Making an estimate

Choose New estimate, enter the customer, and check what the bid covers. Painting outside and in? Check both: each gets its own section on one estimate.

• House exterior: the house's finished square feet, stories, and prep. Brushline works out siding, trim, soffits, and windows from rules of thumb, each shown so you can adjust.
• House interior: square feet, ceiling height, and what's included (walls, ceilings, trim and doors, floors).
• Commercial: the wall, ceiling, and floor areas and door count from the plans.

Choose Build the estimate. Brushline fills in the work, hours, paint, and a price at your target margin. Change any quantity, coat count, or prep level, and the price follows as you type.

With QuickBooks connected, typing the customer's name offers your QuickBooks customers, so the job is tied to the right one later.

Before you send it

• Work through Don't forget: the costs that turn good jobs into losers when they're missed (lifts, permits, lead-safe work, travel). Add each one or mark it not needed.
• Add equipment and other costs. See Costs Brushline doesn't know about.
• Choose Save estimate, then Print for the customer.