TBS Proposal Generator

Version 1.0

TBS PROPOSAL GENERATOR Set up

Before you can start using TBS PROPOSAL GENERATOR, there are a few items that need to be set up. Load the template Proposal.xlt in Excel.

The first thing you need to do to start using TBS PROPOSAL GENERATOR is to enter values in the following fields:

Enter your Desired Markup % (Cell B5) – enter here the markup percent that you would like to add to you unit prices to get the selling prices.

Salesman (Cell E1) – Enter the Salesman’s name (this will print out on the proposals).

Date (Cell E2) – Defaults to today’s date. You can change to another date. This date prints on the proposal.

Shipping (Cell E4) – Enter a default shipping cost, or leave blank if shipping is not something you show on your quotes.

Sales Tax Rate (Cell E5) – Enter the sales tax rate for you state. If most of your business is wholesale or non-taxable, leave this blank, and for only those proposals that are taxable, enter a value.

The next step is to enter your company name in the proposal printing section.

In cell I1 through I4, enter your company name, address, city, state, zip code, phone number and fax number. If you wish, you can add a email address in cell I5. The information you enter here will print out at the top of each proposal.

Now you are ready to enter information about the items that you are going to be quoting. These can be products, services, or labor.

There are 3 fields that you will have to enter for each item you quote – a description, a unit of measure, and your cost.

Starting in row 18, enter in a description of the item (in column A), the unit of measure (in column C) and the Unit Cost (in column F). Continue entering items until you have entered all the items you normally quote.

When you are done entering the items, scroll down to row 146

Rows 146 thru 154 become the footer that prints at the bottom of each proposal. If you have some standard terms and conditions, or legal verbage, you can enter that in rows 146 thru 149, Column A. Row 153 is a place where the customer can sign the proposal.

IMPORTANT!

Now save the template. It is important to save the template at this time.

In Excel, click on File, Save.

Then click on File, Close to close the template

You are now done with the Set Up phase of the TBS PROPOSAL GENERATOR.

To use TBS PROPOSAL GENERATOR

Once you have properly set up the template, following are the instructions for using the TBS PROPOSAL GENERATOR.

Start excel, then click on File, New and a list of the templates on your system should be displayed. Click on the proposal template and the screen should display something similar to the following.

Enter in the name, address, city, state, zip code, and phone number of the person or company you are preparing this proposal for in cells B7 thru B11.

Starting in row 18, enter the quantity of this item that you are quoting on this proposal in column B. You can add additional items for this proposal, however, since we are not working with the template right now, they will not appear the next time you start a new proposal. (If you want to add additional items to the template, you will need to open the template, add the additional items, save and then close the template. You will have to start your current proposal all over.)

When you are done entering the quantities, scroll down to row 149. The gross profit percentage you will be earning on this proposal will be shown in Cell E144. If you have not over-ridden any of the selling prices, this will be the same as the desired gross profit percent that you entered in the set up phase.

The totals for this proposal will be in column G, rows 146 thru 149. You can override the sales tax and shipping values at this time by entering in cells G147 and G148 the values you would like to use on this proposal.

If you are satisfied with the values, and want to print out the proposal, scroll back up to the top of the spreadsheet.

There is a button in cell G4 labeled “Update Proposal”. Press this button. This updates the section of the spreadsheet that contains the printable proposal, and sets the spreadsheet up so that you can print the proposal. Caution: if you make changes to the proposal, by changing quantities, or adding or deleting quantities, before you print the proposal out again, click on the “Update Proposal” button again. In fact, it would be a good habit to get into to press the “Update Proposal” every time before you print the proposal.

At this time, you can:

Click on File, Print – to print your proposal

Click on File, Print Preview – to see a preview of what your proposal will look like.

Click on the print icon to print your proposal

If you want to save this proposal for future needs, you can click on File, Save As and assign this proposal a name.

At this time, you have successfully used TBS Proposal Generator to create a proposal.

If you find TBS Proposal Generator useful, you are asked to register it. The registration fee is 20.00, and you will be notified of changes in the future.

You can register 2 ways. Online, at www.taylor-business.com, or by mail at our mailing address.

If you would like any changes made to TBS Proposal Generator, contact us and let us know how what improvements you would like to add.

Want an Excel template developed for your specific business needs? Contact us at gary@taylor-business.com, or at (623) 882-1321 and let us know what you would like developed.