Estimate Pricing Method Overview

Estimate Pricing Methods provide a flexible and transparent way to price your estimates. They function as selectable pricing engines that determine how costs, rates, and margins are calculated.

Each pricing method is powered by an Apex plugin created using the ConfigurablePricingPlugin API. This framework surfaces your custom pricing logic as a selectable option in the user interface. This enables you to immediately see the impact of your custom code on values directly in the Estimate Builder, offering a clear view of how pricing is determined. For more information, see Plugins Overview.

There are two default methods: Cost Plus and Time and Materials. You can apply either of them to your estimate products and independent records, or you can create your own custom-built pricing rules for greater control over your estimates.

If you do not select an estimate pricing method, the estimate product or independent record calculates the price depending on the billing type of the record.

The Fixed Price Margin (%) field is only editable when the Cost Plus pricing method is selected.

When an independent record uses the Cost Plus pricing method, the calculation depends on its relationship to a line set. If it is a child of a line set, the price is determined by the Cost Plus strategy, utilizing the Fixed Price Margin (%). If it is not part of a line set, the calculation reverts to the default Time and Materials method.

Field Edit Permissions by Estimate Pricing Method

Estimate Pricing Method	Net Bill Amount	Margin (%)	Bill Rate	Discount (%)
Cost Plus (on Estimate Products)	Editable on estimate product level	Editable on estimate product level	Read only	Editable on estimate product level
Cost Plus (on Independent Records)	Read only	Editable in the Details tab	Read only	Editable in the Details tab
Time and Materials	Read only	Read only	Editable on role request level	Editable
Custom	Read only	Read only	Read only	Editable

Notes:

• For estimate products that use the Cost Plus pricing method, discounts can only be applied at the estimate product level.
• For independent records that use the Cost Plus pricing method, discounts can only be applied at the estimate level.
• When a project is created from an estimate, the selected pricing method will be reflected. However, any subsequent changes to the estimate pricing method or related Apex logic after the project has been created will not be reflected in the project.
• Dated resource bill rates can only be used with the default Time and Materials pricing method. They are not compatible with Cost Plus or custom pricing methods. Dated resource cost rates can be used with any estimate pricing method.