The quick answer
To create an estimate in NetSuite, open Transactions > Sales > Prepare Estimates. Select the customer, review the dates and proposal details, add the quoted items, then save. Check the estimate number, status, and total.
An estimate records the offer you want the customer to consider. Here you’ll build the quote and review the saved result before sending it or converting it into an order. The screenshots use sample data and fictional person and operating-company names.
Before you start
Have the customer, quoted items, quantities, and pricing ready. Your role needs estimate access. Check any required location, subsidiary, or custom fields, and decide how long the quote should remain valid. The Estimates feature must be enabled. Some accounts label the menu action Prepare Quotes.
01. Choose the customer
Open Transactions > Sales > Prepare Estimates and select the customer. The screenshot shows the estimate form after 1 Test company is selected.
Check that you’re quoting the intended account before entering prices. If you started from an opportunity, review the copied details as well.
02. Review the proposal dates and status
Review Expires, Status, and Probability where your form displays them. The example shows Proposal, 50.0%, and an expiration date of 8/12/2026.
These are example settings, not defaults you should adopt. Optionally add a memo and complete any required location or classification fields.
03. Add the quoted item
Enter the item, quantity, and price on Items, then commit the line with Add. This quote contains 1 Test Widget at 100.00.
Review the line and total together. Make sure the offer includes the intended tax and discounts before saving.
04. Save and review the estimate
Click Save. The recording ends on EST01, with an Open badge and a 100.00 total. The proposal fields and expiration remain available on the saved record.
Check the saved quote against what you agreed to offer. An open estimate is not evidence that the customer accepted it.
Check the result
- The estimate belongs to the right customer.
- Items, prices, and expiration match the offer.
- The saved estimate number is available for follow-up.
The estimate is ready for your next sales step. Verify delivery separately, and convert the accepted estimate to an order when appropriate.
Common questions
Does saving an estimate post to the general ledger?
No. An Estimate is a non-posting proposal and does not create an accounts-receivable balance or other accounting impact when saved. Accounting activity occurs only through later transactions, such as an Invoice or Cash Sale. Exact fields and processing options depend on enabled features, custom forms, and the user’s role.
Why is the Estimate amount different from the expected price?
NetSuite may calculate amounts from the selected customer, item, currency, price level, quantity, rate, discounts, tax treatment, shipping, and handling settings. Review the item’s Quantity, Rate, Amount, and applicable transaction-level charges. Multiple currencies, custom pricing, tax features, and form configuration can produce account-specific results.
Does saving an Estimate automatically create a Sales Order?
No. Saving preserves the Estimate as a proposal; it does not confirm acceptance or create a Sales Order, Invoice, or Cash Sale. A user must separately transform or convert the Estimate, if that action is available and permitted. Approval workflows, customer permissions, subsidiaries, and transaction settings can affect the available conversion options.
What do an Estimate’s status and expiration date mean?
The Status and Expires fields describe the proposal’s lifecycle and validity; they are not determined solely by saving the record. An expired Estimate may remain available for review, while statuses such as approved or processed can reflect later actions or workflows. Field availability, values, and automatic behavior vary by account and form.