Need to set up bid proposal

[Guest]

I am a home remodeling contractor. Used to work for one who could go out to a
job, come home, pull up his bid proposal, fill in the prices for the work to
be done and then email it to the customer. I want to do the same thing, but
he has recently passed on and I can't find out how to do it.

 

[DatabaseBen]

It sounds like he had a (1)form, that he could (2)fill-in then (3)email it.
But there are several methods to do all 3 steps and it is dependent on what
software you have to do any of these....

(1) Did he use a re-usable doc file that the verbege could be change
anywhere in the document or
(2) did he use a form template where the most of verbage was permanent and
could not be changed except for blank spaces were the prices and dates and
other changiable data could be entered. And then
(3) was the bid sent via email as an attachment, zipped file or html?

The questions above may not be relevent to you because if you want to do the
same then you need you pc setup. What word processing software do you have?
What kind of email programs can you get and or use? Is the bid a template
that can be found and downloaded from the internet? Or do you want to use
and convert a paper version you have into electronic format?

I guess one more question would be helpful and that is are you able to buy
extra software if you need to? Keep in mind, that what you want to do is
part of the American way of doing business. Therefore, the business of
making a variety of softwares to do what you and thousands of others need to
do or have done, is a business as well.

 

[Guest]

It sounds like he had a (1)form, that he could (2)fill-in then (3)email it.
But there are several methods to do all 3 steps and it is dependent on what
software you have to do any of these....

(1) Did he use a re-usable doc file that the verbege could be change
anywhere in the document or
(2) did he use a form template where the most of verbage was permanent and
could not be changed except for blank spaces were the prices and dates and
other changiable data could be entered. And then
(3) was the bid sent via email as an attachment, zipped file or html?

The questions above may not be relevent to you because if you want to do the
same then you need you pc setup. What word processing software do you have?
What kind of email programs can you get and or use? Is the bid a template
that can be found and downloaded from the internet? Or do you want to use
and convert a paper version you have into electronic format?

I guess one more question would be helpful and that is are you able to buy
extra software if you need to? Keep in mind, that what you want to do is
part of the American way of doing business. Therefore, the business of
making a variety of softwares to do what you and thousands of others need to
do or have done, is a business as well.




Yes to #2 amd I don't know to #3.His form was identical to the paper version I get from OfficeMax. I have Word,but that's it.

 

[DatabaseBen]

Well, the first piece of equipment you need to get is a multifunction
printer. This will allow you to scan your document into the pc and of
course print your documents. They run about 30 bucks or so for a cheap
scanner/ink jet. Once you can scan into the pc, you can email documents and
fax them as well. This is the simplest because you could actually fill in
the printed version by hand, then scan it and email it or fax it.

The next method would be to scan the blank document into the pc, then use
the pc to fill in the data. Afterwards you can email it or fax it. This
method requires to ability to convert the document into a "form" and then
would require you to use a technique to fill in the form/template.

Then there is the method where you don't need a scanner if you have the
printed document typed into Word and formatted exactly like the printed
version looks then save it as a permanent template Then you can simply
modify the document in word according to the bid requirements and send it
via email or fax and save it as say under the bid number, e.g.,
bid3887887877.doc . You can always reopen the read only template and
customize the info for the bid and resave it again with a new name.

You have word, and windows has a fax program already and you can get a free
email account if your isp hasn't provided you with one yet. However, if you
do or do not buy a cheap inkjet/scanner printer, you have to buy a laser
jet. This "laser" jet is positively absolutely needed for a business for
printing professional documents and envelopes and labels and invoices,
paychecks to your workers, etc...... [To bad your not hiring, this sounds
like setting you up and managing the info would be fun to me....]

Looks like you good to go.....

(Remember, as a contractor, you know that any expenditures for the above is
tax deductible....)

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I am a home remodeling contractor. Used to work for one who could go out to
a
job, come home, pull up his bid proposal, fill in the prices for the work
to
be done and then email it to the customer. I want to do the same thing,
but
he has recently passed on and I can't find out how to do it.

There are a number of forms packages that can do this. Google "Forms
Software". The big issue with these sometimes is that the recipient must
have the same forms software to open the file.

Or, you can set it up in Excel or Word, then use a .PDF printer (Adobe
Acrobat) to create a file that the customer can receive in email and open
without unusual software. Almost everyone has or can get the Acrobat
reader; it's free. The Adobe PDF writer is not free, but you may be able
to find other inexpensive PDF creators.

Sending as PDF rather than as a spreadsheet or Word doc is important
because PDF's aren't easily editable, and you don't usually want the
customer changing the details on you.

It would help if you could see one proposal email that a customer
received and look at the attachment type. That would give very large
clues as to how it was done.

HTH
-pk

 

[Wesley Vogel]

There are free forms (templates) for MS Word from Microsoft.

I use some of these.

Here are some resources...

Scroll down to BROWSE TEMPLATES here...
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/default.aspx

Here are some links to the actual templates...

Business and Legal Templates
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT011800981033.aspx

Acceptance of bid
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC060827051033.aspx

Solicitation of bid
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010186031033.aspx

Project bid
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010185461033.aspx

Cover letter for project bid
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010185451033.aspx

Price quote on services to new customer
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC060827811033.aspx

Proposal with cover letter
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010185501033.aspx

Notice of quote expiration
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010185391033.aspx

Response to proposal with modifications
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010011491033.aspx

Proposal with cover letter
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010185501033.aspx

Here are some resources...

Searched templates for: "bid"
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/r...Scope=TC&QueryID=Pfy90_LYy0&TRC=55&iStartAt=1

Searched templates for: "proposal"
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/results.aspx?Scope=TC&Query=proposal

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Ken Blake]

Well, the first piece of equipment you need to get is a multifunction
printer. This will allow you to scan your document into the pc and of
course print your documents.

That's *one* approach, but "need" is far to strong a word. Many people,
myself included, prefer to buy separate scanners and printers. That's for
two reasons:

1. Thee are many more choices of individual scanners and printers and the
quality of the devices you can buy is normally higher.

2. With a multifunction device, if one of the components dies, you need to
replace both. With separate devices, that's not a problem.