How can I create templates for estimating?
Beam doesn’t have a dedicated “template” feature, but there are two easy ways to reuse an estimate as a starting point for future projects.
Option 1: Create an estimate manually and reuse it
- Build an estimate manually in Beam with the structure and line items you want to reuse.
- For future projects, use the Copy from estimate option to duplicate it.
- Many users name the estimate something like “Template – Kitchen Remodel” and assign it to a test or internal client to keep it organized.
Option 2: Upload a PDF and use the AI assistant
- Upload a PDF version of your estimate into the AI Assistant.
- This approach works best when the estimate already follows a structure similar to Beam’s (clear section headers, line items, quantities, and pricing).
- Use a transcription-focused prompt like the one below to ensure a 1:1 match:
Once created, you can reuse this estimate just like a manual template by copying it into future projects.I am uploading a PDF estimate. Please transcribe this estimate into Beam with an exact 1:1 match to the source document. This is a transcription task, not an estimating task. Create groups that exactly match the section headers in the PDF using the same names and order. Create line items that exactly match the line item names, descriptions, quantities, units, and unit costs shown in the PDF. Do not rename, summarize, merge, split, reinterpret, or reorganize any groups or line items. Do not add, remove, infer, or adjust scope, allowances, markups, taxes, discounts, or pricing unless they are explicitly shown in the PDF. Preserve spelling, capitalization, and wording as closely as possible. If any value is unclear, ambiguous, or missing, leave it blank rather than guessing. Ignore any summary-only pages and only transcribe detailed line-item sections.