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Adding Items to the Item Catalog

Learn what an item is in Aspire, understand the different item types and read all the articles about them!

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Written by Aspire Software
Updated over a year ago

Table of Contents

Purpose

Before your items can be used on estimates for proposals, they need to be created in the Item Catalog! The item catalog, which is located in the Estimating tab of Administration, is a record of current or past items that have been created for services you have estimated on Opportunities.

🧠For example:

Let’s say you’ve met with your new client to discuss their next project. They want to renovate their front and back yards, including installing a new lawn, planting trees and shrubs, and setting up irrigation.

You promise to deliver an estimate, containing estimated labor and material prices, for them to review and sign.

However, before you can build your estimate with your services, you’ll need to create labor and material pieces for accurate and consistent bidding. In Aspire, these pieces that make up a service are called Items.

Requirements

✅In order to add items to the Item Catalog, you must have System Admin access or Branch Admin access with Enhanced Branch Security checked.

The 6 Item Types

There are 6 item types in Aspire:

  1. Labor

  2. Materials

  3. Equipment

  4. Sub

  5. Other

  6. Kit

While the creation for all 6 item types is similar, there are some differences in what fields are available or will be used within each item type’s record.

Because of this, click through and read each article below to learn how to create a specific item type step by step and when you would use each one! 👇

Item Type and Article

Definition

Examples

Adding a Labor Item to the Item Catalog

Trade specific pricing, premium rates on certified labor, build crew built items like 3 person landscape crew

  • Labor-Construction,

  • Labor-Enhancement,

  • Labor Irrigation

Adding a Material Item to the Item Catalog

Lumber, nails, plants, mulch, appliances, parts

  • 14-0-3 with Grub Control,

  • 5 Gal. Shrub,

  • American Elm or

  • Bag Salt

Adding Equipment Items to the Item Catalog

Rental equipment, skid steers, excavators, owned assets

  • Chipper Rental,

  • Plow Truck,

  • Snow Blower

Adding Sub Items to the Item Catalog

Service providers, equipment rentals for subs, material installations, trade subcontractors

  • Sub-Snow Removal,

  • Sub-Irrigation,

  • Sub-Hours,

  • Sub-Equipment

Creating Other Items in the Items Catalog

Permit fees, bond or insurance fees, testing or inspection fees,

  • Debris,

  • Permit Fees,

  • Portable Toilet Rental,

  • Fuel Surcharge

Creating a Kit for the Item Catalog

Grouped labor and materials for services like applications, planting or installations

  • Basic Granular Application,

  • Hardwood Mulch- Installed,

  • Bed Weeding,

  • Bulk Salt Application

You are able to then select each item and calculate the total price based on the quantities you've entered. You can easily adjust quantities or remove items as needed during the estimation process.

After your necessary items have been added, Aspire generates a detailed estimate with line items, quantities, unit prices, and a grand total for the entire landscaping project. You can then present it to your client for approval.

The Item Catalog in Aspire streamlines the estimation process, making sure that all items are accounted for accurately!

📑If you’ve read each article, and understand what each item type does, you can request to import your items in bulk. To do this, please read this article!

📑To learn more about how adding items to your catalog make an impact on your organization, please read this article.

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