EstiMate software alternatives

[Jean Shimp]

I've been happy using EstiMate software for the past many years. Recently my hard drive crashed. I replaced it and re-loaded EstiMate but the data files I backed up are not copying over to the new install. I am looking at alternative estimating programs that may be similar. I want to be able to export invoices to QuickBooks and email estimates directly out of the estimating program. I also want to be able to include different terms and messages on the estimates like I do now. Any suggestions? TIA.

 

[gnubler]

Same here. I acquired EstiMate with the business I took over. It's pretty outdated and no longer supported, but it does work pretty well. We've discussed this in another thread, do a search on EstiMate. I use Wave for my invoicing because it's free, you can do estimates to an extent but everything has to be entered so you still need a master pricing system elsewhere.

 

[DPD]

This is just me but this is what I would do if I were you.

I've been using Cyrious Software since it's early versions. I never updated it because I use it for record keeping only - I don't estimate off of it. A few years back I began development of a spread sheet for all of my more complicated jobs and over the years I've fine tuned it. I can change my profit margins on the fly and I can input my time and see how it affected my gross profit. It helps me to remember parts of the job I wouldn't have even considered.

I do more than backup my drives because I do what's called image backups so if the drive fails I can purchase a new drive and re-image the drive to what it was - operating system, software, and all. I've had to do it a few times over the years, especially with my design system which has Flexisign, Adobe, and Corel plus all my customer graphics on it. When my drive went I replaced it two times because the drives I was purchasing would fail a week later. Things are stable now.

If I couldn't recover I would just go right to my spreadsheets, send out invoices manually, and find some free software for my customer information. Then again, I don't have a high volume business with multiple people working for me. It's me and one other person so we manage.

I like to keep it simple. Hope this helps and is food for thought.

- denis

 

[kcollinsdesign]

I'd just use Quickbooks and be done with it. Or send the customer a price using email. I don't have time to goof around with estimating programs. Of course, I only do a dozen or so estimates a week.

 

[zspace]

Check into the cloud based programs. They will do all the things you mentioned, plus being cloud based you can access from anywhere. It is a monthly charge, so definitely more expensive than Estimate. The two I know off the top of my head are CoreBridge and ShopVox.