If you're in the roofing business, it's important to provide your customers with accurate estimates. Whether you're installing a new roof or providing roof repairs, estimates let your customers know how much they should expect to pay you - and can help them decide if they want to enlist your services.

You can create estimates using Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel, but they won't look very professional, and the process can be time-consuming. Skynova's estimate template lets you create detailed and polished roofing estimates. You can personalize individual templates quickly and send them directly to customers via the Skynova platform. You also have the option of downloading a printable PDF format of the roofing estimate form.

If you use the free quote template along with Skynova's invoice and accounting software, you can streamline your business paperwork even more. Keeping all of your important documents in a single system allows for faster administration and accounting. By simplifying and speeding up billing, you have more time to focus on growing your roofing business. If you're in roofing, check out the template we've made below just for your business:

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How to Create a Roofing Estimate

A detailed roofing cost estimate lets customers know just what they are paying for when they book your services, from labor to materials costs. Customers understand the financial obligation of hiring your services in advance and can make an informed decision as to whether to accept your bid. Providing an estimate is a best business practice among roofing contractors and ensures that your business comes across as professional, credible, and trustworthy.

Every estimate will have unique details, such as the customer's name and the type of roof services provided. There are a few critical pieces of information that all estimates should include, however. Skynova's roofing estimate template covers the most important points. All you have to do is enter the relevant details into the quote template, and you will have a contractor estimate ready to send to customers.

  1. Include Contact Information for Your Business and Customer

    Enter your roofing company name, business address, and contact details. Your customer will have all of the information needed to reach you if they have queries about the estimate. Make sure your customer recognizes the name you use. For example, if you go by your first name with customers, but your official business name is something different, add your name in parentheses after the business name. If your customers don't recognize the name, they might ignore the estimate.

    Address the estimate to your customer by putting in their name, address, and contact details. For commercial roofing projects, make sure to use the customer's business name instead of their personal name.

  2. Incorporate a Business Logo

    A business logo is a valuable branding tool that can make your roofing company more memorable to customers. Skynova lets you easily add your logo to roofing invoice templates. On the estimate template page, click on the customization option and click the logo option. You can then upload an image file.

  3. Designate an Estimate Number

    By giving each estimate its own identifying number, you can keep track of potential orders and follow up as needed. On the estimate template page, click on the customization option to input an estimate identification number. Skynova also gives you the option of automatically converting estimates into invoices after they've been accepted. You can then refer to the precise estimate number when you personalize the roofing invoice template.

  4. Pick an Estimate Date

    Every estimate should be dated. This is a valuable point of reference for you and your customer. Simply input the date that you are creating and sending the estimate. This information is editable, so if you get interrupted and end up completing and sending the estimate the next day, you can change the date accordingly.

  5. Enter the Cost of Roofing Materials

    As a roofer, you will inevitably incur material costs, from shingles to asphalt. Skynova roofing proposal templates let you specify the type, quantity, and cost of materials. Simply select "Product" under the "Item" tab and provide a description of the materials you'll be using. Then, provide the unit price of the materials and the quantity of materials in the respective fields.

    Say you are quoting a job to install asphalt roofing shingles. You have to cover a roof area of 448 square feet based on your measurements. This will require about 15 bundles of three-tab shingles at $31 per bundle. You enter "15" under quantity and "31" under unit price, which will automatically be calculated to a total of $465. In the description, explain to your customer that the shingles needed come in bundles of 15, so they understand what these numbers mean.

  6. Enter the Cost of Your Labor

    Labor costs include the time you spend on a roofing project and the time spent by roofers on your team. If you need to collaborate with other professionals, such as general contractors, to get the job done, you need to account for their labor costs, as well. Skynova's roof estimate template lets you enter hourly or fixed price labor costs, depending on your needs.

    To enter hourly rates, input the cost of labor per hour under "Unit Price" and the number of hours needed to get the job done under "Quantity." To enter a fixed price rate, change the selection to "Product" under the "Item" menu. Either way, provide a simple explanation of the labor being performed for customers who may not be familiar with technical roofing terminology.

  7. Enter Any Discounts Provided to the Roofing Customer

    Providing occasional customer discounts can help you win new customers and foster loyalty among old customers. You might offer a "welcome" discount to a first-time customer, for example, or provide a referral discount to an existing customer as a "thank you" for bringing you new business.

    To input a discount in your Skynova estimate, click on "Discount" under the "Item" menu. Enter the discount amount under "Unit Price" and provide a description of the discount (e.g., 5% off for referring a friend). The discount will automatically be deducted from the total roof cost estimate.

  8. Add a Note About the Roofing Work and Any Extra Information

    Skynova's free estimate template comes with a "Notes" section. You can provide additional details to your customers here. For roofing projects, use this space to give an estimate of how long the project will take overall. People like to know how long workers will be busy in their space, whether it's residential or commercial. This is especially important for roofing since, sometimes, a roofing project determines whether a building can be occupied.

    Nonetheless, make it clear to your customers that this estimate is tentative. Timelines and costs can vary due to unexpected factors that you can't foresee. Bad weather can slow down roofing projects, for example. These timelines aren't set in stone.

Tips and Best Practices for Roofing Estimates

The Skynova roofing estimate template makes it easy to create professional-looking and detailed estimates. To further ensure a positive customer experience when using the proposal template, there are a few additional measures you should attend to.

Research Current Materials and Labor Costs

The costs of materials are variable. Factors like supply and demand, disruptions in the supply chain, and inflation can result in price increases or decreases. Even if you've been in the roofing business for years and know material costs off the top of your head, it never hurts to check current market rates.

Similarly, if you have to pull in an external professional to get part of the job done - for instance, a photovoltaic panel installation expert to create a UV-powered flat roof - confirm their current rates. You want to provide accurate estimates. Researching the actual price of roofing materials and labor lets you do this.

  • Discuss Possible Project Interruptions in Advance

    When you send your customer your completed proposal template, you should add a timeline projection in the "Notes" section provided by Skynova. Always emphasize that this timeline can change, however. Unforeseeable circumstances, like changes in the weather, can disrupt a project's progress. If this happens, the completion date may be delayed. Explain to your customer that there are some circumstances that you simply can't foresee (or control).

  • Make It Easy for Customers to Accept Your Estimate

    When you create a Skynova estimate, you can send the finished product directly to your customer online via the Skynova platform. You don't have to deal with downloading or printing PDFs separately, saving you time and energy. Your customers can open the estimate and accept it directly via the Skynova platform, which saves them valuable time, as well. You can be sure you aren't missing out on bids because of administrative burdens.

Take Your Roofing Business to the Top With Skynova

Skynova alleviates the administrative burden surrounding roofing contract templates, estimates, and invoices. The free roofing estimate template makes it easy to send accurate roofing estimates to customers. By sending a well-designed and comprehensive estimate, you ensure that your roofing business is viewed professionally.

You can make your roofing business operations even more efficient with Skynova's invoice and accounting services, making it easier to create expense and financial reports. Find out how Skynova can help you increase efficiency and grow your roofing business today.

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