
Danny
Well-known member
Going to try and start using excel for pricing jobs, something ive never really used before.
Any tips / tricks for a complete novice?
Any tips / tricks for a complete novice?
Is that for accounts or for pricing jobs? Cause a spreadsheet is fine for either in my book.i wouldnt bother with excel its not the right tool for the job.
Have a look at www.clearbooks.co.uk its peanuts and does the lot from a web browser and is dead easy to use.
It will do the vat and cis online at click of a button if you need it. Can also take card payments if you do work for joe public.
I switched from Sage couple years ago as they wanted mega bucks for CIS, if I can use it anyone can! The accountant can also log in and do the tax stuff. I scan and attach everything so keep no paperwork at all.
This is what i'm aiming for, for years ive done everything paper form then typed it up afterwardsIs that for accounts or for pricing jobs? Cause a spreadsheet is fine for either in my book.
Danny, think of Excel to start with as a tool to lay our your costs and do the adding up automatically. Critically, any changes you make to a figure change a total that uses that figure in real time. Here's a screenshot of my costings sheet. Nothing fancy, just materials costs, labour costs and then a percentage multiplier for profit usually. I just look at the car on the drive and then play around with the percentage multiplier till the job is worth 20% of the car![]()
Have a play with it on a couple of basic jobs, and check through them thoroughly. The biggest risk is that you miss something in a formula and underprice. Or overprice, but that's not so bad. You can input lots of different material costs and then just link to them each time, but I find I know what things cost and also it's easier to keep up to date with material prices if you call to check every now and then when you cost a job.
Oh, and ditch Excel. Libre Office is free and less buggy (especially if you use a Mac)View attachment 18783
As you can see, it doesn't have to be fancy (but can be when you get the hang of it and need to). But it just lays your thoughts out clearly in front of you, and lets you change things around and see what happens.
sounds familiar .... can't drive excel to save my lifeThis is what i'm aiming for, for years ive done everything paper form then typed it up afterwards![]()