Estimate template for businesses in South Africa

Estimate template for businesses in South Africa

What is an estimate?

An estimate is a rough calculation for how much a service costs. You can send estimates to customers so that they can evaluate whether or not they want to go ahead with the purchase.

It’s a good idea to provide estimates for expensive or long-lasting jobs, for example, a long-term consulting project or a highly expensive renovation.

What is an estimate?
Good reasons to use an estimate

There are many reasons to use an estimate, for example:

  • Accuracy and consistency: Make sure everyone is on the same page from the get-go and refer back to the estimate in case of confusion.
  • Professionalism: A well-designed estimate signals professionalism. This helps build a brand, enhance your reputation and reinforces trust in your products and services.
  • Time-saving: Reduce the amount of back-and-forth emailing with your client. Send them an estimate and use that as a jumping-off point to agree on a deal.
Good reasons to use an estimate

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Estimate Word template

A purchase order made using a purchase order template

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Estimate Excel template

A purchase order made using a purchase order template

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How to fill out the estimate template
  1. Add your name, business name and contact details to the top right of the estimate
  2. Add your client’s name, business name and address to the top left of the estimate
  3. Add a unique estimate number that you can refer back to, as well as the date the estimate was created, and the deadline to respond
  4. Describe the products and services you’re offering, including quantity, prices, and taxes
  5. Put any other important information on the estimate, such as a timeframes and terms and conditions
  6. Save as PDF or print it out

Don’t forget to use your logos, colors, and font in the estimate. This will help you build a strong brand.

How to fill out the estimate template

Example of an estimate and a final invoice

Example of an estimate

– Created before the sale
– Lists the goods and services and an estimate of what they’ll cost
– The customer approves the estimate

Example of an invoice

– Created after the sale has happened
– Lists the goods and services that were provided
– Requests payment from the customer and includes payment terms

Why you should use the free estimate template

Easy to use

Iron out the details ahead of time with this easy-to-use estimate template. Avoid confusion and disagreements.

Spend less time on admin

Download the template and create an estimate in few minutes.

Avoid errors

This template gives customers a professional impression and helps you remember all the important details.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about estimates

Does Word have an estimate template?

Yes, you can download this free Word estimate template and get started now. The template has all the fields you need, just replace them with your info, the customer’s info, and info about the products or services you’re looking to sell.

How do you create an estimate?

An estimate can be as simple or complex as you want—or as your customer wants. Some companies just email their customers a figure. To make it more professional, you can use an estimate template, which is structured like an invoice, but without payment details.

The estimate can be exported as a PDF and emailed to your customer.

What is estimate invoice?

An estimate invoice is a document with a ballpark figure of what your goods or services will cost. The customer can use the estimate to see if they want to go ahead with the purchase or not.

To avoid giving the customer any unpleasant surprises, you should make sure that the estimate invoice includes all the information that you’re going to put on the final invoice. However, you don’t need to include information about how to pay.

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What is the difference between estimate and invoice?

An estimate and an invoice are both related to sales, but they serve different purposes. You can send customers an estimate when you want to let them know upfront how much a service or product is going to cost—or the customer can request an estimate from you.

The customer can accept or decline the estimate, or negotiate the terms.

Once you’ve delivered the product or service, you send an invoice to get paid for your work. The invoice confirms that the sale took place, and tells the customer how to pay you.

Download an estimate template or send an invoice for free

What is the difference between quote and estimate?

The terms quote and estimate are often used interchangeably. Both are meant to provide the customer with an estimation of your prices so that they can see if they want to go ahead with a purchase.

However, an estimate can also be used about a more rudimentary quote. While a quote is usually used about an official offer that you send to the customer, an estimate can be as simple as a number you provide in conversation or in an email.

To establish your professionalism—and to avoid confusion—we recommend sending polished estimates to your customers.

What do I need to include in an estimate?

The estimate should identify both the seller and the potential buyer. You should list all the goods and services you’re offering to provide, alongside their prices—and don’t forget about consumption tax, if applicable. You should specify how long the estimate is valid for.

You can also add information about the time-frame of services or an estimated delivery time for products, as well as information about warranties and returns.

Make sure to put the header ‘estimate’ on the top of the document so it’s clear what the document is.

Download a free estimate template

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