When adding an expense in ZevBit, you must decide how to allocate that cost to your project. There are three types of allocation:
Allocated by Line Item (detailed tracking)
Allocated Overall (general tracking)
Partially Allocated (incomplete distribution)
Each method affects how your Job Costing data is calculated and displayed.
1. Allocate by Line Item
When you choose Allocate by Line Item, the expense is assigned to a specific task (line item) in your estimate.
This provides detailed cost tracking at the task level.
Once allocated, the system automatically updates:
Actual Quantity
Actual Cost
Cost Difference
These values are reflected in the Job Costing tab
Example
Line Item: Forms (Bond Beam)
Estimated
Quantity: 7 units
Unit Cost: $16
Total: $112
Actual
Unit Cost: $10
Total: $70
Result
Difference: -$42
This means you are under budget for this task.
Why Use Line Item Allocation
When you want task-level cost visibility
To track budget vs actual per activity
To identify profit or loss on specific work items
2. Allocate Overall
When an expense is Allocated Overall, it is applied to the entire project, not tied to any specific task.
Use this method when:
The cost applies to the whole project
You don’t need a task-level breakdown
You want a simpler allocation process
Updates the total project cost
Reflected directly in Job Costing stats
3. Partial Allocation
An expense becomes Partially Allocated when:
Allocation is done by the line item, not the overall project
Only part of the total amount is distributed
The remaining amount is still unassigned
Example
Expense Amount: $1,000
Allocated: $700
Remaining: $300
Status: Partially Allocated
System Behavior
Allocated portion → reflects in Job Costing
Remaining portion → shown as Unallocated Amount
How Partial Allocation Happens
Add an expense
Select project(s)
Choose: Allocate to Specific Line Items
Distribute the amount across line items
Click Confirm
If the total distributed ≠ full amount: Status automatically becomes Partially Allocated
Why Partial Allocation is Useful
When you don’t yet know the full distribution
When costs are being split over time
When multiple tasks share one expense
Best Practice
Use Line Item Allocation for:
Accurate job costing
Detailed analysis
Use Overall Allocation for:
General expenses
Quick entry
Avoid leaving expenses partially allocated for long:
Complete allocation for accurate reporting