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For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt. This page is also available as Markdown.

Estimate Settings

Configure estimate defaults including hourly rate, tax rates, discounts, rounding options, customer accepted options, and expiry settings.

Estimate Settings in PaintScout control defaults for hourly rates, taxes, discounts, rounding, and expiry that apply to all new estimates.

Changes to estimate settings only affect future estimates, not existing or draft estimates.

What is the Hourly Rate setting?

The hourly rate is what you charge the customer per hour. Set a default value here, and enable the checkbox to allow your team to customize the hourly rate on individual estimates.

Screenshot showing the Hourly Rate setting with default rate field and customization checkbox

How do Tax Rates work?

Tax rates with Include on New Estimates enabled are automatically applied to every new estimate. Rates without this option remain available in the sidebar menu for manual selection.

To add a rate, click +Add Tax Rate. To remove one, click the circle icon on the right.

Screenshot showing the Tax Rates section with Add Tax Rate button and Include on New Estimates toggle

You can also use tax rates to add other percentage charges like credit card fees or disposal fees.

How do Discounts work?

Discounts can be a percentage (%) or dollar amount ($). All discounts are available for selection from the estimate sidebar menu.

  • Check Include on New Estimates to auto-apply a discount to all new estimates.

  • Click the circle icon on the right to delete a discount.

Screenshot showing the Discounts section with percentage and dollar amount options and Include on New Estimates checkbox

What are the Rounding options?

Hours

Choose a rounding increment for painting hours: 1 hour, 0.5 hours (30 min), 0.25 hours (15 min), or no rounding for precise numbers.

Screenshot showing the Hours rounding options with choices for 1 hour, 0.5 hours, 0.25 hours, or no rounding

Product & Materials

Screenshot showing the Product and Materials rounding options with round to nearest unit or always round upwards

  • Round to nearest unit: to the nearest integer. Ex: 2.2 gal would round to 2 gal.

  • Always round upwards: to the highest integer. Ex: 2.2 gal would round to 3 gal.

Learn more about product rounding and how it works!

Price Rounding

Set price rounding for surfaces, line items, and totals. Options: No rounding, Round to nearest dollar, or Always round upwards.

Screenshot showing the Price rounding preferences for surfaces, line items, and overall total

What are Customer Accepted Options?

Enable this setting to let customers add their own options to the estimate before accepting it.

Screenshot showing the Customer Accepted Options settings for estimate acceptance behavior

What is Client Visible Expiry?

Client Visible Expiry automatically expires estimates after a set number of days. Expired estimates display a screen prompting the customer to contact their estimator.

The expiry date shows as TBD until the estimate is sent.

Screenshot showing the Client Visible Expiry settings with enable checkbox and expiry period configuration

Related articles

Update Your Tax Rate

Configure tax rates in estimate settings with options to automatically include rates on new estimates or add multiple tax rates.

Pricing & Calculations

Common questions about rates, pricing display, discounts, taxes, and estimate calculations in PaintScout.

Area Names

Create and organize reusable area labels like rooms and locations for faster estimate creation with drag-and-drop organization.

Line Items Overview

Create reusable line items for fixed-price services, quantities, and custom charges.

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