Fair AppsFree estimate maker: use a template or a phone app
You can make a free estimate by copying the template below into a document editor or spreadsheet and adding your scope, quantities, rates and terms. If you want a phone app instead, Fair Invoice offers unlimited free estimates. Invoices are separate: the first 10 are free, then a one-time unlock, not a subscription.
An estimate proposes priced work for a client's approval, as described in Joist's estimate guide. An invoice requests payment, which can include a deposit or milestone payment before the job is finished, as Joist's invoice page explains.
Which free route fits your work?
| Copyable template below | Fair Invoice phone app | |
|---|---|---|
| Free allowance | No signup or purchase needed to copy this page's template | Unlimited estimates; first 10 invoices free |
| Setup | Paste into an editor or spreadsheet you already use; that program's terms are separate | Install the app; store actions may require a store account |
| Preparing the estimate | Enter fields, calculate totals and keep revisions yourself | You enter the client, line items, tax and discount |
| Sharing | Print from your editor, or use PDF output if available | PDF sharing and email through your own mail app |
| Main limit | This page is not a calculator or an online generator | No card processing; unlimited invoices beyond the free allowance require a one-time unlock |
The Fair Invoice details above come from the Fair Invoice product page, including unlimited free estimates and a one-time invoice unlock rather than a subscription. Choose the template if you want a document without installing anything. Choose the app if you prefer preparing estimates on your phone.
Copy this blank estimate
The full template is here, with no download or signup gate. Replace the bracketed fields and remove unused lines.
ESTIMATE - NOT AN INVOICE
Estimate number: [your reference] Revision: [number]
Prepared: [date] Valid through: [your chosen date]
Currency: [e.g. USD]
From: [business name and contact details]
For: [client name and contact details]
Job location: [location, if relevant]
Scope: [specific work and deliverables being proposed]
Description Quantity Unit rate Line amount
[work/item] [qty] [rate] [qty x rate]
[work/item] [qty] [rate] [qty x rate]
Subtotal: [sum of line amounts]
Discount (fixed amount, if agreed): [amount]
Estimated amount before tax: [subtotal minus discount]
Tax: [determine before sending]
Estimated total including applicable tax: [complete before sending]
Included: [what this price covers]
Excluded: [what is not covered]
Assumptions: [access, customer-supplied materials, condition, etc.]
Timing: [proposed schedule, subject to agreement]
Changes: [how additional work will be priced and approved]
Client response: [approve scope, request revisions or decline]
Approval record: [name/date/method, if agreed]
This is an estimate for review, not a request for payment.Filled example: furniture assembly
This original example uses fictional names and illustrative prices, not market rates. It shows a $180 estimate before tax, not a tax-inclusive final total. Tax is not calculated here; that does not mean the work is tax-exempt.
ESTIMATE - NOT AN INVOICE
Estimate number: EST-001 Revision: 1
Prepared: 12 November 2026 Valid through: 26 November 2026
Currency: USD
From: Example Assembly Studio (fictional)
For: Sample Customer (fictional)
Job location: Customer's indoor workspace
Scope: Assemble three customer-supplied chairs and one desk.
Description Quantity Unit rate Line amount
Chair assembly 3 chairs $35.00/chair $105.00
Desk assembly labor 2 hours $45.00/hour $90.00
Subtotal: $195.00
Courtesy discount (fixed amount): $15.00
Estimated amount before tax: $180.00
Tax: Not calculated in this example
Estimated total including applicable tax: Not calculated in this example
Included: Assembly using supplied parts and the manufacturer's instructions.
Excluded: Furniture purchase, missing replacement parts, wall anchoring,
electrical work and packaging removal.
Assumptions: Parts and instructions are present; clear indoor space is ready.
Timing: Proposed visit 20 November 2026, subject to scheduling agreement.
Changes: Stop and discuss a revised estimate before extra work proceeds.
Client response: Confirm scope and schedule or request a revision.
Approval record: Not yet approved.
This is an estimate for review, not a request for payment.Check the calculation: three chairs × $35 = $105; two hours × $45 = $90. The subtotal is $195, less a fixed $15 discount, leaving $180 before tax. The discount is not 15%.
How to turn the template into a sendable estimate
- Copy and paste. Select the blank block and paste it into a document editor or spreadsheet you already use. Use a monospaced font to preserve the columns, or turn the line items into a table. If the spreadsheet can multiply quantity by rate, you can use a formula, then recheck the result.
- Define the job. Replace the business and client fields. Describe the deliverables, quantities and units, plus what is excluded. In the example, wall anchoring and packaging removal are outside the price.
- Check every amount. Multiply each quantity by its rate, add the line amounts and subtract any agreed discount. If you agreed a percentage, convert it to a currency amount before you enter it. Decide what tax applies, with advice if you need it, then complete the tax and final-total fields before sending.
- Set the review terms. Choose a validity date, proposed schedule and response method. Record a revision number so the client can identify the version being discussed. Explain how you want to handle additional work.
- Preview and share. Open your editor's Print command and check for clipped columns or missing lines. Select a printer, or a PDF output option if your editor or system offers one. Review the resulting document before sharing it.
Print and PDF options vary by editor. The template does not determine tax treatment or whether an approval is legally binding.
Prefer to prepare estimates in Fair Invoice?
According to the Fair Invoice product guide, you can select a client, add items, set tax or a discount, and share a PDF or email through your own mail app. An approved estimate can be converted into an invoice. The furniture-assembly example above is a separate text template, not an app export.
Estimates remain unlimited and free. The first 10 invoices are free, then unlimited invoices require a one-time unlock, not a subscription. Deleting an invoice does not restore the free allowance, according to the Google Play listing.
Fair Invoice has no card processing. The Google Play listing also rules out automatic payment reconciliation, server-sent email, read receipts and government e-invoicing. It says Android and iPhone cloud sync do not connect, and that a backup file can move data. The App Store listing says there is no account and no sign-in, email goes from your own mail app, and optional sync uses your own iCloud or Google Drive rather than a vendor server. Do not treat an estimate, its approval or its conversion into an invoice as a completed payment.
Joist's invoice page says customers can pay from the invoice by card, bank transfer or a payment link. That is Joist's published claim, not something this template or Fair Invoice does.
Joist's free plan has been discontinued. It offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required, and paid plans have monthly or annual billing options. Check Joist's pricing page for current pricing and terms.
See Fair Invoice features and limitations, or get it on Google Play or the App Store.
Fair Invoice is by Shikher Verma/Fair Apps. We are not affiliated with Joist or other third-party products mentioned here. You can use the template without choosing our app.
FAQ
Is this estimate maker really free?
The text template is free to copy from this page without an account or installation. It is not an interactive generator. Fair Invoice separately offers unlimited free estimates; its first-10-invoices allowance and later one-time invoice unlock do not limit the number of estimates.
Is an estimate the same as an invoice?
No. Use an estimate to propose priced work for review. Use an invoice to request payment. An invoice can request a deposit or milestone payment, and some invoices are issued when the work is finished. The distinction is purpose.
Can I use this template as a quote?
Yes, in the practical sense used here: a priced proposal for review, not a request for payment. The App Store listing calls that step a quote and says an approved job can be turned into an invoice. Neither wording makes the document a binding contract or a completed payment.
Can I print an estimate without installing Fair Invoice?
Yes. Copy the template into your own editor and use its Print command. Check the preview first. PDF output depends on the editor or system you use; this page does not supply a downloadable PDF.
Does an estimate collect payment or guarantee approval?
No payment is collected by this template, and Fair Invoice has no card processing. The response and approval fields help you record the discussion; they are not a guarantee of payment or legal enforceability. Resolve scope changes, tax questions and any necessary contract terms before relying on the estimate.