Estimate only or estimate + Invoice or only invoice !!!

[beepeep]

I just start this business I applied for the BAR and they told me u should do Estimate first then u make invoice for the client so should I do that or only invoice is ok ?
also I got repaired my windshield with Apply Auto repair and they gave me only estimate !!
so is that fine also estimate with work order with all the info. need as the invoice

Pls advice

Yours
Jacob

[paulrsf]

Not sure what everyone else is doing, but I only provide an invoice. The main reason is that until you are on the job, you never know exactly what you will be doing. Often a customer calls you to do one chip repair but when you get there you find additional damage that they either missed or didn't tell you about. Same thing with referrals from the networks -they only send you information based on what the customer reported.

[beepeep]

Thanks Paul ..

[candyman]

You guys must be doing something for insurance companies. I only do a invoice after I do the job, on site: I have a work sheet that the customer signs for WSR. On the sheet that I use for WSR, It has all the information the Insurance company needs. If Iam doing HLR, I put all the information as to what I did to the Lights on the invoice, such as, HL= Headlights, FL = Fog, RL= Rear clean, sand, polish, restore UV Protectant Coating, I dont see a need for an Estimate, unless the insurance company has requested it, prior to doing the work. They normally tell me what they are going to pay and what repair is authorized, with a fax and authorization code. I dont replace WS's, only repair them. Even the small fleets, I use only a invoice. They call me and I check each vehilce and fill out a WSR sheet with all the information or they tell me which vehicles need repair. I give them a base price fee sheet for repairs when I set them up as a customer. After my initial visit, I have a trust/Bond with my clients and they know I am not going to cheat or gouge them. Some times, I may even do a little extra to seal some niches while Iam doing the pressure & vacume cycle at no charge. They know I want nickle & dime them. Car lots have a fee sheet, so they know ahead of time what the charge will be unless they missed something while inspecting the vehicles.

[shepardh1]

I never do estimates. When I arrive I scan the glass with the client and tell them that I don't see any other dings, but that if I find them I will fix them. They have always been good with that... If I forget to say the above and I find an additional ding and the client is not there, I fix it and add it to the invoice. Like fixing a hole in a tire, you don't leave any problems untouched. Clients have always accepted this.

[TGD]

Just an invoice with all pertinent information.