How to build an electrical installation quote from a cable list
Moving from measured conduit runs to a clear quote is where projects lose time (and margin). This guide follows CableFlow’s real flow: cable project → totals by section × conductor → quote → client print — without inventing features the app does not have.
Why aggregate by section × conductor
On site you think in circuits and zones. For buying and quoting cable, what matters is metres per section and conductor type. When creating a quote from a project, CableFlow imports lengths aggregated by section × conductor (e.g. total F @ 2.5 mm²), not one line per room label. That matches reels and catalog pricing.
Step 1 — Solid cable project
Create the project and fill runs: zone, type I/T/P/S/Q/G (automatic section), distance, and spec. Check the live summary. Fix VJ and specs before quoting — fixing later means updating quantities.
Step 2 — Material catalog
Define materials with purchase and sale prices, unit (including metre), category, and supplier. The closer the catalog is to what you buy, the faster you map cable totals. Catalogs import/export as JSON.
Step 3 — Quote from project
From the project, create a quote. Map each section × conductor total to a catalog material. Add other materials, custom lines, and labour (hour / day / unit / fixed). VAT, discount, and global margin are configurable.
If cable lengths change later, the quote editor can detect differences and update quantities from the linked project.
Step 4 — Margin, markup, internal view
Keep cost and sale separate. Use margin or markup deliberately (see margin vs markup). Internal view shows profitability; client print omits internal costs.
Step 5 — Print and archive
Print the professional client layout. Export the quote or a full JSON backup if you need an archive independent of optional sync. Automatic numbering such as ORC-YYYY-NNN is available in the app.
Quick checklist
- Metres and specs reviewed (especially VJ ×2).
- Catalog purchase/sale prices current.
- Quote created from project; materials mapped.
- Labour and VAT set.
- Internal profitability OK; client print without internal costs.
- JSON backup if sharing a snapshot without sharing the workspace UUID.
Privacy in this flow
No accounts; data on your device. Optional sync with a secret code; JSON export as backup. That fits offline work on site.
For the metres math, read cable metres per circuit. For pricing without opening the full app, use the margin/markup calculator.