Estimate basics
8 guides
How to Create a New EstimateStart a new job from your pipeline, assign it to a customer, and choose how to build the estimate.
Video · 1:21→Upload Old Estimates in Bolster JobsCreate a new job, assign a customer and click Upload an old estimate. AI rebuilds it as a clean, organized Bolster estimate that you can review, adjust and add selections to.
Video→How to Add an Item to an EstimateStep-by-step guide on adding a new line item to an estimate in Bolster, including both ways to add it and how to fill in its pricing details.
Video · 0:42→Sending an Estimate in BolsterReview your estimate and proposal presentation, then send it to your client from the Send proposal window.
Video · 1:23→How to Duplicate an EstimateCopy an existing estimate from the Pending jobs list and create it for the same client or a different one.
Video · 0:36→Client Notifications & Activity TrackingThe Client Notifications & Activity Tracking feature provides clear, real-time visibility into how clients interact with your estimates, proposals, and invoices.
→Manually Accepting ProposalsBook a project without electronic approval, for example after a verbal or handshake deal, using Mark as booked in your pipeline.
Video · 0:56→How to Change the Salesperson on an Individual JobReassign the salesperson and other roles on a single job from the estimate's Settings page.
Video · 0:33→Working in the estimate
3 guides
Customizing proposal presentation and pricing visibilityUse the pencil icon to edit individual items and the gear icon to set themes, preset text and estimate visibility settings such as showing item and assembly pricing.
Video→How to Toggle Column VisibilityLearn how to show or hide columns like quantity or production details in your sheet view estimate using the Toggle Columns settings.
Video · 0:53→How to Resize Columns in the Estimate ViewCustomizing your estimate view by resizing columns can enhance your workflow and improve data visibility.
Video · 0:43→Pricing & markup
9 guides
How To Price An Item (Labor, Material, or Subcontractor)Step-by-step guide to pricing a line item in Bolster using labor, material, and subcontractor cost components, including the detailed Unit Pricing tab.
Video · 1:22→Change Profit Margin by Item, Assembly, or ProjectEdit the profit margin cell on a line item, an assembly, or the project totals to override your company default for that part of the estimate.
Video→Change Profit Margin Per Line ItemSet a different profit margin on each line item from the Sheet view's Profit % column or from the line item's Unit pricing section.
Video · 0:43→How to Add a Fee-Based ItemA fee-based item allows you to set a cost as a percentage of another value in your project, such as project cost.
Video · 1:37→How Discounts Work in BolsterApply a percentage or dollar discount to a whole estimate from the Job totals panel. Your line item pricing stays the same.
Video · 0:59→Adding tax to estimate pricingSave your tax rates under Settings, then choose a tax rate for each estimate from its job totals.
Video · 1:07→Custom Labor Rates & Time TrackingBolster gives you full control over labor pricing and production time at three levels: Company-wide custom labor rates, item-level Labour Options in an estimate, and project-wide labor review in the Budget tab
Video · 0:55→Adding Detail to Labor Costing of ItemsOpen a labor item's Labor options to choose your own labor rate, set how long the task takes, and add a minimum labor cost.
Video→Creating a Custom Calculation for Items in an EstimateLink a line item's quantity to a dimension such as interior wall area, then add your own calculation in the quantity formula.
Video · 0:44→Minimums & base costs
4 guides
Add Labour Minimum or Base CostsAdd a base or minimum labor cost to a line item so it still carries that cost when the estimate doesn't reach a threshold.
Video→How to Add a Labour Minimum or Base CostSet a base or minimum labour cost for a line item so it holds even if the estimate doesn't meet a certain threshold.
Video · 0:44→How to Add a Base or Minimum Materials CostLearn how to set a base or minimum materials cost on a line item in Bolster so estimates never fall below a set price threshold.
Video · 0:57→Add Base Material Costs and Minimum Quantities to Line ItemsOpen a line item's details to add a base or minimum materials cost under Materials options, or a minimum quantity under Quantity.
Video→Materials & production
5 guides
How to Configure Material Options and PricingConfigure material options such as supplier, wastage percentage, and item price to refine a line item's materials cost and ordering accuracy.
Video · 1:01→Material Tab Overview and ProcessUse the Materials view in Budget to review every material in your estimate, create vendor orders, and export your materials list.
Video · 2:18→Production Tab For ItemsThe Production Tab lets you manage production details for individual items and access an estimate's project management tools like scheduling, tasks, budget, and payments.
Video · 0:35→How to Split Labor and Material ItemsSplit an item with both labor and material costs into two lines so you can send each part to a different vendor or subcontractor.
Video · 2:37→How to Add Production Notes and SKU to Line ItemsLearn how to add a SKU number and internal production notes to any line item in Bolster, then save the changes to your catalog.
Video · 0:50→Takeoff tool
6 guides
Takeoff Tool IntroductionAdd a template to your estimate, draw your measurements in the Takeoff tool, and let the template calculate quantities and pricing.
Video · 4:29→Takeoff Tool IntroductionLearn how to measure an area in the Bolster Takeoff tool by drawing a shape on the canvas, using the deck area in the Deck template as an example.
Video · 4:29→Adding a Floorplan and Setting ScaleUpload a floor plan or drawing to Takeoff and scale it from one known measurement so your drawings measure accurately.
Video · 1:48→How to Measure Inside LengthsThis guide provides a straightforward method for accurately measuring inside lengths, in this example we are measuring the length of kitchen cabinet.
Video · 0:40→How to Draw Deck Area and Total Joist LengthThis guide provides a straightforward method for accurately calculating deck area and total joist length.
Video · 1:35→Using the Takeoff Tab for Dimension InputLink your line items to dimensions, then enter each measurement once in the Takeoff tab and it carries into the estimate.
Video→AI estimating
4 guides
Estimate from plans with AIAdd your plans, type one line about the job and click Create. Bolster does the takeoff and builds an estimate organised by room, ready to check and send.
Video→How to Use AI Autofill for Estimate ItemsLearn how to add a line item and let Auto-complete fill in its description, material cost and labor cost.
Video · 1:11→How to Add AI Upgrades to Line ItemsBolster's AI upgrade feature automatically generates alternative product or material selections for any standard line item in a proposal. In seconds, AI surfaces upgrade and downgrade options
Video · 2:04→How to Generate Specific AI Upgrade SelectionsLet Bolster's AI pick upgrades for a line item, or choose from the upgrade options it suggests.
Video · 1:06→
