---
title: "Estimating a project"
slug: "bc-estimating-a-project"
description: "Plan your project effectively with customer-specific templates, deliverables, and cost estimates for labor, materials, and equipment. Optimize your workflow today!"
updated: 2026-06-25T09:59:10Z
published: 2026-06-25T09:59:10Z
canonical: "docs.staedean.com/bc-estimating-a-project"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.staedean.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Estimating a project

In the planning state, the first outline of the project is created. You can make preliminary calculations and prepare the project's structure. Because projects are customer-specific, assign the project to either a customer or a contact in combination with a customer template. When the project is promoted to the order state, the customer is created from the combination of contact and customer template.

Define the **Project Deliverable** as a short description. You can extend it further in the comments section, using the OneNote integration, or by attaching specific documents in the Document Management fact box. From the deliverable, you can create a service object to involve the service department in the project early.

Break down the deliverable into one or more **Elements**. For each element, estimate a total cost per cost type (Material, Expenses, and Equipment) or attach the **Activities** required to create that element. The total of the activities represents the cost type Resources. For each element, create a cost estimate per **Project Cost Type**. Activities are of the ProjectCost Type LABOR. For each element, define which other ProjectCost types are estimated: MATERIAL, EXPENSES, and EQUIPMENT.

Use the [Create project task matrix](/business-central/docs/bc-create-project-task-matrix) to create the project tasks as work packages based on the combination of element and activity. The estimate created in this status remains with the project for later analysis.

## Related

- [Project deliverable](/bc-project-deliverable.md)
- [Project cost types](/bc-project-cost-types.md)
- [Create Project Task Matrix](/bc-create-project-task-matrix.md)
- [Estimating with elements and activities](/bc-estimating-with-elements-and-activities.md)