Estimates (also known as quotes or proposals) allow you to send pricing details to potential customers for approval. Once an estimate is accepted, Cordlo makes it easy to convert it into a professional invoice with a single click.

1. Navigating to Estimates

To manage your business proposals:

• Log in to your Cordlo account.

• Select the specific Business you want to manage.

• From the sidebar menu, click on Estimates.

2. How to Create a New Estimate

1. Click the Add Estimate button at the top right of the page.

2. Select Customer: Choose a customer from your list. If they are new, you can add them directly from the dropdown.

3. Basic Information:

   • Estimate Number: This is auto-generated based on your business settings but can be edited manually.

   • Reference: Enter an optional internal reference or PO number.

   • Date & Expiry: Set the date the estimate is issued and an optional Expiry Date to let the customer know how long the pricing is valid.

4. Add Line Items:

   • Click Add Item to select products or services from your Catalog.

   • You can also type manually to add one-time items.

   • Adjust the Quantity, Price, and Description for each row.

5. Apply Taxes and Charges:

   • Select applicable Taxes (e.g., VAT) from your pre-defined list.

   • Add Extra Charges like shipping or installation fees.

6. Notes & Terms: Enter any specific terms and conditions or a personal thank-you note.

7. Click Create Estimate to save it.

3. Sharing an Estimate

Once created, you need to send the estimate to your customer:

1. Open the estimate from the Estimates Table.

2. Click the Send Estimate button.

3. Review the customer’s email and the message body.

4. Click Send. The customer will receive a link to view the estimate online.

4. Managing Estimate Status

Estimates follow a specific lifecycle in Cordlo:

• Draft: The estimate is being created and hasn’t been sent.

• Sent: The proposal has been emailed to the customer.

• Expired: The current date is past the estimate’s expiry date.

• Accepted: The customer has agreed to the proposal.

• Converted: The estimate has been turned into an active invoice.

• Declined: The customer has rejected the proposal.

5. Converting an Estimate to an Invoice

When a customer accepts your quote, you don’t need to recreate the data:

1. Open the Accepted estimate.

2. Click the Convert to Invoice button at the top of the page.

3. Cordlo will generate a new invoice containing all the line items, taxes, and customer details from the estimate.

4. Review the new invoice and click Save or Send.

6. Editing or Deleting Estimates

• To Edit: Locate the estimate in the table, click the Action menu (three dots), and select Edit. Note: You cannot edit an estimate that has already been converted to an invoice.

• To Delete: Select Delete from the action menu. This action is permanent and will remove the record from your reporting history.

7. Searching and Filtering

• Search Bar: Quickly find estimates by customer name or estimate number.

• Filters: Click the filter icon to view estimates by Status (e.g., Expired), Date Range, or Currency.

• Summary Cards: View the total value of all Draft, Sent, and Accepted estimates at the top of the dashboard.