Record what you are estimating
Describe the task, site conditions and measurable quantities before entering prices. For a painting job that might include surface area, preparation and the agreed number of coats. If you have not inspected the site, explain which measurements or conditions are provisional. Replace assumptions with confirmed quantities after the visit. This keeps the customer and contractor working from the same description of the job.
Separate tasks with different units
Preparation, installation and finishing may be charged differently. Use square metres for surface work, pieces for individual fittings and visits for a call-out if those are your pricing units. Explain what each rate includes. When a painting rate covers two coats, charging twice the measured area can count the same work twice. Clear descriptions prevent arithmetic that looks correct but represents the wrong scope.
Match material quantities to purchase units
Two ten-litre tins are two pieces if the unit price is per tin. Do not enter twenty unless the price is per litre. Include delivery and consumables either in an agreed inclusive rate or on separate lines, without counting the same cost twice. Decide material allowances from your own measurements and job conditions. The editor can multiply figures, but it cannot verify coverage or site requirements for you.
Check a small calculation first
For an illustrative UK-currency example, 40 m² at £12 totals £480 for labour. Two tins at £35 add £70, giving £550 before discount and VAT. These figures demonstrate arithmetic, not current market rates. Invocket calculates line and group totals from entered values. Always check that both the unit price and the quantity represent the same unit.
Review discount and tax settings
A percentage discount changes the estimate total. VAT can be excluded from the calculation, added to the entered prices or treated as already included. Choose the treatment and rate that apply to your situation, rather than copying them from an example. Check the final customer-facing amount after changing either setting. Workspace currency is a label for the supplied values, not an exchange-rate conversion.
Add exclusions and share a checked version
Record excluded work, expected timing and price validity when relevant. Invocket provides fields for scope, schedule, exclusions and notes. Check every preview page before exporting the PDF, especially when descriptions are long. If the customer changes the scope, update the estimate and send a fresh file. Create a payment invoice separately when needed; the estimate itself is not recorded as an invoice receivable.
Example: a customer price list for work and materials
Cost estimatePL-2026-001
| Labour | Qty | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint walls | 40 m² | 12.00 | 480.00 |
| Materials | Qty | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint, 10 litres | 2 pcs | 35.00 | 70.00 |
Illustrative figures before discount and VAT; not market rates.
Create a price list online. From estimate to PDF.
Prepare a cost estimate for a specific customer. Separate labour and materials, enter quantities and prices, set your terms, and send a clear PDF.
Create a price list Price lists