Give quotations at the counter and bill them later
Save a counter bill as an estimate (quotation), print it or send it on WhatsApp, and turn it into a bill when the customer comes back. Prices are checked again when you bill.
What the Estimates page is for
An estimate is a quotation you give a customer at your shop: "this is what it will cost". It doesn't take stock and it isn't a sale. The printout says "ESTIMATE / QUOTATION" and "This is an estimate, not a tax invoice."
Estimates lists every estimate, latest on top, with its Number, Date, Customer, Total, Status and Valid till. Use the filter chips and the search (number, customer, phone or GSTIN) to find one.
- Estimates is in the menu when counter billing is on.
- To open it you need the "Bill at the counter" or "View orders" permission. The menu item shows only with "Bill at the counter", so staff with only View orders open it from a link. The buttons on an estimate need "Bill at the counter".
- An estimate made at wholesale prices shows "Hidden" in Total to staff who can't see wholesale prices, and it can't be shared as a link.
Give a quotation in 4 steps
- 1
Add the items on the counter screen
Estimates → New estimate at the counter
Add the items as for any bill. Add the customer with F7 if you want their name on it.
- 2
Save it as an estimate
Counter → Save as estimate
Tap "Save as estimate" instead of taking payment. You get "Estimate … saved" and an "Open estimate" link.
- 3
Give it to the customer
Estimate page
Print (roll) for an 80 mm printer, Print (A4) for a full page, or "Send on WhatsApp" with the link. "Copy link" copies the same link.
- 4
Bill it when the customer is ready
Open the estimate and tap "Turn into bill". Pick the payment and the amount received, and tap "Create bill". The receipt opens.
The bill uses today's prices and takes the items from your counter stock.
Estimate statuses
- Open: can still be billed until its Valid till date.
- Being billed: someone is turning it into a bill right now.
- Billed: it became a bill. The row shows the bill number; "Billed as …" on the estimate opens it.
- Expired: the Valid till date passed. Make a fresh estimate to bill it.
- Cancelled: you cancelled it. It stays in the list.
Print and share
Print (roll) and Print (A4) print the estimate on your printer. "Send on WhatsApp" opens WhatsApp with a message like "Estimate EST-00012 from your store: ₹4,250, valid till 8 Nov. View it here: …".
The link works for the days in "Shared bill link works for" (Settings → Counter billing).
Turn an estimate into a bill
"Turn into bill" asks for the Payment (Cash, UPI, Card or Udhaar (credit)) and the Amount received, then "Create bill".
If a price changed since the estimate, Slaby shows "Prices changed" with each line On estimate and Today, the Estimate total and the Bill total now. Tap "Bill at today's prices" to go on. An item you no longer sell shows "Not available".
Turning it into a sale takes the items from your shop stock. If an item is short, you see "Not enough stock at the counter for an item on this estimate."
Cancel an estimate
"Cancel estimate" means it can't be billed any more. It stays in your list as Cancelled. Nothing else changes, because an estimate never took stock or money.
What the columns mean
- Number
- The estimate's own number, separate from your bill numbers.e.g. EST-00012
- Customer
- The customer's name, or Walk-in if you didn't add one.e.g. Walk-in
- Total
- The estimate total. "Hidden" when it uses wholesale prices you can't see.e.g. ₹4,250
- Valid till
- The last day it can be billed. Set by "Estimates are valid for" in Settings → Counter billing (15 days by default).e.g. 8 Nov
- Status
- Open, Being billed, Billed, Expired or Cancelled.e.g. Open
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Common questions
- Does an estimate reduce my stock?
- No. Stock goes down only when you turn it into a bill.
- Is an estimate a GST invoice?
- No. It says "This is an estimate, not a tax invoice." The GST invoice comes when you turn the estimate into a sale.
- The customer came back after 20 days. Can I still bill the estimate?
- Not if it shows Expired. Save a fresh estimate for them. To give longer, change "Estimates are valid for" in Settings → Counter billing.
- My prices went up. Which price does the bill use?
- Today's price. Slaby shows you the old and new price for each line before you bill.
- How do I send an estimate on WhatsApp?
- Open the estimate and tap "Send on WhatsApp". WhatsApp opens with the message and the link ready; you press send.
- Why can't I share this estimate?
- It was made at wholesale prices. Those are never put in a public link. Print it instead.
- Can the customer pay on udhaar when I bill it?
- Yes, pick Udhaar (credit) as the payment. This works when Offer business credit is on (off for a new store, in Settings → Advanced settings) and the customer has a credit limit.