How to Add a Fee-Based Item

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Overview

This is particularly useful for fees like permits, general contractor fees, overhead, or supervision that are calculated as a percentage of another value in your project, such as the overall job cost.

Before You Begin

• Identify the percentage-based fee you want to add and the project value it will be calculated from (e.g., Project Cost).

1. In your Estimate, click the Plus Item button.
2. Scroll down to More, then select Fee Item.
3. Once added, the item will display with a percentage sign symbol.
4. To set what the fee is a percentage of, click into the percentage box. This opens Fee Pricing.
5. In Fee Pricing, choose the base cost you want the percentage based on along the left-hand side (e.g., Project Cost).
6. Add your percentage as a multiplier. For example, to set the fee at 5%, enter project cost * 0.05.
7. Name the item to reflect what it represents (e.g., Permit).

Once set, the line item's value will calculate as that percentage of the base cost you selected (for example, 5% of the project cost).

Tips & Best Practices

• Use Clear Naming: Give your fee item a descriptive name so it's easy to identify and understand.
• Verify Your Calculations: Preview your proposal to ensure the fee is calculating correctly.
• Test Different Percentages: If you're unsure about the percentage, try different values and compare the final totals to find the right fit.

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Why This Matters

• Lets you charge fees like permits, overhead, or supervision as a percentage of the job rather than a fixed amount.
• Keeps fee-based charges automatically tied to the underlying project value they're based on.

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Summary

Adding a fee-based item lets you set a cost as a percentage of another value in your project, such as project cost, by adding a Fee Item and configuring its percentage in Fee Pricing.