How to Create and Send an Estimate on iPhone

The best time to write an estimate is while you are still at the job. You have just seen the work, the measurements are in your head, and the customer is waiting to hear from you. This guide shows how to write an itemized estimate on your iPhone and send it before you drive away.

We use DraftForth, our iPhone app for creating, sending and tracking job estimates. The steps below match the app's own screens and buttons.

Before you start: set up your business once

Open Settings in the tab bar.

Business Profile holds your business name, phone, email and address. These details appear at the top of every estimate.
Branding holds your logo, your accent color (there are ten to choose from) and your business type.

You only do this once. After that, every new estimate carries your details automatically.

Step 1: Describe the job out loud

On the home screen, tap New Estimate, then choose Speak. Tap the microphone and describe the job the way you would explain it to the customer: the work, the materials, the hours and your rates. Tap the microphone again to stop.

Say the numbers out loud. For example: "Replace the kitchen faucet, two hours of labor at ninety-five an hour, faucet one hundred sixty-five dollars, plus supply lines." Numbers you say clearly come back as quantities and rates.

Prefer to type, or on a noisy site? Switch to the Type tab. Everything after this step is the same.

The DraftForth New Estimate screen with a spoken job description in the transcript box — Describe the job in your own words.

Step 2: Create the draft

Tap Create Estimate. DraftForth turns your description into editable line items, each with a quantity, a billing unit and a price.

The drafting uses AI. The first time you use it, the app asks for your permission to send your job details to OpenAI through DraftForth's servers. That permission applies to your DraftForth account until you withdraw it in Settings. DraftForth does not use your content to train AI models. Don't put passwords, card numbers or health information in the job text; none of it is needed to price a job. Full details are in the Privacy Policy.

Step 3: Review and correct every line

What comes back is a draft, and AI can make mistakes. Check every line before you send anything.

On Edit Estimate, tap any line to change its description, quantity, unit price or billing unit. Tap Add line item for anything that was missed. You can also add:

a discount
a sales tax rate
a project title and address
a Valid Until date

Billing units come from a fixed list, such as each, hour, day, job, flat rate, square foot and linear foot. That keeps your estimates consistent from job to job. Not sure what belongs on an estimate? Use our job estimate checklist.

Your details, the line items and the total, the way the customer sees them.

Step 4: Send it before you pack up

Tap Share. You can send the estimate through WhatsApp or Messages, tap Copy link to paste it into another app, tap Share as PDF, or open More apps for the full iOS share list.

A link opens as a web page with your business details, your logo if you added one, the line items and the total. Your customer does not need to install the app or create an account. It works in a browser on a phone, tablet or computer.

The DraftForth share sheet showing WhatsApp, Messages, Copy link and Share as PDF — Send by text, WhatsApp, link or PDF.

Step 5: Know where it stands

Each estimate has one of five statuses: Created, Viewed, Approved, Declined or Expired. You can see when the customer has opened the link, and DraftForth can notify you when they view, approve or decline it.

The customer's Approve and Decline buttons record a tracking status. They are not an electronic signature. For work that needs a written contract, use one as well. If the customer agrees at their home, they may have a right to cancel within a few days, and you may have to tell them so in writing. DraftForth does not add legally required notices for you; see what to include in a job estimate.

The DraftForth estimates list, filtered by status — Every estimate and its status in one list.

Tips for better estimates from the job site

Talk in line items. Mention labor, each material and any fees separately. The draft usually needs fewer fixes.
Say the unit. "Forty square feet of tile" or "three hours of labor" helps the draft pick the right unit.
Mention what is not included. Put it in the notes or terms so the customer sees it.
Check your terms. The default terms say final pricing may change if the scope, site conditions or material selections change. Edit them to match how you work. Read more in estimate vs. quote.

What it costs

Your first three estimates are free. That is a total, not a monthly allowance, and it does not expire or reset. After that, there are two auto-renewing monthly subscriptions, billed through your Apple ID:

Starter: up to 5 estimates a month, $9.90 a month
Pro: up to 250 estimates a month, $14.99 a month

Subscriptions renew automatically every month unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the current period ends. You can cancel any time in your Apple ID settings, and you keep access until the paid period ends. Canceling does not refund the current period.

US list prices at the time of writing. The price shown in the app for your Apple ID storefront is the one that applies. See current pricing and the Support page for details.