Entering a Quotation

A quotation is an easy way to create an order that is an estimate. A Quotation order does not reserve inventory or create a Payments record. A quotation is entered into the system exactly like a regular order except that the order type is set to Quotation and you do not need to specify initial payment information before saving the record. One benefit of the quotation process is that if a customer with a quotation in the system would like to proceed and place the order, the quotation can be converted to a regular order.

When changing a quotation to a regular order and saving the order, the system generates the Payments record (if a credit card or check was used or cash was received). The system also reserves inventory for this order and creates or updates any Subscriptions records that are part of the order. 

Follow these steps to create a quotation order:

1. Open a new Orders form.
2. Enter customer and order information, as described in Entering Customer and Order Information.
3. Change the Order Type to Quotation.
   
   
    
4. Add the order lines to the order, as described in Adding an Order Line.

5. Add an invoice message, as needed, as described in Adding Invoice Messages.
   

   You do not need to specify initial payment information for a quotation order. In fact, you can use payment to automatically change a quotation order to a regular order if desired. See Changing a Quotation to a Regular Order by Applying a Payment.

    

6. Save the order.
7. Print an invoice to send to the customer, if needed.
8. Use the Print button on the Orders form or run the Report wizard from a view of Orders to generate a report or invoice based on the order(s). See Using the Report Wizard for information on running reports.