---
title: What's the difference between a project and an estimate in Beam?
description: A project is the basis for everything related to a given job while an estimate lives within a project and represents the proposal or quote you send to a customer before work begins.
---

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# What's the difference between a project and an estimate in Beam?

## Definition of projects vs estimates and how they function in the Beam workflow.

![Screenshot 2026-02-15 at 4.59.48 PM](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-02-15%20at%204.59.48%20PM.png?width=127&height=473&name=Screenshot%202026-02-15%20at%204.59.48%20PM.png)A **Project** is the basis for everything related to a given job. Inside a project, you can view and manage:

- Estimates
- Invoices
- Bills
- Expenses
- Time entries
- Budget tracking
- Internal updates and tasks

An **Estimate** lives inside a project and represents the proposal or quote    you send to a customer before work begins.

Once an estimate is approved, the **Project** becomes the central place  where you manage the full financial lifecycle of that job — from invoicing    to tracking costs and profitability.

 

In short,a **project = the full job** while an **estimate = the pricing proposal**.

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