How do I create an Estimate and link it to the Opportunity record?

Linking Estimates to Opportunities is important because it helps you keep everything organized from the very start of a potential job. In residential construction, this means you can easily track which leads have quotes, what stage each opportunity is in, and how much potential revenue is on the table. It also prevents confusion between multiple clients or projects, since the estimate stays tied to the right opportunity. This way, when the customer approves the estimate, it can smoothly turn into a project without needing to re-enter any information, saving time and reducing mistakes.

How do I create an Estimate and link it to the Opportunity record?

There are a couple of ways to create an estimate and link it to an opportunity in Contractor Foreman.

Option 1:
When creating a new Estimate, you will be prompted on the right side of the screen to select a Project. In this dropdown menu, you will see both your existing Projects and Opportunities. Simply use the search bar, type the name of the opportunity, and select it. Once selected, any estimate you create will automatically be linked or associated with that opportunity.

Option 2:
You can also create the estimate directly from within the opportunity itself. To do this, go to the Opportunities module and open the opportunity record you want to work on. Once inside, click on the three-dot icon (⋮) and select Create Estimate. This ensures that the estimate is automatically linked to that specific opportunity.

Note:
Once the estimate is approved by the customer, the opportunity will automatically convert into a project, and the linked estimate will move with it. This process helps maintain a smooth transition from sales to project management.