In this article, you will learn how to create and send estimates to your clients in Workiz.

Estimates are a great way to inform your clients about the cost of your services before committing to a job. They are a valuable tool to make sure both you and your client are on the same page.

There are many ways to create an estimate in Workiz. Here, we will focus on creating an estimate from the sidebar navigation.

Creating an estimate

1. From the sidebar menu, select Create new > Estimate
   
   
2. Search for an existing client or add a new one
   

Adding items to an estimate

1. Select Add item or Price book depending on where you want to add the item from
2. Choose the item(s) you want to add 

Adding extra information to an estimate

1. Under Notes, enter any relevant information for this estimate
2. Next to Attachments, select Upload to attach files relevant to this estimate

Requesting a deposit for an estimate

To learn more about how to request a deposit for an estimate, please see this article.

Sending an estimate

1. Once you have added all the items for this estimate, select Send
   
   
2. Send your estimate: 
   
   1. From (email only)
   2. To (email only)
   3. CC (email only)
   4. Subject (email only)
   5. Phone (text message only)
   6. Message (email and text)
   7. Let client pay deposit online
   8. Advanced: Select Advanced and choose all of the estimate details you want your client to see
   9. Select Send email or Send text 

What your clients will see

Your customers will receive an email or text message that includes your message and a link to view and approve the estimate in the Workiz customer portal. If you added a deposit request in your estimate, they will see the option to pay using a credit card.

The status of your estimate will automatically change from Unsent to Pending after sending it to your client. To learn more about estimate statuses, please see this article.

Understanding estimate link expiration dates

To enhance security and better protect your business, estimate links sent to clients expire 30 days after being sent. The expiration date only applies to the link itself. The estimate document will not be archived.

Your client may still view the estimate by:

• Requesting a new link: When a client tries to open an expired link, they'll see the option to request a new one from you. You'll see this request in the Message Center. 
• Accessing the client portal: The estimate document itself will remain valid and visible in the client portal. If your customer can access the client portal through another link, they'll be able to view and approve their estimate without needing a new link.