ContactsLaw includes features to help you build a
quote or
cost estimate on a
file. This can be used to issue an
upfront bill or produce an offer to provide services.
A cost estimate consists of the following:
- Products - A selection of fixed-price services, accompanied by an indication of whether they will be billed or may be only likely to be billed, the quantity of each and an estimated charge.
- Disbursements - Disbursements which will be incurred as a result of carrying out the work on the file.
- Discount - A percentage or fixed-amount which is deducted from the timed fees, either definitely or conditionally.
The sum total of these items represents the quoted price (or estimate). A cost estimate may also include items which are anticipated, but do not count towards the quoted price.
A cost estimate can be populated automatically by applying a cost estimate template. In the absence of a template, a file's cost estimate will initially contain the default product for the workgroup.
By defining one or more document templates of the controlled type "cost estimate", you can provide a mechanism for printing/exporting a cost estimate on a file. All document templates can draw upon the information in a file's cost estimate, regardless of type.
Revisions
Throughout the life cycle of a file, the cost estimate may be revised several times. Cost estimates bear a revision number which indicates how many times this has occurred. The initial cost estimate (created when the file is opened) is numbered zero.
You can revise the cost estimate by editing the file's billing options, or by starting the quote activity. The latter method prompts to remove products which have previously been billed to completion*, and automatically selects the 'new revision' option.
* A product is regarded as 'complete' if:
It is charged on an 'as recorded' basis and has been included in a bill
It is charged on a 'maximum cap' basis and the maximum amount has been billed
It is charged on a 'fixed amount' basis and the quantity billed matches the quantity quoted/estimated
ContactsLaw keeps a record of all previous revisions of the cost estimate. When you print a revised cost estimate, you have the option of including only those products (and disbursements) which have been changed or added in the latest version.
If you record time or fixed charges to a product which was not included in the cost estimate, it will be added to the current version of the quote (as an anticipated item) and a task will be created for the file manager to revise the quote. This ensures that authority to charge for additional products can be sought prior to rendering a bill.