Looking for an estimation software

[str3atwarrior]

I've been looking for a while for a software that would allow me to estimate the cost of a project, like making a full install. I'm looking for a software in which i can put my own products, the price i'm paying for it, and the percentage of profit i want to sell it for.

Exemple, if i was to make an install for someone else, on which i'd use 15ft of cable, some distro block, some connectors, rca cable, etc, i'd like to be able to enter all this on the software to be sure not to forgot anything.

I know my boss was using Avantage and Expert Estimator to do this, but both are way overpriced and don't exactly do what i need. Expert Estimator is great to get estimation, but you can't create your own database or put your own prices, so it sucks. And Avantage is more of a comptability software, so not quite what i'm looking for.

I don't need any special features, like taxes calculation or others, this is just for an unnoficial electronic/audio/computer install business i've been doing for some time, but often i can't remember how much i paid for X items so it's hard to make a price without forgetting something.

If you know any software that can do this, please let me know!

Thanks!

[dwnrodeo]

I've been looking for a while for a software that would allow me to estimate the cost of a project, like making a full install. I'm looking for a software in which i can put my own products, the price i'm paying for it, and the percentage of profit i want to sell it for.

Sounds like you need something like Microsoft Excel. A huge part of my job is estimating things and that's what I use. Sure it's not as fancy as some of the estimation software out there, but if you know how much you're paying for something, what items you'll be using, and the percentage profit you want to make, a spreadsheet will work great.

[str3atwarrior]

Yep that's a good idea, but the trouble is when you get a large database of items, kinda hard to keep clean in one sheet. Unless there is a way to call item from another sheet in the same file?

[dwnrodeo]

Just put a list of all of your items on one sheet, then do your specific project on another, referencing the items from your sheet in terms of cost.

For example:

The quick spreadsheet I attached below shows on the left side, a list of items you have, units used, and cost per unit. This can be your first page. Once you get a project, add all of the items that you'll need on another page, get the quantities needed then reference the prices from your first page. Total them up, add your markup (I used 15% for an example) and then you have your grand total. Add different projects to different pages.

[Bfowler]

Yep that's a good idea, but the trouble is when you get a large database of items, kinda hard to keep clean in one sheet. Unless there is a way to call item from another sheet in the same file?

yup, there is. there are tabs at the bottom for different pages in the same file you can assign names to.

then in the cell you want to display the info from you use the command "={nameoftab}!{cellonpageyouarepullingfrom}

example: =page2!N10

as much as we like to talk shit about microsoft, excel is a surprisingly powerful program. you can really do a lot in it

[str3atwarrior]

Yep that's a good idea, but the trouble is when you get a large database of items, kinda hard to keep clean in one sheet. Unless there is a way to call item from another sheet in the same file?

yup, there is. there are tabs at the bottom for different pages in the same file you can assign names to.

then in the cell you want to display the info from you use the command "={nameoftab}!{cellonpageyouarepullingfrom}

example: =page2!N10

as much as we like to talk shit about microsoft, excel is a surprisingly powerful program. you can really do a lot in it

Man thanks alot! I never knew this!

So i'll just make first page with all the items i have, with price i paid, and second page will be a generic project page to get all my estimations done!

Thanks all of you!

[Bfowler]

do you want me to send you a copy of the quote i use at work? might save you some time or at least play with using the calling forumulas

[str3atwarrior]

Yeah that would be nice!

[tonym]

quick books....heh...you all are NEW