Creating Proposals
Navigating the Proposals Page
The Proposal Page in Elevation Advisor is your central hub for managing every proposal you've created. As you begin building and sending proposals, it will populate with a running list of every job you've quoted. This view helps you quickly find, sort, and take action on proposals at every stage of the sales process. Figure 1: Proposal Page, displaying a list of proposals with filtering and sorting options. (https://elevation-knowledgebase.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/Proposals/CreatingPrFew readersAdding Landscape Work Areas
In Elevation Advisor, you organize your proposal using Landscape Work Areas to keep things clear and focused. To help better understand Proposals, we’ll use a real example of a landscape created by our co-founder’s company. In this Elevation Advisor Sample Design, a customer called about building a new patio in their backyard. During the conversation, they mentioned missingFew readersUsing the Takeoffs Screen
Let’s start with a quick note on why we built this screen the way we did. We wanted it to be clean, easy on your eyes, and enjoyable to work in. Everything is collapsible so you can stay focused and avoid that overwhelming feeling of too much on the screen at once. The goal is to help you stay locked in on one section at a time, complete it, collapse it, and move on. Now let’s walk through how to navigate this page. Navigating the Takeoffs Screen When you first open this screen, you wiFew readersHow to Customize Landscape Work Areas in a Proposal
After setting the general parameters of your project, click Next to proceed to the Proposal Takeoffs screen. Here, you’ll see each of your Landscape Work Areas displayed in dark blue headers. Under each header is a list of the Sections you previously added to that area. To view or hide the details of a Landscape Work Area, click the expand/collapse arrow on the right side of the blue header. This allows you to manage each area individually without cluttering the screen.Few readersCalculating Labor
This guide explains how to calculate and apply crew labor within Sections of a proposal. The labor calculation feature is grounded in real-world experience and designed to help contractors bid accurately, build realistic schedules, and consistently meet profitability goals. Why Labor Calculation Matters The labor calculation system was developed from field-tested time studies over the last 20 years. For example, a two-person crew using a skid steer was once tasked with moving 100 yarFew readers
Pre-Built Templates: Working with Sections
Beds: Start here is you are just getting started
This guide introduces you to working with Sections in Elevation Advisor, using the Beds section as a detailed example. While we’ll focus on creating and managing beds within a proposal, the steps and best practices outlined here apply broadly to all landscape sections. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to measure, structure, and populate any section with confidence. To illustrate the process, we’ll use a real-world example from a landscape designed by our co-foundFeaturedProject Overhead
Project Overhead refers to job-specific costs that support project execution but aren’t direct line items like materials or labor. These costs can include logistics, coordination, travel, and on-site setup. Elevation Advisor offers a smarter, more transparent approach to managing Project Overhead by dividing it into two distinct sections, each with a clear purpose and pricing strategy. Project Overhead (No Markup) TheFew readersCustom Section
Figure 1: Creating a Custom Section. (https://elevation-knowledgebase.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/Proposals/Sections/Images/CustomSection1.png =500x293) Start in the Proposal Editor: * Click the Edit button on the appropriate Landscape Work Area. * Click the ➕ icon to add a new section. * Type the section name (e.g., “Fire Pit”), press Enter, and your section will be added. Figure 2: Select format if needed. (https://elevation-knowledgebase.s3.us-east-Few readersRemoval
If this is your first time working in landscape sections, we recommend reviewing the Beds article first. It walks through the basics and uses the same sample project referenced here. In the Elevation Advisor Sample Design , there’s a large concrete patio in the blue-outlined Patio Area that needs to be removed before installing a new paver patio. Adding the ReFew readersPlants
If this is your first time working in landscape sections, we recommend reviewing the Beds article first. It walks through the basics and uses the same sample project we’ll be referencing here. In the Elevation Advisor Sample Design, plants are being added to the bark mulch beds in the garden area. This section walks you through how to add plants to your proposal quickly and accurately, while keeping your workflow flexible and organized. Adding the Plants Section If you haven’tFew readersPavers
If this is your first time working in landscape sections, we recommend checking out the Beds article first. It walks through the basics and uses the same sample project referenced here. In the Elevation Advisor Sample Design, there is a large paver patio is being installed. Adding the Pavers Section If you haven’t already added a Pavers section: Click EFew readersBuildup
If this is your first time working in landscape sections, we recommend reviewing the Beds article first. It walks through the basics and uses the Elevation Advisor Sample Design. In the Sample Design, the patio area requires a build-up of soil before hardscape installation. This section walks you through how to measure, assign materials, and calculate labor for that work. AFew readersConcrete
If this is your first time working in landscape sections, we recommend reviewing the Beds article first. It walks through the basics. Adding the Concrete Section If you haven’t already added a Concrete section: Click Edit in the top right corner. Select Concrete from the template library. Click Save to add it to your proposal. Measuring the Concrete Area Start by measuringFew readersLawn
If this is your first time working in landscape sections, we recommend checking out the Beds article first. It walks through the basics and uses the same sample project referenced here. In the Elevation Advisor Sample Design, there’s a section of lawn located in the blue-outlined Patio Area. Adding the Lawn Section If you haven’t already added a Lawn sectioFew readersIrrigation
If this is your first time working in landscape sections, we recommend reviewing the Beds article first. It walks through the basics and uses the same sample project referenced here. In the Elevation Advisor Sample Design, irrigation is needed in the blue-outlined area. Adding the Irrigation Section If you haven’t already added an irrigation section: CliFew readersGravel Walkway
If this is your first time working in landscape sections, we recommend reviewing the Beds article first. It walks you through the basics and uses the same sample project referenced here. In the Elevation Advisor Sample Design, there’s a gravel walkway located in the blue-outlined Patio Area. Adding the Gravel Walkway Section If you haven’t already added a gravel walkFew readersRetaining Wall
If this is your first time working in landscape sections, we recommend checking out the Beds article first. It walks through the basics and provides a more detailed look at creating sections in Elevation Advisor. Adding the Retaining Wall Section To begin: Navigate to your proposal and click Edit in the top right corner. Select Retaining Wall from the template library. Click Save to aFew readersEdging
In our example landscape design, there’s a small amount of edging located in the blue-outlined area along the edge of the lawn. If this is your first time working in landscape sections, we recommend reviewing the Beds article first. It walks through the basics and uses the same sample project referenced here. Elevation Advisor Sample Design (https://elevationadvisor-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/p/gregg/Ee9AM9WprLhDgW7NMFew readers
Markup
Markup That Makes Sense: A Guided Tour of the Markup Screen
The Markup screen in Elevation Advisor gives you full visibility into the financial structure of your proposal, and the power to adjust pricing with precision. Whether you're trying to stay competitive in a tight bid or strategically lower pricing to keep your crews busy, the Markup screen helps you make smart decisions without sacrificing profitability. Grounded in Real Business Data Every number on this screen is based on your actual business inputs: Labor, equipment, and overheaPopularEfficiency Calculator: A Smarter Way to Plan Crew Size and Profitability
The Efficiency Calculator in Elevation Advisor is a strategic planning tool designed to help you determine whether adding workers to a project will actually improve your bottom line. Instead of guessing, it gives you a clear financial comparison between the cost of extra labor and the potential revenue gained by finishing early and starting your next job sooner. This tool is especially useful when you're facing tight deadlines, considering overtime, or evaluating whether pulling crew membFew readers
Packages
Creating Packages That Sell Themselves
Figure 1: Proposal Packages setup, showing Good/Better/Best/Premium tier configuration. (https://elevation-knowledgebase.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/Proposals/Packages/Images/Packages1.png =800x368) Once your proposal is built, Elevation Advisor gives you the tools to turn it into a dynamic sales experience. The system provides four editable packages by default, you just need to define what each one includes. Using simple checkboxes, you can: Include or exclude specific secFew readersThe Power of ISPS: Turning Psychology into Profit
At the heart of Elevation Advisor’s proposal system is Integrated Sales Psychology & Strategy (ISPS), a framework designed to help contractors close more deals, even if they’re not natural salespeople. Rather than presenting a single price that might trigger hesitation or sticker shock, ISPS encourages you to offer structured choices through customizable packages: Good, Better, Best, and Premium tiers Built using checkboxes to include or exclude specific sections likeFew readers
Accepted Proposals
How to Make Changes After a Proposal is Accepted
We have been surprised that to many Landscapers, change orders feel like betrayal. You’re deep into a job, your crews are humming, your schedule is tight, and then it hits. A client wants to add something. Or fix something. Or change something they swore was final. Suddenly, you’re chasing down old texts, decoding half-remembered conversations, and trying to make sense of sticky notes and voicemails. You’re not just managing a job anymore; you’re managing chaos. And worst of all, you’re thePopularUpselling with the Update Package Feature
Most clients feel a bit of sticker shock when they first commit to a landscape project. It’s natural. Just like buying a car, the initial price can feel overwhelming. But after a few weeks, that feeling fades. They adjust. They settle in. And often, they start thinking: “Maybe I do want that lighting upgrade. Or the water feature. Or the extended patio.” That’s where the Update Package feature comes in. Elevation Advisor uses packages to reduce hesitation and make upgrades feel approachabFew readers
Presenting Proposals
Preparing Your Proposal: Clarity, Confidence, and Conversion
Before presenting your proposal to a client, take a moment to preview it by clicking the Preview button in the top right corner of the Package Creation screen. This feature shows you exactly what the client will see, including all Work Areas, their respective sections, and the Description of Services for each. Below that, you’ll find the packages you’ve configured, complete with pricing, giving clients a clear, side-by-side view of their options. This layout is designed to support InteFew readersClient Sign-Off: Seamless, On-Site, and On Your Terms
Elevation Advisor makes it easy to finalize proposals with your client, whether you're in the office, on-site, or presenting remotely. From the Proposal Preview screen, simply click Send to email the proposal directly to your client. They’ll receive a link that opens a clean, client-facing version of the proposal where they can review each Landscape Work Area, explore the Sections, compare Packages, and select the one that best fits their needs. Figure 1: Client Accept buFew readers