer freelance services, issuing clear estimates helps you win new business. 

Download our free pre-formatted job estimate templates to make and customize professional business estimates for any project. Choose from different file formats including Excel, Word, Google Sheets and Google Docs. Alternatively, try our all-in-one estimate, quote and invoice generator software, for free.

Downloadable free templates for estimates in a range of printable file formats

A business estimate is an approximate calculation of the potential cost or value of products or services provided to potential customers. Estimates are helpful documents to give clients early in the sales process. Business estimates provide the likely price range of a job or project but aren’t binding. 

Business estimates help with initial customers’ inquiries about a job or project early in the sales process. Estimates can help small businesses be protected against changes in variable costs like labor or materials. Providing business estimates can make small businesses appear more professional and helps build client relationships by providing clarity. 

Download our fillable good faith estimate templates to customize freelancer and small business estimates for free. When you’re ready to bill clients for final amounts payable, use our free invoice templates or try Bookipi software for free. Forget manual editing and make estimates, quotes and invoices online in minutes from one solution. 

Download our free work estimate templates and customize estimates to reflect your business branding. You can add your business logo and change formatting to quote estimate templates as you need.  Fill in all the necessary information, including labor costs, materials, pricing, and more. Learn about different estimation methods in our small business tutorial.

To speed up the business estimate generation process, try Bookipi’s all-in-one estimate, quote and invoice maker software for free. Send concise estimate contracts in minutes, and easily convert estimates to invoices when you’re ready to formally bill clients. Do this all from the one software. 

Best combined job estimate, quote and invoice maker software for small business

Bookipi is the best flexible, all-in-one online tool for generating estimates, quotes, and invoices for small businesses. It’s simple to make digital estimates for clients to understand the costing of a project. Freelancers and small businesses can also issue invoices once the job is complete, from the one software.  

Save time by generating new sales documents as you progress sales, like converting an estimate to an invoice. Make quotes or invoices using our all-in-one tool when you’re close to getting paid by customers. Send instant receipts to close sales and leave a lasting impression on clients.

Download free estimate templates by job type

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about making business estimates

No, business estimates aren’t legally binding but allows clients to get a general idea of costs without committing. 

Business estimates help with initial customers’ inquiries about a job or project early in the sales process. Estimates can help small businesses be protected against changes in variable costs like labor or materials. Providing business estimates can make small businesses appear more professional and helps build client relationships by providing clarity.

Both business quotes and estimates provide potential customers with an idea of how much goods, projects or services will cost. An estimate is not legally binding and is less detailed. Pricing in business estimates provide a starting base that can change usually due to variable costs like labor and materials once work begins.  

In contrast, a business quote is a fixed price for a job or service that is generally more detailed. If business quotations are accepted by a client, a business is usually obligated to complete a job at the price assuming the scope of work hasn’t changed.

Working out the total cost of a job for a potential client doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow the step-by-step process below to get a rough cost approximation or estimate of a job:

  1. List all tasks – Outline everything involved in completing a job.
  2. Calculate expected time – Estimate how long each task will take. Be as realistic about the time needed as possible including adding some buffer.
  3. Add up the cost of materials needed – It’s more realistic to make a higher estimate to cover unexpected costs.
  4. Consider overhead costs required – Include electricity, transportation, and tool costs necessary to operate the project or job.
  5. Add your markup – To ensure you make a profit on the job, add a standard markup such as a percentage of the total costs, to your cost estimate.

Try Bookipi’s estimate and quotation maker for free to save time and minimize making mistakes. Generate a professional business estimate, quote and invoice with a few clicks.

Invoices are formal records to bill clients for products or services. In contrast, estimates are issued before a formal sale, or work begins or products are provided. An estimate provides a rough guess of costs to clients whereas invoices provide a final invoice amount to be paid by clients. Read our overview of what is an estimate and when to issue estimates.

A good estimate for clients should include the following details: 

  1. Company information. Add your business name, contact information, and logo. It’s important to make it easy for clients to contact you.
  2. Client information. Provide your client’s contact details

  3. Description of your products and services. Outline your offerings including scope of work and deliverables.

  4. Estimated pricing. Provide an itemized list of rough costs including materials, labor, and other expenses.
  5. Timeline. To manage expectations, provide the estimated start and completion dates. Add next steps like requiring a deposit by the client or signing a formal contract.
  6. Terms and conditions. It’s helpful to detail payment terms, warranty information, and any other special conditions.

  7. Signature section. You can also include a space for your business and your client to sign and date. This helps formalizes the estimate.

These elements are pre-populated in our free estimate templates or alternatively, try Bookipi‘s combined estimate and invoice generator for free. 

 

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Small business tutorials for making estimates

Learn how to make business estimates effectively with our small business tutorials.

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