Using Phases & Options in Elms

Phases and options are the foundation for your specification.   A project phase may refer to exactly what it says, i.e. phase 1 and phase 2.  Here tasks can be assigned to each project phase and will help organize how the specifications are presented to the user.   Phases may also refer to different locations in the project.  For example,  consider a project that consists of multiple locations, bathroom and walk-in closet.   Elms can use phases to organize the specifications between the two locations.

Phases may also be labelled as options.   Like phases, options define a separate group of related tasks.   Options are presented on the specifications as optional products and services for the customer.  Options are subtotaled individually apart from the total specifications.   This gives your customers a clear choice and understanding of costs for the service they desire.

Do you charge design fees?

Do you charge for your up front design time and effort?   There are many out there that still don't make this part of their normal business process.   I have found that companies approach design fees in different ways

• Fixed design cost.  This cost may be credited back to the project if the customer decides to use their services.
• Percentage of the project that also can be credited back to the customer.
• Design fee that is not cashed unless the customer decides to go with another service provider.
• For many there is no design fee.

Design fees can be an important part of your business process.  This is one way to find out the sincerity of your customers early in the process.

Elms Advantage Online make it simple for you to generate design agreements.  The design agreement tab in the job folder is used to dynamically create a design agreement.   You have the option to supply the design fee, budget, and scope of work.  Elms will generate a design agreement using these values.

The generated design agreement is specific to the job in your current job folder.   All customer information and your company information is added to the generated agreement.

You have the option to export this agreement to a PDF file.  From here you can print the agreement, save it
locally, or even add it to the jobs file gallery for later.

Job Tracking Dates

The tracking dates tab in the job folder is used to manage milestone dates in the life cycle of your sales and
design process.   Elms uses these dates to generate analytical reports showing you potential places for improvement
in you business process.

Tracking dates are also a great source of information for generating follow up communications or processing
warranty work