WORKFLOW GUIDE

Sign Making Calculation — From Enquiry to Quote

The complete workflow from customer enquiry to ready-to-sign quote. With AI instead of 45-minute spreadsheets.

THE PROBLEM

Why Spreadsheet Quoting Fails

Excel quoting is the industry standard — and the biggest hidden cost driver.

BEFORE: EXCEL

Quoting with Excel

  • ✗45 minutes per quote
  • ✗Manual material price research
  • ✗No argument when customer haggles
  • ✗Errors through manual entry

AFTER: AI

Quoting with PlotonIQ AI

  • ✓30 seconds per quote
  • ✓Current market prices automatically
  • ✓AI justifies every price
  • ✓No calculation errors possible

THE WORKFLOW

Step by Step: Enquiry to Quote

The optimal workflow from first customer enquiry to sent quote.

1

Capture Customer Enquiry

Create a new job: customer name, description, photos.

Time required:2–3 minutes
2

Measurement (digital or on site)

Known dimensions: enter directly. Measurement needed: upload photo, AI calculates surfaces.

Time required:5–15 minutes (or 30 sec. via AI photo)
3

AI Calculates Automatically

Describe the job. AI calculates all line items: material, labour, travel, margin.

Time required:30 seconds
4

Review and Adjust Quote

See all calculated items. Adjust margin, add or remove line items.

Time required:2–5 minutes
5

Send Quote

Generate PDF and send directly by email or via customer portal.

Time required:1 minute

Time Comparison: Excel vs. PlotonIQ AI

Quoting with Excel

45 minutes per quote

Quoting with PlotonIQ AI

under 30 seconds

Why Faster Quoting Means More Jobs

Faster quotes win more enquiries. Acceptance rates drop significantly when a quote takes more than 24 hours.

With AI quoting, one person can handle 20–30 quotes per day instead of 3–4.

PlotonIQ users report they no longer turn down small jobs because the effort is too high.

AI CALCULATION

Calculation in 30 Seconds Instead of 45 Minutes

PlotonIQ AI calculates material, labour, margin — and justifies every price with market data.

Try for free now

Related Topics

WORKFLOW

Digital Site Survey

WORKFLOW

Creating Professional Quotes

SOFTWARE

Quoting Software for Sign Makers

Frequently Asked Questions About Sign Making Calculation

How long does a sign making quote take on average?▼
Industry average: 35–60 minutes manually in Excel. With AI: under 5 minutes.
What items must be included in a sign making calculation?▼
Material (incl. 15–40% waste), labour, travel, subcontractors, permits, overhead and margin (typically 30–50%).
How do I justify a high quote to a customer?▼
Transparency: show what they're getting. Material specification, durability, quality features. PlotonIQ generates this automatically.
Can I import my Excel templates into PlotonIQ?▼
Yes — material price lists from Excel and CSV are supported.
What's the difference between pre-calculation and post-calculation?▼
Pre-calculation: estimates costs before the job (basis of the quote). Post-calculation: compares actual vs. planned costs. PlotonIQ offers both.

Create a Quote in 30 Seconds Now

AI calculates, justifies the price and creates the PDF. Beta: €9/month.

Try for free now