Better estimates: Build it once, use it every bid

Create a cost database, navigate and customize your estimate table with ease, and generate bid-ready proposals in one click.

The gap between a finished estimate and a sent proposal just closed in Bobyard. Our latest updates to estimates mean you can go from takeoff to proposal with less work, and more polish. Here’s what’s new and how you can start using it all:

Create and reuse your cost database

Costs and pricing often live scattered in spreadsheets, a library you built out somewhere else, in memory, or old estimates you reference again and again. Now, you can build a company-wide cost database of items, assemblies, and folders once, and pull from it on every future bid.

• Set multiple cost types (e.g., material, labor, equipment, subcontractor, etc.) on a single item.
• Use our template to bulk import cost libraries you’ve already built out with no manual entry.
• Create folders to add hierarchy and stay organized.
• Build small cost bundles once, then stack them into bigger ones for complex jobs.

💡 Need help importing an existing cost library you have? Reach out to your Customer Success Manager and they can help you build it out.

Customize your estimate table

Your cost database connects straight into the estimate table, which also got more powerful. Now you can:

• Bulk-edit items
• Apply tax and overhead by cost type
• Create alternates table that’s separate from general conditions
• Use custom columns and formulas
• Toggle between markup percent and margin percent

For example, if labor overhead runs differently than material overhead on a job, you can reflect that directly instead of averaging it across everything.

Go from estimate to proposal in one motion

Once your estimate is built, now you can generate a branded, client-ready proposal without leaving Bobyard or exporting to another tool. You can create a template that matches your company's branding, with your company and estimator details autofilling from your info already in Bobyard.

Bring your estimate to life in Bobyard

Now with these updates, you can go from takeoff to client-ready proposal:

1. Set up your company cost database and configure your estimate table.
2. Connect the database items to your takeoffs.
3. Bulk-edit any items in the estimate table after you do a takeoff, add markups like tax and overhead.
4. Add general conditions, alternates, and set your profit.
5. Create and export your bid proposal.

→ Try it in Bobyard now

Questions, or want a walkthrough?

You can click through any of the interactive walkthroughs above, or reach out to your Customer Success Manager anytime. We’re happy to help.

Bobyard estimates FAQ

How do estimates work in Bobyard?
Our latest updates to estimates in Bobyard creates a seamless workflow from takeoff to estimate to proposal. You can build and price estimates directly in Bobyard without using spreadsheets or any external software.

What’s new in Bobyard’s estimate table?
A cleaner, more structured table with:

• Flexible columns and grouping
• No raw measurement clutter
• Phase-based estimating
• Built-in assembly calculations

What does Bobyard’s cost database include?
A centralized library for reusable pricing, including:

• Individual cost items (material, labor, equipment, subcontractor, other)
• Assembly (bundled cost “recipes”)

Can you customize cost database settings per project?
Cost database is stored at the company level to standardize the process, but estimate table settings (columns/formulas) can be saved as project-level or company-level.

How do I import an existing cost database or library of my own?
For the first-time import, you'll need to convert your original database into Bobyard's template format. If your uploaded file includes existing items or assemblies, it will override any current settings in Bobyard. Please work with our CS team if you have questions or need help migrating a large database.