Section 1
Two Ways to Send Quotes in CMART™ App
CMART™ App has two built-in tools for sending professional quotes. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right one for your workflow.
Estimates
Found under Payments → Estimates. Best for itemised solar quotes with line items, quantities, and totals. Clients can accept, decline, or request changes — and you can convert accepted estimates directly to invoices.
- Line-item pricing with quantities and totals
- Client can accept or decline online
- Convert to invoice in one click
- Send via workflow automation
- Mobile-friendly — create on-site
- Status tracking — Sent, Viewed, Accepted
Documents & Contracts
Found under Payments → Documents & Contracts. Best for proposals that need e-signatures and formal contract language. Supports PDF uploads, e-signatures, and payment collection on signing.
- Full e-signature support
- Upload existing PDF templates
- Collect payment on signing
- Audit trail with IP + timestamp
- Better for formal agreements
- Less suited to itemised pricing
Section 2
What Every Solar Quote Must Include
A professional solar quote does two jobs: it gives the client the information they need to make a decision, and it positions you as a credible, organised contractor. Here's everything that should be in it.
Date: [Issue Date]
Valid Until: [Expiry Date]
Status: Pending Acceptance
| Item | Description | Qty | Unit Price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels | [Brand] [Wattage]W Monocrystalline | 12 | R 4,200 | R 50,400 |
| Inverter | [Brand] [kW] Hybrid Inverter | 1 | R 18,500 | R 18,500 |
| Battery Storage | [Brand] [kWh] LiFePO4 Battery | 2 | R 22,000 | R 44,000 |
| Mounting Structure | Roof mounting rails & hardware | 1 | R 6,500 | R 6,500 |
| AC/DC Cabling | Solar & battery interconnect cabling | 1 | R 3,800 | R 3,800 |
| Installation Labour | Full installation, commissioning & handover | 1 | R 12,000 | R 12,000 |
| COC & Documentation | Certificate of Compliance & system documentation | 1 | R 1,800 | R 1,800 |
2. A 50% deposit is required to confirm the installation date.
3. Balance is due upon completion and sign-off.
4. All panels carry a [X]-year manufacturer performance warranty.
5. Inverter and battery carry a [X]-year manufacturer warranty.
6. Workmanship is warranted for [X] years from installation date.
7. Pricing is subject to change if equipment costs fluctuate before deposit is received.
The preview above shows the full structure. In CMART™ App, client details populate automatically from the contact record — you only need to fill in the system-specific line items for each job.
Section 3
Build Your Quote Template Step by Step
Navigate to Estimates
This opens the Estimate Builder. You'll configure a template here that can be reused and customised for each client job.
Set Up Your Business Branding
Before building your first estimate, set up your branding under Payments → Settings. Add your:
- → Business logo (PNG, transparent background recommended)
- → Business name and address
- → VAT number (if VAT registered)
- → Default currency (ZAR)
- → Default tax rate (15% VAT for SA)
Add Your Line Items
In the Estimate Builder, add each component of the solar system as a line item. Use the table below as your starting template — adjust quantities, brands, and pricing per job.
| Item Name | Description | Customise per job? |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels | [Brand] [W]W Monocrystalline — Qty: [X] | Yes — brand, wattage, qty |
| Inverter | [Brand] [kW] Hybrid or Grid-Tie Inverter | Yes — brand, size |
| Battery Storage | [Brand] [kWh] LiFePO4 — Qty: [X] | Yes — if included |
| Mounting Structure | Roof mounting rails & hardware | Rarely |
| AC/DC Cabling | Solar & battery interconnect cabling | Rarely |
| Installation Labour | Full installation, commissioning & handover | Yes — by complexity |
| COC & Documentation | Certificate of Compliance + system docs | No — fixed |
| Transport (if applicable) | Travel to site — [Distance]km | Yes — if outside local area |
Set Validity and Payment Terms
Set the Valid Until date — 30 days is standard for solar quotes given equipment price fluctuations. Under Notes or Terms, add your payment terms.
Recommended payment structure for solar contractors:
- → 50% deposit — required to book installation date
- → 50% balance — due on completion and sign-off
Add Your Terms & Conditions
In the Terms section of the estimate, paste your standard T&Cs. Use the template below as your starting point — adapt to your specific warranties and business conditions.
Send the Estimate
When the estimate is ready, click Send. Choose your delivery channel:
- → Email — professional, leaves a paper trail
- → SMS/Text — link to the estimate, fast for on-the-go clients
- → Email & Text — both channels simultaneously (default)
The client receives a link to view the estimate online. They can Accept, Decline, or reply with questions. You'll be notified the moment they take any action.
Automate Quote Delivery (Optional but Powerful)
You can automate estimate sending using the Send Estimate workflow action. This is useful if you want a quote to go out automatically when a contact reaches a specific pipeline stage.
Set your trigger to Pipeline Stage Changed (e.g. when a contact moves to "Quote Requested"). Add the Send Estimate action, select your estimate template, and choose your delivery channel. Publish and save.
Section 4 · Reference
Solar Quote Terms & Conditions Template
Copy and adapt these terms for your business. Paste them into the Terms section of your CMART™ App estimate template. Have these reviewed by a legal professional if you're unsure about any clause under South African consumer law.
Standard Solar Installation Quote T&Cs
Section 5 · Your Action Steps
Your Implementation Checklist
Work through these before moving to the next resource.
0 of 8 completed
- I've set up my business branding under Payments → Settings (logo, name, address, VAT, currency)
- I've saved common solar components as Products under Payments → Products
- I've built my first estimate template with all standard line items
- I've set my default validity period (30 days) and payment terms (50/50)
- I've added my Terms & Conditions to the estimate template
- I've sent a test estimate to myself and confirmed it looks correct
- I understand how to track estimate status (Sent, Viewed, Accepted, Declined)
- I've set up the T03 Quote Follow-Up email from Resource #005 to fire 2 days after I send a quote