Building an estimate in Eano takes you from a blank opportunity to a priced, signable proposal in five steps: create the opportunity, pick how you want to build the scope, adjust the numbers, preview it, and send it. This article walks through each one.
If you’d rather watch than read, these tutorials cover the same ground:
Full walkthrough: https://youtu.be/LVLsHQsj8eA
AI Takeoff: https://youtu.be/OsUjHswmdlY
Managing Opportunities: https://youtu.be/nGFMbr94lOU
Managing Projects: https://youtu.be/_zQn1B1ryAo
Step 1: Create an Opportunity
On the left side of the screen, choose Opportunities from the navigation menu, then click + New Opportunity in the top right corner.
The form that opens gives you a few ways to save yourself some typing:
Drop in a file if you already have an estimate. Eano reads the document and fills in the opportunity’s details for you. Supported formats are Images, PDF, Word, Excel, CSV, and Text, up to 10 MB. One thing to know: this upload fills in details — it doesn’t run a takeoff on blueprints. If you want quantities measured off a set of plans, that happens later, in the Scope tab (see Step 2).
Auto-fill your client’s details. Once you’ve built up a client list — either by importing it under People > Client or just by creating opportunities over time — a dropdown suggests existing clients so you don’t re-enter names, phones, and emails.
Add a project name and description. Both are optional, but a project name pays off when you have repeat clients or multiple jobs at the same address.
When you’re done, scroll down and click Create Opportunity.
One caution if you’re just testing: don’t use your own phone number as the client’s. Your number is already tied to your contractor profile, so it can’t double as a test client.
Step 2: Choose How to Build Your Estimate
Open your new opportunity and head to the Scope tab. Since the scope is empty, you’ll see a set of cards offering different starting points.
Generate Estimate with AI — type a description of the job, anywhere from “Bathroom remodel” to the full details, and Eano generates line items for you. You’ll choose between two modes: Standard for a quick estimate, or Advanced, which takes longer but does deeper research before pricing. Hit Generate, give it a moment, and click Insert if you like what you see — or Regenerate for a fresh take (heads up: regenerating replaces the previous result, so there’s no going back to it). And if you already have an estimate written up elsewhere — say, from ChatGPT — you can paste that text in and Eano will build the scope from it.
Upload an Existing Project or Template — bring in your own estimate file or a template you’ve saved before, and reuse it as the starting point.
Takeoff Concierge — upload your plans or drawings and get a detailed quantity takeoff. This one’s a paid add-on (your first takeoff is free). See Uploading Plans for an AI Takeoff for the full walkthrough.
Eano Default Templates — prebuilt scopes for common project types like kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, painting, and ADUs.
You can also turn any estimate you build into a reusable template of your own: once the scope looks the way you like, click Project Template and choose Save as Project Scope Template. It’ll show up alongside the defaults next time.
Step 3: Adjust Your Prices
Every line item is editable. Click into any field to change it — text boxes for names and numbers, dropdowns where you see the arrow.
Quantity and Unit Cost do the math for you. Edit either one and the Amount column recalculates automatically.
Decimals are welcome. Quantity, Unit Cost, and Amount all take values down to the cent — $199.99 for a valve kit or $12.50 for a handle, no rounding to the nearest dollar. The same goes for prices in your Cost Book.
Markup works per line or across the board. Each line item has its own Markup % field. To apply one markup to every line at once, click the gear icon in the table header and set it there.
Your scope is organized in three layers, like an outline: scope groups (the big sections — say, “Kitchen” or “Demolition”), the sub-groups nested inside them, and the individual line items that carry your quantities and prices. Adding to any layer is just a matter of typing into the prompt for that spot in the table, then pressing Enter to save:
“+ New scope name..” adds a brand-new top-level scope group. You’ll find it at the very bottom of the scope list.
“Add sub group level item, press Enter to save…” adds a sub-group inside an existing group — handy when you want to break a section into smaller buckets.
“Add item in scope, press Enter to save…” adds an individual line item, the actual priced row. This is the one you’ll reach for most.
To remove lines, tick the checkbox on the left of each one you want gone and hit Delete.
Don’t see those “Add…” prompts? They only show up while an estimate is still editable, so if they’ve gone missing it’s almost always one of two things:
The quote has already been signed. Once your client signs, the scope locks and becomes the agreement of record, so the add and edit fields disappear by design. From there, changes go through a change order instead — which keeps a clean, approved paper trail for both sides. A telltale sign this has happened: the opportunity has quietly moved into your Projects list.
Your role doesn’t include editing estimates. Admins and Owners always have full editing access; some limited roles can open an opportunity to look without being able to change it. If you think you should be able to edit, ask an Admin on your team to check your role.
One more, in case you’re mid-takeoff: while an AI Takeoff is still processing, the “+ New scope name” option is paused until it finishes.
Step 4: Preview Before You Send
Once your scope is set — and your payment structure is sorted in the Payment Milestones tab (that’s covered in our payment schedule article) — take a moment to see it through your client’s eyes. Look to the top right corner of the screen, where two buttons sit waiting (they’re there from any tab, so you don’t have to navigate back):
Preview opens the client portal view — exactly what your client will see.
Finalize Quote runs a quick pre-send check and walks you through sending.
Step 5: Review and Send
Finalize Quote doubles as a pre-send checklist. Hover over the button and a little panel drops down listing anything Eano thinks is missing before the quote leaves the building — an empty scope, line items without prices, incomplete client info. Here’s the handy part: you don’t have to go hunting for any of it. Click any item in that list and you’re taken straight to the spot that needs fixing — that click is your next step. Blockers have to be cleared before you can send; lighter warnings you can send past if you choose. Once the list comes back clean — it’ll tell you the quote is ready — click Preview and Send Quote for one last look at the full contract.
When everything’s right, hit the blue send button. Its label depends on the signing order — it reads Send Final Quote to Client if your client signs first, or Sign & Send to Client if you’re signing first.
That’s it: your client automatically gets an email and SMS letting them know there’s a quote waiting to review and sign. You can adjust how those notifications behave under Settings > Notifications.
For the full tour — previewing as your client, the pre-send check, customizing the contract, and what happens after everyone signs — see How To Preview As Your Client and Send Out The Proposal.