How to transfer current projects to Buildwise
You can bring the projects you are already working on into Buildwise. Add each project's estimate, then send us your past expenses so we can upload them for you.
Add your estimates
First, create the project and set its markup on the project's Overview tab. See Create a Project.
Open the Estimates tab
Open the project, click the Estimates tab, then click Create Estimate.
Name the estimate
In the Add New Estimate window, enter the Estimate Name. Then click Create from scratch to enter your costs by hand. To use a file instead, see Upload an estimate from a CSV file below.
Add the costs
Add each cost group and cost item from your original estimate. For labor, enter the real hours times your rate, not one lump sum. See Add or Update Costs for Estimates or Change Orders.
Approve the estimate
Your client already approved your original estimate, so click the status dropdown at the top of the estimate and pick Manually Approved. Buildwise only shows the estimated costs in your project reports once the estimate is approved.
Add approved change orders
If your client already approved changes to the job, add each one as a change order and set it to Manually Approved the same way. See Create a Change Order.
Upload an estimate from a CSV file
If your estimate is in a spreadsheet, you can upload it instead of typing it in. In the Add New Estimate window, click Download our CSV template. Fill it in, save it as a CSV file, then click Upload from CSV and pick your file.
Here is how to fill in each column. This is the same list you see when you hover over the question mark next to Download our CSV template.
| Column | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Description | Type anything you like. |
| Cost Group | Must match a cost group in your Buildwise account exactly. |
| Cost Item | Must match a cost item in your Buildwise account exactly. |
| COG | Pick Labor, Materials or Trade Partners. |
| Quantity | Optional. |
| Unit Type | Optional. |
| Unit Cost | Optional. |
| Cost | Buildwise works this out when you upload, from Quantity and Unit Cost if you filled them in. |
| Markup Percentage | Optional. If you enter a percent, that row uses it. If not, Buildwise uses the COG markup from the project's Overview tab. |
| Total | Buildwise works this out when you upload. |
Add your expenses
We can upload your past expenses for you. Create the project first, and set its markup on the project's Overview tab before you send us the file.
Export your transactions
Export your transactions from your accounting software as a CSV, Excel or Google Sheets file.
Open our import sheet
Open the import sheet for your account: Single tax accounts or Multi tax accounts. Click Use Template to make your own copy.
Copy your data into the sheet
Put each transaction on its own row on the Upload Sheet tab. The Rules tab explains each column. See the chart below.
Send it to us
Click the chat icon on this page and send us the sheet. Include the name of the project you want the expenses added to.
| Column | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Date | Required. Use the format MM/DD/YYYY. |
| Cost Group | Required. Must match a cost group in your company settings. |
| Cost Item | Must match a cost item in your company settings. Write the code, a space, then the name. As an example, 1.01 Demolition. |
| Employee | Required for Labor, optional for Materials and Trade Partners. Must match a member on the project's Overview tab. |
| COG | Required. Labor, Materials or Trade Partners. |
| Quantity(Hours) | A number with up to 2 decimal places. It is 1 if you leave it blank. |
| Unit Cost | A number with up to 2 decimal places. Required for Materials and Trade Partners. For Labor, fixed cost projects use the pay rate and cost plus projects use the charge rate. |
| Unbillable, Billed, Tax | Optional. Enter Yes or No. |
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