Turn job-site or project notes plus your rates into a line-item service estimate—without inventing prices; labeled estimate, not a contract.

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Protocol

1. 1

   Step 1 of 5

   Assemble the estimate pack (5–8 min).

   Customer/job address or project name, job notes (what was measured/observed), your labor rates, material unit costs you will use, markup/tax rules you already apply (or NONE), exclusions, validity period you use, and deposit terms you use (or NONE). Distinct from the freelance-proposal how-to (scope narrative + investment). This recipe is a trades/agency estimate: quantities, line items, materials, labor—from your rates.

2. 2

   Step 2 of 5

   Lock “estimate not contract” + no invented prices.

   Paste the rules first. A missing quantity or unit cost becomes [NEED FACT], not a guess.

   Copy-paste prompt

   Copy rules

   Draft a SERVICE ESTIMATE (not a proposal essay, not a contract) from my job notes and rate card.
   Hard rules:
   - Use ONLY rates, quantities, material costs, tax/markup, and terms I provide. Do not invent prices, discounts, allowances, or “market averages.”
   - If a quantity or unit cost is missing, output the line with [NEED FACT]—do not guess.
   - Label the document clearly: ESTIMATE — not a contract / not a binding bid unless I say otherwise.
   - Output: header (customer/job), line-item table (Item | Qty | Unit | Unit cost | Line total), subtotal, tax/markup only if I provided rules, grand total, Assumptions, Exclusions, Validity, Next step.
   - Keep narrative minimal—this is for trades/agencies quoting work, not a freelance proposal.
   Confirm in one sentence, then wait for my pack.

3. 3

   Step 3 of 5

   Fill pack (step 3a) and generate (step 3b).

   Paste job notes and your rate card, then send the generate command.

   Paste pack

   Copy fact pack

   CUSTOMER / JOB NAME: [ ]
   SITE / PROJECT NOTES (measurements, scope observed):
   [ ]
   LABOR RATES I USE:
   [e.g. tech $X/hr; helper $Y/hr]
   MATERIAL UNIT COSTS I WILL USE:
   [list or NONE—leave materials as NEED FACT]
   QUANTITIES I MEASURED OR WILL BILL:
   [ ]
   MARKUP / TAX RULES I APPLY:
   [or NONE]
   EXCLUSIONS:
   [ ]
   VALIDITY PERIOD I USE: [e.g. 15 days / NEED FACT]
   DEPOSIT / PAYMENT TERMS I USE: [or NONE]

   After you send the filled pack, copy the Generate command in the next box and paste it into the SAME chat so the AI runs the decision tree / produces the output.

   Generate command — copy and send this next (same chat)

   Copy generate command

   Build the estimate now. Every missing price or qty = [NEED FACT]. Show arithmetic for each line. Label ESTIMATE — not a contract.

4. 4

   Step 4 of 5

   Second-model check + Sheets total (5–8 min).

   Recompute line totals and grand total in Sheets. If chat and sheet disagree, trust the sheet. Then send:

   Second-model check

   Copy second-model check

   Here is a service estimate from another assistant plus my rate card and job notes.
   Find: (1) invented prices or quantities, (2) math errors, (3) scope that wasn’t in my notes, (4) contract-like promises I didn’t authorize.
   Return only corrections. Not legal advice.

5. 5

   Step 5 of 5

   Human send.

   Fill [NEED FACT]. Send as “Estimate” with your validity window. Use a real agreement/change-order process when money moves.

When not to

• Not a contract, bid bond, or legal advice.
• Do not invent unit prices, quantities, or “typical” trade allowances.
• Do not use this recipe for freelance scope proposals—use the freelance-proposal how-to.
• Skip if you have neither job notes nor a rate card.