There are a few sections of a Proposal that are important to understand. This article will outline how a Proposal is structured and how each section relates to other features within the platform. 

High-Level Structure

A proposal can be broken down into three parts:

• Stage - A Stage is essentially a Location where work will be performed. Each Stage has an associated Address and all Products performed at that address should be added under the same Stage. A proposal can consist of a single or multiple stages. This helps when a Client wants to see work performed at different locations broken out separately in the Proposal without having to create all individual proposals.
• Product - This is Product being provided to the Client (i.e. Seal Coat). A Stage can have multiple Products. If a parking lot needs Crack Seal, Seal Coat and Striping, three products can be added to that Stage. 
• Proposal - The complete Proposal consists of all the Stages and their associated Products. 

How Proposals Relate to Jobs and Work Orders

The following diagram will help outline how the contents of a Proposal Relate to Jobs, Schedules and Work Orders. 

• Each Proposal Stage will create a Job. Each Job is associated to an address and all Products to be performed at that address comprises a single Job. 
• Each Product within a Stage will create a Phase within a Job. Each Phase has an associated Crew and is scheduled independently on the Calendar. Each Phase will create an independent work order that is sent to the Foreman associated to the Crew assigned. 
  • All Phases associated to a Job need to be marked "Complete" before the Job can be marked Complete. 

Structure of a Product Within a Stage

Now that we understand the hierarchy of the Proposal, we can look at the specific sections of a Product within a Stage. 

• Proposal Defaults and Inputs: This section is pre-filled from the Product Settings that were input when creating the Product. This section is here if any adjustments are needed to the default values.
• Calculated Inputs: This section is calculated based on the Product Settings that were input when creating the Product and the Job Address/Job Size. Adjustments to this section are made by changing the values in the "Proposal Defaults and Inputs" section. 
• Material Costs: The costs for Material as calculated by the above settings.
• Equipment Costs: The costs for Equipment as calculated by the above settings.
• Labor Costs: The costs for Labor as calculated by the above settings.
• Additional Costs: The costs for Additional Costs as configured within the Product and Additional Costs settings. Adding Additional Costs can be achieved by clicking the "Add Additional Cost" button. 
• Product Summary: This summary table gives insight into the Margins and total proposed amount for that product. 

Proposal Summary

Below all the Stage/s and associated Products, there is a Proposal Summary Table that shows Total Costs and Margins as calculated from all Stages and Products within the Proposal. 

Margins and Costs in this table are editable only by changing the Margins and Costs for the underlying Stages and Products. 

Send Proposal

This section defines to whom the proposal is sent and which proposal should be sent. 

• Click Here to review Proposal: This button can be used to preview the proposal and double check any settings/language prior to sending to your Contact. 
• Main Contact Recipient: This is defined when first creating the Proposal and is just a reference to show who will receive the proposal. 
• Additional Recipients: Enter additional email addresses for individuals that should also receive the Proposal
• Proposal Layout: Bitumio offers two types of Proposal formats: Simple and Full. 
  • Simple: This is a very basic proposal that only contains Product Names and Amounts. This is commonly used for other Contractors and Partners that do not need additional information about the Products or Services provided.
  • Full: This format contains all the Product details and Statements of Work to be performed. This is well suited for new Contacts that need more information into what will be provided.