--- title: What do project and estimate statuses mean? description: Learn what each project and estimate status means in Beam, from Lead to Completed and Draft to Approved, and what moves a project between them. --- [Skip to content](https://faq.trybeam.com/what-do-project-and-estimate-statuses-mean#main-content) ![Beam Dark Logo](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Beam%20Dark%20Logo.png?width=80&height=28&name=Beam%20Dark%20Logo.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [app.trybeam.com](https://app.trybeam.com/) [app.trybeam.com](https://app.trybeam.com/) How can we help? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Beam Help Center](https://faq.trybeam.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Estimates & Proposals](https://faq.trybeam.com/estimates-proposals?hsLang=en) # What do project and estimate statuses mean? ## A quick guide to the two statuses Beam uses to track every project and its estimate. Every project in Beam has two statuses: a **Project Status**, which shows where the opportunity stands, and an **Estimate Status**, which shows where the estimate stands. Below is an overview of each status and what changes it. ### Project statuses Project statuses appear as filtered views at the top of the **Projects** page. Some are set automatically, but you can change a project's status manually at any time within the project settings. ![Projects Dashboard & Statuses](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Projects%20Dashboard%20%26%20Statuses.png?width=670&height=123&name=Projects%20Dashboard%20%26%20Statuses.png)   **![project-lead](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/project-lead.png?width=61&height=27&name=project-lead.png)**A potential opportunity you may want to bid. Projects created with **Add** start in Lead. **![project-estimating](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/project-estimating.png?width=113&height=27&name=project-estimating.png)**Your team is actively estimating or bidding the project. Projects created with **Add and Estimate** start in Estimating. **![project-active](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/project-active.png?width=76&height=27&name=project-active.png)**The project has been won or awarded. Beam sets this automatically the first time an estimate on the project is approved. **![project-completed](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/project-completed.png?width=113&height=27&name=project-completed.png)**The work and billing are finished. This status can only be set manually. **![project-lost](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/project-lost.png?width=61&height=27&name=project-lost.png)**The estimate was rejected, you weren't awarded the project, or you chose not to bid. Beam sets this automatically when an estimate is rejected. ### Estimate statuses Estimate statuses appear on the estimate overview page and in the **Estimating** view of the **Projects** page. They update automatically and can't be changed manually. ![Projects Dash Estimating View](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Projects%20Dash%20Estimating%20View.png?width=670&height=316&name=Projects%20Dash%20Estimating%20View.png)   **![estimate-draft](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/estimate-draft.png?width=71&height=27&name=estimate-draft.png)**The estimate has been created but not sent to the client. **![estimate-sent](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/estimate-sent.png?width=61&height=27&name=estimate-sent.png)**The estimate has been sent, but the client hasn't approved or rejected it yet. **![estimate-approved](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/estimate-approved.png?width=104&height=27&name=estimate-approved.png)**The estimate has been approved by the client or marked as approved by your team. **![estimate-rejected](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/estimate-rejected.png?width=100&height=27&name=estimate-rejected.png)**The estimate has been rejected by the client or marked as rejected by your team. **Note:** Estimate status always reflects the current version of the estimate. If you edit an estimate after sending it, it returns to **Draft** until you send it again. ### How estimate approval and rejection change the project status **Approved → Active**: When an estimate is approved, Beam creates a [prime contract](https://faq.trybeam.com/what-is-a-prime-contract?hsLang=en) on the project. Creating the prime contract is what moves the project to **Active**, so this only happens on the project's first approval. - If you unapprove an estimate and then approve it again, the project status doesn't change. - If you manually move an Active project back to Estimating, approving the estimate again won't move it to Active. You'll need to change it back to Active manually. **Rejected → Lost**: When an estimate is rejected, the project moves to **Lost**. If you [reset a rejected estimate](https://faq.trybeam.com/how-do-i-reset-a-rejected-estimate?hsLang=en), the project stays in Lost until you change it manually. **Note:** Because the first approval moves the project to Active, only mark an estimate as approved once the client has accepted it. 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