Products & services
Products and services
Understand when to create products, when to create services, and how they help estimates stay consistent.
When to use a product
Use a product for one simple reusable cost or sellable unit.
Good examples:
- Interior paint per gallon
- Primer per gallon
- Skilled labor hour
- Daily equipment charge
- Permit fee
When to use a service
Use a service when the work includes multiple cost parts or needs reusable scope language.
Good examples:
- Standard interior room repaint
- Cabinet repaint package
- Exterior siding repaint per square foot
- Drywall repair and repaint
- Bathroom refresh scope
What a service can include
Services can include:
- Materials
- Labor
- Equipment
- Subcontractor cost
- Other cost
- Customer scope text
- Internal notes
Customer scope vs internal notes
Customer scope should explain what the customer is buying. Internal notes should explain how your team prices or performs the work.
Customer scope example:
Includes wall preparation, one primer coat where needed, two finish coats, standard masking, and cleanup.
Internal note example:
Assumes normal access, no lead paint remediation, and one helper for prep.
Editing old estimates
Changing a product or service should help future estimates. Old official estimates should preserve the version already sent to the customer.