A blank line item is the simplest way to add a service or product to your estimate. You build it from scratch you control the name, price, measurements, and any details you want to include. You can make it as simple or as detailed as you need.
Tip: Once you build a blank line item, you can save it as a template so you never have to build it again.
Step 1 — Open your estimate and add a blank line item
From the estimate workspace, click + Add Line Item at the top left.
A dropdown will appear with two options: Blank Line Item or Select from Templates. Select Blank Line Item.
Add line expanded showing Blank Line Item option
Step 2 — Fill in the basics
A new line item row will appear. Fill in the following fields:
Name — what is this service or product? (e.g. Interior Wall Repair)
Quantity — how many units? (e.g. 300)
Unit — what unit of measurement? (e.g. SqFt, Each, LF)
Price — your total or unit price for this item
The Total Price will be calculated automatically based on the quantity and unit price you enter.
Line item row with name, qty, unit, and price filled in
Once the line item is expanded, you will see tabs along the bottom for Materials, Labor Tasks, Subcontractors, Equipment, Client Description, and Crew Notes. You can add information to each of these manually.
Note: You do not need to be in edit mode to update quantities or adjust net profit percentages. These fields can be changed directly from the line item view.
Step 3 — Enter edit mode
To access advanced options like custom elements and tabs, you need to enter edit mode.
Click the three dots next to the total price on the line item row. A menu will appear with the following options:
Make Optional — allows you to include this line item on the estimate as optional, so the client can decide whether to include it. This is useful when you want to offer different pricing tiers or let the client choose between options.
Set Up Selection Options — lets you link this line item to another template so the client can select between different configurations or pricing.
Save As Default — saves the current configuration as the default for this line item type.
Save As New Template — saves this blank line item as a reusable template for future estimates.
Edit Mode — opens the advanced editing view for this line item.
Delete — removes this line item from the estimate.
Select Edit Mode.
When Edit Mode is enabled, the selected line item becomes editable. In the example shown, Interior Wall Repair is highlighted with a red outline, and the top section is also marked in red to clearly show that the line item is in editing mode. A Save button also appears on the right side, allowing you to save the updates once your changes are complete.
While in Edit Mode, additional editing tools become available. These include Add Tab and Reorder near the top of the line item, as well as Add Element below the fields section. These options allow you to further customize the line item structure while editing.
Step 4 — Add elements (optional)
In the Main tab, click + Add Element to add a custom input field. A pop-up called Create a New Element will appear.
Element types
In the Type dropdown, you have three options:
Value Unit — a standard numeric field with a unit of measurement (e.g., Height of Wall → 90 Feet). You can set the quantity as a fixed value or allow it to be adjusted.
Formula — lets you create a calculated field that combines other elements. For example, you could multiply a height element by a length element to get total square footage.
Dropdown — lets you create a selection field. When you choose dropdown, you can select a subtype:
Material Dropdown
Subcontractor/Equipment Dropdown
Other (Text Dropdown) — for simple options like a Yes/No field. You can set categories, define the choices, and select a default value.
Value Unit
Formula
Dropdown
Color-coding elements
When creating a Value Unit element, you will see color options next to the type selector. Colors help you visually identify and organize elements — especially when you have multiple elements and formulas that reference each other. For example, you might assign blue to your measurement elements and red to the formula that calculates their combined result.
Client View vs. Admin View
Each element includes a visibility toggle:
Client View — the element will be visible to the client on the proposal.
Admin View — the element is only visible to you and your team. Use this for internal calculations or notes you don't want the client to see.
Main tab showing Height of Wall and Length of Wall elements
Step 5 — Add custom tabs (optional)
In addition to the Main and Profit tabs, you can create additional tabs to organize your elements.
Click + Add Tab at the top of the section. Give the tab a name — for example, Base — and it will appear next to the existing tabs.
Once a new tab is created, you can add elements to it just like you do in the Main tab. Use additional tabs to group related inputs and keep your estimate organized.
Step 6 — Add materials
Click the Materials tab. Here you can add the materials needed for this line item.
Click + Add Material to add each item manually, or click Open Catalog to select from your saved materials.
For each material, fill in:
Name (e.g. Drywall sheets, Joint compound, Screws, Primer)
Quantity
Unit (e.g. Each, Bag, Ton)
Unit Cost with Tax
The system will automatically calculate the following for each material:
Total Cost — the total material cost
Breakeven — the minimum you need to charge to cover costs
Net Profit — your profit percentage (editable)
Price — the final price for this material line
Materials Feature
Material row options
Each material row has a three-dot menu on the right side with the following options (available even outside of edit mode):
Set Up Conversion Formula — define how quantities convert between units.
Set Up the Unit Cost — configure or adjust the unit cost for this material.
Delete — remove the material from the line item.Step 5 — Add optional job details
Use the additional tabs based on what applies to your job:
Step 7 — Add optional job details
Use the additional tabs in the bottom section based on what applies to your job:
Labor Tasks — add the labor needed for this job. Enter the number of workers, hours per day, and number of days. For example: 3 workers × 9 hours × 3 days = 81 man-hours.
Subcontractors — if part of this job is handled by a subcontractor, add them here with their cost. Your profit margin on the sub cost is calculated automatically.
Equipment — add any equipment rentals or costs here (e.g., ladder rental, drywall lift).
Client Description — write the scope of work description that the client will see on the proposal. You can type this manually or edit it after saving.
Crew Notes — internal notes for your crew. The client will not see this.
Labor Tasks
Subcontractors
Equipment
Client Description
Crew Notes
Step 8 — Review your totals and save
Once all your details are filled in, check the totals:
Total Price — what you are charging the client (displayed at the top right of the estimate workspace)
Total Cost — your materials, labor, and sub costs combined
Net Profit — your profit on this line item
Step 9 — Saving Templates
Save As New Template
Use this option when you want to create a separate reusable template from the line item you built. After selecting it, you can define the template details, such as its internal name, display name, description, folder, and image. Once saved, it will appear in My Templates and can be reused in future estimates.
Save As Default
Use this option when you want to update the default values of an existing template. The information currently entered in the line item will be saved as the standard setup for that template moving forward. This helps keep future estimates consistent without needing to re-enter the same values each time.
What happens next
Your line item is now part of your estimate. You can continue adding more line items, or when you are ready, click View & Send Proposal to review your payment terms and send the estimate to your client.
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