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Cost Codes in Estimates

Cost codes organize your estimating database and determine how estimate line items are grouped and priced.

How Cost Codes Work in Estimating​

Every assembly in your database is assigned to a cost code. This affects:

  • Organization - Assemblies grouped by code when browsing
  • Filtering - Find assemblies by selecting a cost code
  • Default Markup - Cost code markup applies to new assemblies
  • Reporting - Estimate totals summarized by code

Assigning Cost Codes to Assemblies​

When creating or editing an assembly:

  1. Open the assembly
  2. Select Cost Code from the dropdown
  3. Save

The assembly inherits the cost code's default markup (can be overridden).

Filtering by Cost Code​

When building an estimate:

  1. Open the assembly browser
  2. Use the Cost Code filter
  3. View only assemblies in that code

This speeds up estimating by showing relevant assemblies for the current scope.

Cost Code Grouping in Estimates​

Estimates can display totals grouped by cost code:

Cost CodeSubtotal
11 - Cabinets$15,000
12 - Countertops$8,500
22 - Plumbing$4,200
Total$27,700

Use this view to:

  • Verify estimate completeness
  • Compare against budgets
  • Identify high-cost areas

Markup by Cost Code​

Each cost code can have a default markup percentage:

Cost CodeDefault Markup
Cabinets40%
Plumbing25%
Electrical30%

When you create an assembly in that code, it inherits the markup. You can override at the assembly level if needed.

Cost Code Types in Estimates​

TypeEstimate Behavior
ProductionAppears in production estimates
DesignAppears in design estimates
Non-billableTracked internally, not shown to customer

Assign the correct type to ensure assemblies appear in the right estimate types.

Best Practices​

Organize by Trade​

Structure cost codes to match how you build estimates:

  • Group related work together
  • Use codes that match your workflow
  • Consider how customers see grouped pricing

Keep Codes Consistent​

  • Assign all similar assemblies to the same code
  • Review periodically for consistency
  • Train estimators on proper code selection

Use for Budgeting​

Compare estimates to historical data by cost code:

  • "Kitchens typically run $X in cabinets"
  • "Bathroom plumbing averages $Y"
  • Identify outliers that need review

Reporting​

Cost codes enable powerful estimate analysis:

  • By Project - See cost breakdown for any estimate
  • Across Projects - Compare cost code totals over time
  • Profitability - Track margins by code