Overview
Chariot minimizes the clicks needed to build quotes and convert leads. Two features make this possible:
Estimate Formats — control how estimates look and behave for customers
Estimate Templates — save a complete estimate configuration for quick reuse, including a Format
Together, these let you maintain consistent, professional estimates while saving time on every quote.
Estimate Formats
Think of Formats as the framework of your estimates. A Format determines:
Title (e.g., "Moving Estimate" or "Quote")
Introduction text
Terms and conditions
Valuation explainer (if enabled)
Default deposit settings (flat rate, percentage, multiple of hourly, card on file, or no deposit)
Display options for charges, inventory details, location details, crew size, truck info, and sales owner info
Signing requirements (estimator signature, required checkboxes)
Why use multiple Formats?
Different job types often require different presentations. A local hourly move might need different terms and deposit rules than a long-distance flat-rate job. Commercial jobs might require different legal language than residential. Formats let you tailor the customer-facing experience for each scenario without rebuilding estimates from scratch.
You can create as many Formats as you need — local vs. long distance, residential vs. commercial, hourly vs. flat rate — and switch between them easily.
Estimate Templates
Templates save a complete estimate configuration so you can load it with a couple clicks. A Template includes:
An Estimate Format
An estimate type (binding, non-binding, or not-to-exceed)
A set of charges and settings related to those charges (such as whether they're broken out by day)
Valuation options
A default deposit amount
Why use Templates?
Most moving companies quote similar job configurations repeatedly. Rather than manually adding the same charges and settings every time, you can save a Template and load it instantly. This speeds up your sales process and ensures consistency across your team.
You can have multiple Templates for different scenarios — a "Local 2-Mover" Template, a "Long Distance Flat Rate" Template, a "Commercial Hourly" Template — each with its own Format, charges, valuation, and deposit settings dialed in.
In short:
Formats define how an estimate looks and behaves
Templates package a Format together with all estimate settings and charges for quick reuse
Edit or Create Formats
Go to Settings → Estimate Formats
You'll see a list of your Formats; the one marked "default" loads automatically on new leads
Click the pencil icon to edit a Format, or click New Format to create one from scratch
What you can customize
The Format editor lets you self-edit everything — no need to contact Support for changes. You can update:
Format name — internal label for your team
Custom title — what customers see at the top (e.g., "Quote" or "Moving Estimate")
Introduction text — an opening message shown before the estimate details
Terms & Conditions — your company's legal terms, shown on every estimate using this format
Valuation explanation — custom text explaining valuation options to customers
Display settings — show or hide charges, inventory, crew size, truck info, location details, and sales owner info
Default deposit strategy — flat rate, percentage, multiple of hourly, card on file, or no deposit
Signing settings — estimator signature field and required checkboxes for customers
Text formatting options
The Format editor includes a full rich-text toolbar across all text fields. You can now use:
Text colors — apply custom font colors to key information
Text highlighting — add background color behind text for emphasis
Bulleted and numbered lists — organize terms or instructions cleanly
Custom spacing — control paragraph and line spacing
Custom alignment — left, center, or right align any text block
Headers and links — structure longer sections and link to external pages
Archiving Formats
If you no longer need a Format, click Archive. It will no longer appear as an option for users. Archived formats do not affect existing estimates that used them.
Formats and Templates: Important Note
Estimate Templates don't update automatically when you change Format settings. If you update a Format, create and save a new Estimate Template to reflect those changes going forward.
For assistance with adding or editing estimate formats, use the red chat bubble to contact Chariot Support.