Is there a standard sequence to starting a job?

SUGGESTED

What's the first step after setting up client and job? Proposal, Takeoff, Estimate? Which of these flows into which? 

It would be really useful to me to have a flow chart. I've searched, but can't find anything like this. The users' manual/help is worthless!

I'm coming into this with a dozen jobs already in progress. As a result, I have just been plugging in existing budgets and costs to date. Now I need to know how to start a job on the right foot so my data is set up to flow.

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    SUGGESTED

    If you have the Estimating module I believe you would start there. If you don't have the Estimating module I would suggest you use the Job Status field as your guide.

    1. Bid(only if you want Sage keep track of all jobs you bid whether you win them or not)
      1. Create your proposal,
      2. Go to 6-9 Proposals,
        1. Enter the next available job number and it will take you to 3-5 Jobs to enter the job's information, remember to use the status "Bid". Also remember, that sometimes you are bidding to many clients, so you don't have to enter a client number just yet,
        2. You will be brought back to 6-9 where you will enter the details of your bid pricing here.

    2. Refuse(only if you want Sage to track the jobs you lost)
      1. If you did not get the job go to 3-5 Jobs and change the status to "Refuse".
    3. Contract(If you are only tracking jobs you win start here at 3-5 Jobs and enter the job details)
      1. If you get the job update the status to "Contract",
      2. and add the Client. If the client does not exist Sage will take you to 3-6 Receivable Clients to create one,
      3. update any missing information, and
      4. Use notes to track the items you are missing.
      5. Create the budget in 6-2 Budgets,
      6. If the job has prevailing wages (certified payroll reporting), you may want your payroll department to create Paygroups with benefits for apprenticeship programs and fringe benefits (see 5-3-4 Paygroups),
      7. The job will stay in "Contract" status until all information and documents have been exchanged.

    4. Current
      1. Once all information and documents have been collected and exchanged and all outstanding issued in your notes are resolved, change the status to "Current".
      2. Remember the following items that will happen during the progress of the job:
        1. Use 6-4-1 Change Orders when the contract amount changes,
        2. Use 3-7 Progress Billing (optional, unless your client requires this), which will be used for the next step,
        3. Use 3-2 Receivable Invoices/Credits to send bills to your client,
        4. Use 3-3 Receipts for payments you receive,
        5. Use 6-6-1 Purchase Orders for material, equipment rental and other purchases and 6-7-1 Subcontracts for subcontractor purchases. This will be used for the next step,
        6. Use 4-2 Payable Invoices/Credits for job costs received from purchase orders and subcontracts, and
        7. Use 5-2-2 Payroll Records for all labor costs from your employees.

    5. Complete
      1. Once the work on the job is finished change the status to "Complete". Usually, the job is complete when it has been billed 100% and there is at least one month (period) without any job costs being posted.
    6. Closed
      1. Only change the status to "Closed" when all above items are complete AND all closing documents are completed and the job has been paid in full.